INTRODUCTION
COMMUNITY VOICE VIDEOS
WHAT ISSUES DO THE GYPSY/TRAVELLER COMMUNITY RAISE?
“Don't get me wrong, as a Traveller you keep yourself to yourself and you're glad that nobody's chapping on your door but it's not fair in education they talk about no child slipping through the net. Well they've got a net and it's only the Traveller bairns they are letting slip through it.”
The issue: Social justice
Many parents from the Gypsy/Traveller community do not feel that their children's rights and entitlements to education are met in the same way as other minority groups. Leaders need to develop strategies to ensure equitable access to education for Gypsy/Travelelr children and young people.
“Schools and education see themselves as inclusive. Everyone is welcome and included. But it’s not how it is. When it comes to racism, it’s bypassed. I literally got told by a teacher I don’t have time. What am I supposed to do in that situation? If the schools are saying they’re inclusive, BE inclusive.”
The issue: Inclusion
Young people from Gypsy/Traveller communities can feel excluded, discriminated against, and powerless in school. It is vital for school leaders to ensure that inclusive policies are implemented in practice. Families need to feel valued, respected and empowered to participate in school life.
“During lockdown everything was recorded. Pupils could access it from the house. It could be simple as a teacher talking over a PowerPoint that could be downloaded onto a USB stick if the family didn’t have internet. All this happened during lockdown and then after, it stopped. Everyone went back to normal. There needs to be more effort.”
The issue: The right to education
Many Gypsy/Traveller families want their children to engage in education that fits their lifestyles. However, as the quote suggests, many schools do not recognise their entitlements due to their minority ethnic status. Leaders need to develop consistent and effective models for remote learning.
Challenge questions and EFFECTIVE Actions
How well does your leadership team understand the policy context for improving outcomes for Gypsy/Traveller children and families?
How well do your families know their rights and understand the consequences of the choice to home educate?
How does your school ethos and culture demonstrate commitment to Gypsy/Traveller children and families?
In what ways are your data gathering processes and analysis improving outcomes for your Gypsy/Traveller families?
How effective are our strategies for raising expectations for Gypsy/Traveller children and young people?
How well do our local partnerships support improved outcomes for Gypsy/Traveller children and young people?
Resources
