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The term ‘inclusion’ relates to a school’s actions: the term ‘belonging’ is about how its communities experience these actions.
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For a Gypsy/Traveller child, belonging can be experienced through: positive relationships; a sense of familiarity within a school; and a curriculum that reflects their family’s lives and interests.
BACKGROUND
COMMUNITY VOICE VIDEO
GYPSY/TRAVELLER experiences
A lot of the time you would be excluded from what the other kids were doing because of what their parents would be telling them at home, like, "Oh, you stay away from the Travellers and Gypsies".
The issue: Positive relationships need to be nurtured across the school community
Negative attitudes about Gypsy Traveller children and their way of life are often formed in society in response to the media. These are brought into school by children who may be unaware of the hurt they are causing.
My daughter was refusing to go to school on certain days. She was saying she felt sick. It turned out that they were having to get changed for PE in front of the boys. I went up to the school and told them it wasn’t our way but I knew they never really got it.
The issue: School environments and routines should respect different cultural practices
Children often find it difficult to make sense of the school environment with its social practices, rules and routines, which can be different from their homes.
My brother got to talk about our culture at an assembly. Yeah, but after it happened it all backfired because obviously a lot of the children and teachers found out obviously what our culture is, and even the teachers were treating us differently. Female, under 18
The issue: Gypsy/Traveller people should have a voice in how their culture is represented in the curriculum
The Gypsy/Traveller culture should be represented and celebrated but children should only be involved when they feel safe and respected.
EFFECTIVE Actions FOR IMPROVEMENT
How can you create an environment that feels familiar and welcoming to Gypsy/Traveller communities?
What measures do you take to nurture positive relationships with and between Gypsy and Traveller pupils and others?
How do you ensure that Gypsy/Traveller and Roma culture is represented in the curriculum?
RESOURCES
