Cumbernauld parents told ASN school won't reopen days before summer holidays end

Parents and guardians at a school for pupils with additional support needs (ASN) have been given just days’ notice that the building will not open this week as planned.

Those with children at Glencryan School in Cumbernauld were told by North Lanarkshire Council on Monday that the school won’t be reopened on Wednesday.

Officials told parents that it now “anticipated” that the school will open on Monday next week.

The council said in a letter: “As you are aware, an 18-month long programme of work to install a new electrical system for the school has been ongoing for almost a year.

“While the contractor has been able to carry out the majority of this work during the school term, the programme to upgrade the installation in the communal areas was scheduled for the summer holiday period.

“Regrettably, this work has taken longer than the planned schedule and the contractor has informed us that the school will not be ready to open to pupils on Wednesday.

“We anticipate that the school will now reopen on Monday and the contractor has committed additional resources to complete the planned work as quickly as possible.”

The local authority said it will be able to confirm the reopening date on Thurdsday when it will update parents.

The letter continued: “I sincerely apologise for the delay to the reopening of the school and I appreciate that the subsequent impact on the start of the school term could cause you significant inconvenience.

“Please be assured that we are doing everything possible to ensure that the school will open on Monday, August 19.”

A spokesperson for North Lanarkshire Council said: “It is anticipated that Glencryan School will open to pupils on Monday, August 19 following a delay in the completion of essential electrical work in communal areas of the school.

“The contractor has committed additional resources to complete the planned work as quickly as possible.

“All parents, carers and staff have been contacted directly with the most up-to-date information and will be kept informed of any changes.”