East Renfrewshire Council is hiring another 30 teachers to help pupils who have been adversely affected by the Covid pandemic. 

The recruits will provide extra classes for children whose education has suffered during lockdown, including those forced to self-isolate at home.

Money for the new teachers has come from a £80million support package announced by the Scottish Government in June.

East Renfrewshire is using its £1.7m share to recruit the 30 additional staff, who will also help to operate a new ‘Saturday School.’

It will be open to primary and secondary pupils and will teach sports, arts, and music, as well as providing study support.

Delivered in partnership with East Renfrewshire Culture and Leisure, the funding will bring together a range of professionals who will take on additional hours to provide these sessions at two local venues – Barrhead High and Maidenhill Primary, in Newton Mearns.

Lunch will also be provided for all those attending, to boost their health and wellbeing.

Councillor Paul O’Kane, East Renfrewshire’s education and equalities convener, said: “Our schools and teaching staff have worked tirelessly since returning to address the loss of learning caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

“It has been amazing to see how they have risen to these unprecedented challenges.

“The additional funding provided by the Scottish Government is welcomed and the extra staff this has allowed us to appoint will support this work further.

“I’m also delighted that the funding will allow us to create this innovative Saturday School, which will offer a further opportunity to those children and young people most impacted by the pandemic.”

Headteachers are also using the funding to offer extra study support in the afternoons once the school day is over.

Last week, Education Minister John Swinney revealed more than 1,250 teachers and support staff have been recruited across Scotland, thanks to the £80m windfall for councils.