SCOTTISH LABOUR will focus on “delivery, not gimmicks,” according to party leader Anas Sarwar, as he made his party’s education pitch today.

His words came just days after his SNP rival John Swinney pledged a “welcome to school” bag with classroom essentials for every primary-1 pupil in Scotland.

Mr Sarwar called on voters to back his party’s policy instead, which includes pledges to reverse declines in teaching assistant numbers.

He said: “When I am out speaking to people across Scotland, it is clear that one of their top priorities is supporting our children and young people.

“That starts in our schools and it is why Scottish Labour has set out a clear plan to help support teachers and kids, to ensure they can get the best start in life and reach their full potential.”

Mr Sarwar said that Scottish Labour will recruit 1,500 more classroom assistants to help teachers manage behaviour and give pupils more one-to-one support and back teachers on discipline with a national behaviour charter.

“To help improve attendance, we will also create a national attendance register to gather better data on absence and attendance, so that targeted interventions can be made to support young people to re-engage with school,” he said.

“It is absolutely clear that parents and teachers want delivery, not gimmicks, when it comes to education. The future of our children and young people is far too important for that.

“The SNP have had 19 years in power. If they were serious about improving schools, they would have done it by now.”