It has been announced by the Scottish Government that £50m in funding is to recruit extra staff.

Targeted funding to recruit 1,000 new teachers and 500 pupil support assistants in the next academic year has been announced by Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville.

The additional £50 million will support COVID-19 education recovery as schools return to full time face-to-face learning. The announcement meets another commitment for the first 100 days of this government.

In addition, £65.5m permanent funding will be allocated annually to councils from 2022-23, which will help remove barriers to councils employing these additional staff on permanent contracts and meet the local needs of children and young people.

Since the start of the pandemic 2,700 additional teachers and support staff have been recruited thanks to £190 million from the Scottish Government. Our commitment to recruit 3,500 additional teachers and pupil support assistants during this Parliament, including this 100 days commitment, is over and above those already recruited using this funding.

Christina McKelvie, SNP MSP for Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse said:

“Educations was one of the many areas which was hit hard during the pandemic, especially with lockdown changes and Covid.

“This is welcomed as part of the education recovery post the pandemic, prioritising education, health and wellbeing which are the needs of our young people in education.”