An additional £50m of targeted funding to recruit 1,000 new teachers and 500 pupil support assistants in the next academic year has been announced by the Scottish Government.
The funding will support Covid-19 education recovery as schools in Scotland return to full time face-to-face learning later this month.
In addition, £65.5m of permanent funding will be allocated annually to councils from 2022-23, which will help remove barriers to local authorities employing these additional staff on permanent contracts and meet the local needs of children and young people.
Commenting, the Scottish Government’s Education Secretary, Shirley-Anne Somerville said:
“Our vision for Covid recovery and our priorities for Scottish education remain unchanged.
“Recruiting more permanent staff will be one of the cornerstones of recovery alongside the health and wellbeing of pupils, and staff intensified support for reducing inequity and enabling the highest quality of learning and teaching.
“The £50m funding will allow councils to recruit more teachers and pupil support assistants next year.
“Looking further ahead, the additional £65m annual funding, delivered as part of the local government settlement, will support councils to recruit these additional staff on permanent contracts.”
Convention of Scottish Local Authorities’ (COSLA) Spokesperson for Resources, Councillor Gail Macgregor added:
“This additional baselined funding is a welcome resource as we progress into education recovery.
“Prioritising the educational, as well as health and wellbeing needs of our children and young people is essential for us all.
“Having the ability to recruit both teachers and support staff with certainty is one part of how we can ensure councils can deliver the most effective experience for all.
“We do however look forward to continuing to work with government to address broader recruitment and retention needs that supports the delivery of high quality education to all.”
Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, 2,700 additional teachers and support staff have been recruited due to £190m of funding from the Scottish Government.
They have a commitment to recruit 3,500 additional teachers and pupil support assistants during this Scottish Parliament (2021-26).
PSE will be hosting a Learning & Development event on 3 February 2022. Join us for the event by registering here.
