More tutoring and mentoring of pupils should be used in Scotland to help close the disadvantage-related attainment gap, a study says.

Research by the Poverty Alliance found that free tutoring provision for children and young people in Scotland was “sparse”.

Its new report says that high-quality tutoring could significantly reduce educational inequalities.

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In February, the Scottish government announced a £45 million fund for educational recovery, but the report says there was no published information on how much of this went towards catch-up tutoring programmes.

How tutoring can tackle the attainment gap

The Poverty Alliance’s research also found that there were geographical gaps in the provision of mentoring for children in poverty.

Dr Laura Robertson, lead author of the report, said: “The Scottish government has put tackling the poverty-based attainment gap at the heart of its agenda. However, inequalities in educational attainment remain stark.

“Covid-19 has not only tightened the grip of poverty on the lives of many children and young people, but has also exacerbated these inequalities.

“Now, more than ever, children and young people need access to additional support.”

Dr Robertson added: “This report reveals that - despite the evidence that it works - young people living in poverty still don’t have equal access to high-quality tutoring free of charge.

“In a just society, all children and young people should have access to support that allows them to reach their potential, so the Scottish government must - if it wants to end the attainment gap - respond with action.”