Former qualified teachers are being encouraged to return to Warwickshire classrooms to help cover staff shortages caused by the pandemic.

Retired teachers, retired OFSTED inspectors and Early Career Framework (ECF) teachers are all being encouraged to register at local schools.

They will then be called upon to cover classes missed by teachers having is isolate due to Covid-19.

Warwickshire County Council (WCC) is backing a Department for Education (DfE) initiative to encourage former teachers to return to the classroom to help ensure that children and young people do not lose any more of their access to face-to-face education.

Thousands of former teachers are welcomed back to the profession in every year, but this year even more are needed.

Cllr Jeff Morgan, WCC portfolio holder for children, families and education, said: "We all have lost so much, in one way or another, as a result of the Covid pandemic and national lockdowns.

"That loss has been acutely felt by the county's children and young people who have repeatedly lost their access to face-to-face education as a result of these lockdowns.

"This campaign, encouraging our former teachers to answer the call of the profession and return to the classrooms, is essential if we are to ensure that our children and young people do not lose out further. They need routine and consistency and we want to support our schools to be able to deliver that for them."