INVERCLYDE schools have had to use 'Covid recovery teachers' to cover high levels of absences.

Education chiefs were given cash to fund additional teaching staff to provide extra support to pupils and plug gaps in learning lost because of lockdown.

A high number of positive virus cases locally, periods of self-isolation and long waits for PCR tests all resulted in the need for help within local schools.

Council officers say that staff absences have now stabilised and that the attendance levels of pupils have also started to return to near normal.