THE Scottish Conservatives are hoping fresh ideas to improve literacy and numeracy in schools can help them to victory in East Renfrewshire.

Party leader Ruth Davidson and local candidate Paul Masterton visited the Enchanted Forest nursery, in Thornliebank, where they met children and spoke with staff.

During the visit, Ms Davidson called for action from the Scottish Government to improve education following “growing evidence” that standards are slipping.

She told the Barrhead News: “While Nicola Sturgeon has pressed ahead with her independence obsession, a generation of school children has been left behind.

“People have had enough. We need action now.

“When we are training teachers, we need to ensure they know how to pass on good literacy and numeracy skills to children. We need to start at nursery because that’s when many children from low-income families fall behind.

“And to ensure that school standards improve, it’s time for an independent inspection body to be formed so we can flag up problems early. These are the basics you’d expect any government to act upon. Yet the SNP has spent so much of its time on the constitution, it has left the day job behind.”

“It’s time to send the SNP a message on June 8 – enough of your divisive referendum, it is time to focus on our schools.”

Meanwhile, Mr Masterton praised staff at the Enchanted Forest nursery for developing “amazing, confident children.”

He said: “Unfortunately, instead of supporting businesses like this, the SNP have hammered them with increases in business rates.

“Enchanted Forest has been hit with a rise in its rates of £62,000 a year, putting them under significant financial pressure.

“Nurseries across East Renfrewshire have been left with difficult choices as a result of the SNP’s tax grab - to make cuts or put up charges.”