All schools and nurseries across Scotland to close for Queen's funeral

All schools and council nurseries across Scotland should close for the Queen’s funeral, the Scottish Government has advised.

It comes after Buckingham Palace confirmed a service would be held for the late monarch on Monday, September 19.

After her son Charles was formally declared King on Saturday, he approved an order that the day of the funeral will be a bank holiday.

On Monday, the Scottish Government said it had told the country’s 32 councils that schools, and all other education settings that would normally be closed on a bank holiday, should close as a mark of respect.

During the rest of the national mourning period, schools have been advised to continue to remain open as normal with the usual expectations in place regarding attendance.

All local authority nurseries will be closing but private and voluntary nurseries have to make their own decisions – some are closing but others are staying open.

A spokesperson said: “The Scottish Government has advised local authorities that schools across Scotland should close on [that day or 19 September] as a mark of respect.

“This advice also applies to other education settings that would normally be closed on a bank holiday.”

It had already been announced that schools and nurseries across Glasgow will be closed on Monday while the council continues to provide other “essential services, keeping our city mobile, clean and safe”.

All West Lothian, South Lanarkshire and North Lanarkshire schools and early learning and childcare settings also announced closures.

Some areas in Scotland observe a public holiday weekend from Friday, September 16, to Monday, September 19, which would mean schools would already be closed.

East Lothian, Midlothian and South Ayrshire all have their September weekend between those two dates.

Schools in North Ayrshire were already closed for an in-service day on Monday.

East Ayrshire and Edinburgh schools also have a public holiday on Monday, September 19, as do schools in Fraserburgh and Portlethen in Aberdeenshire, and Aberlour, Craigellachie, Knockando, Tomintoul, Dufftown, Burghead, Hopeman, Lossiemouth, Forres and Rothes in Moray.

Schools in Falkirk are to close on Monday, September 12, for their normal public holiday, with a local holiday also affecting schools in Buckie, Cullen, Findochty and Portknockie in Moray.