WESTMINSTER should give Scotland an additional £1.5 billion to help pupils catch up on lost learning, a think tank suggests.

Youngsters at both primary and secondary level switched to remote lessons after authorities determined classroom sessions were too much of a health risk for most children, with only those with key worker parents or classed as particularly vulnerable continuing to attend regional hubs.

Scotland’s main parties have made commitments on learning in their Scottish Parliament election manifestos as families seek to mitigate attainment issues caused by almost a year of remote learning.

Now the independent Education Policy Institute (EPI) – which is politically impartial – is calling for a £15bn boost to stop English youngsters falling behind due to the impact of Covid on schooling.

In a report released today, it says the cash is needed to “reverse the learning loss caused by the pandemic and also address the deep-rooted inequalities that left many young people acutely vulnerable when schools were required to close to most pupils”.

And, based on the Barnett formula, it says the UK Government should also hand over £1.5bn for Scottish schools, plus £900 million for Wales and £500m for Northern Ireland.

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According to the funding formula, monies allocated to devolved nations change according to the sum spent on public services in England and relative population.

With Scotland’s headcount just under 10% of England’s, the think tank – formed in a reorganisation of LibDem think tank CentreForum and run by LibDem former schools minister David Laws – argues that the Scottish Government budget should increase as English authorities embark on a multi-year education recovery package.

It says that cash could be used to “respond to a major report” due for publication by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development this summer.

For England, the London-based think tank is calling on “bold investment” in professional development for teachers and the expansion of one-to-one tuition, as well as cash for before and after school clubs and summer activities.

It also seeks targeted support for vulnerable pupils, better early years provision and an “urgent and serious cross-government child poverty strategy that reverses the current upward trend of child poverty and ensures that no child ever goes without food, safe housing or education again”.

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It states: “Many of our recommendations are relevant to all countries, such as a need for a focus on the quality of provision, continuous professional development, disadvantaged learners and well-being. The precise plans will, however, need to be suited to the specific challenges and context in each country.”

The SNP have pledged to distribute free laptops and internet connections, while the Greens want to end primary school homework and reduce exams for teenagers.