West Scotland MSP Jamie Greene has put forward proposals for a national tutoring scheme to help children catch-up on missed education.

Across North Ayrshire, pupils have had their education disrupted since last March when schools were forced to closed to all but the children of essential workers and vulnerable pupils.

Conservative MSP Jamie Greene believes that significant investment, including the establishment of a ‘national tutoring plan’ and the recruitment of thousands of new teachers are possible solutions to this lost learning.

Mr Greene said: “Thousands of school pupils across North Ayrshire have experienced considerable disruption to their education for almost a year now and we need new radical proposals in order for them to be able to catch-up on missed learning.

“One such proposal is a National Tutoring Scheme which would focus on the most disadvantaged pupils and be open to supply teachers, student teachers and others who are suitably qualified.

“I appreciate the efforts of schools and the council in implementing remote learning, however it is not a perfect substitute for the classroom.

“The Scottish Government now need to act as soon as possible to avoid the attainment gap widening even further and I hope they will strongly consider these proposals.”