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Cultural recognition of Scotland’s Gypsy Travellers

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Cultural recognition of Scotland’s Gypsy Travellers

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Cultural recognition of Scotland’s Gypsy Travellers | SHRC Spotlight Projects

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This project examines the denial of Scotland’s Gypsy Travellers rights to cultural recognition of and the impact on the community, past and present.

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My Experience as a Traveller Girl in School

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My Experience as a Traveller Girl in School

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What we learnt from Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller children who responded to The Big Ask

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What we learnt from Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller children who responded to The Big Ask

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What we learnt from Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller children who responded to The Big Ask | Children’s Commissioner for England

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As Children’s Commissioner I am dedicated to championing the voices of all children which is why I was delighted when 2,300 children and young people that

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FFT announce theme for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month 2026 - Friends, Families and Travellers

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Friends, Families and Travellers (FFT) is excited to announce the launch of FFT’s theme for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month (GRTHM) 2026: ‘Onwards with Hope’. This year, GRTHM will be focusing on present and future […]

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This Plan sets a clear vision for an anti-racism Scotland: to build a Scotland that actively tackles racism, and where equity, justice, dignity, and respect are upheld for all communities. Systemic change will be led by government and shaped by communities.

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Produced by members of the Gypsy/Traveller community, these videos forefront personal experiences and human stories about accessing the Scottish school system. By sharing challenges and proven strategies, these parents and young people hope to empower other families with the knowledge and confidence to make informed choices about their children's education. We are deeply grateful to the community members who made this project possible. Our thanks go to interviewer, Tommy Bennett, for guiding these vital conversations. Together, your voices offer a powerful roadmap for other Gypsy/Traveller to navigate their own educational journeys.

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Produced by members of the Gypsy/Traveller community, these videos forefront personal experiences and human stories about accessing the Scottish school system. By sharing challenges and proven strategies, these parents and young people hope to empower other families with the knowledge and confidence to make informed choices about their children's education.

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Putting individuals at the centre of their learner journey

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Putting individuals at the centre of their learner journey

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Organisations and individuals subscribing to the Awards Aware scheme are agreeing to support young people to engage in learning activities which support their learning and development, and more importantly provide rich experiences which celebrate all the things young people can learn, do and achieve in Scotland.

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Demonstrate your awards awareness by becoming Awards Aware today!

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Curriculum for Excellence - 3-18 Transitions

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Curriculum for Excellence - 3-18 Transitions

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Why are schools still such hostile places for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller children?

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Why are schools still such hostile places for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller children?

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s schools returned to some kind of precarious "normality" in September, I found myself reflecting on the experience that Gypsy, Roma and Traveller (GRT) children have of the education system. When looking at the performance and attendance of ethnic groups within both a primary and secondary setting, the statistics are staggering. A government study showed that pupils from GRT ethnic groups had the highest rates of overall absence and persistent absence compared to any other ethnic background. Gypsies and Travellers are 10 times less likely to go to university than their peers.

We are one of the most demonised ethnic groups in society and with that comes the stereotypes - it is easy to watch programmes such as My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding and take it as a given that all GRT youngsters leave school at a young age to get married or begin work. No one denies that this happens and, as with any section of society, the role of parental responsibility is always important to highlight. But reactionary narratives that demonise GRT people often get the most attention. There are other factors at play.

The structure of school life and the demands of the curriculum don't always align with the nomadic lifestyle of GRT people. This, coupled with a lack of cultural representation in educational resources and literature, can make GRT children feel alienated and disengaged. Across many local authorities, funding cuts to education have hit hard and this has had significant effects upon so-called Traveller education services, which are a lifeline for many children who, for a number of reasons, find access to education more challenging - especially if they are moving around between different schools.

My dad was born at the roadside in the north-east of England in the early 1960s. He attended a number of schools as his family travelled and left education at 13 with no formal qualifications. What followed was a mix of trades and jobs, with the sole purpose of sustaining us as a family. Adulthood came much earlier for my dad than it did his peers, just as it had for generations of men before him. I, on the other hand, attended school in the traditional sense from the age of four until 18, and went to university as a mature student later in life.

I know first-hand how it can feel within educational settings to be ostracised from your classmates due to your ethnicity. For me, the experience of going through 14 years of schooling as the only pupil from a GRT background left me feeling isolated; I learned to suppress and hide the fact, which led to a near-permanent fear of being "outed".

I remember vividly my mum once asking me why I would rarely invite my friends over to the house. The truth is that I was terrified of them seeing something that would identify my ethnicity, any "Gypsy stuff": the photographs on the walls of my grandparents with old caravans or the traditional wooden pegs my dad used to make from willow and discarded tin cans that were scattered around the house. I kept the two worlds as separate as I could out of necessity and fear. All of these micro-anxieties that children in a similar position can face undoubtedly spill over into affecting performance within an educational setting.

It is also not unusual for Gypsy and Traveller children to be treated unfavourably at school, not only by fellow pupils but also by staff and other children's parents, and this can be exacerbated if there are tensions in the local community around planning permission for sites or negative stories in local newspapers. A recent study by The Traveller Movement found that one in five Traveller pupils felt they had to leave school due to bullying and two thirds of those surveyed felt bullied by their teachers.

If we are to make a lasting change to the way that GRT children access and experience education, the approach needs to be multi-faceted, addressing both practical and emotional elements. There could be much more emphasis and focus on blending traditional classroom-based learning with new forms of remote education (such as via Zoom or other online platforms), which we know from recent experience can be just as valuable as a face-to-face experience. Teachers must educate themselves on the issue and ensure they challenge their own prejudices.

The ongoing discourse surrounding education at present, with schools and colleges having to act and evolve more rapidly than ever before, could be an opportune time to begin and continue a meaningful dialogue surrounding the educational experiences and achievements of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller children. It is simply not acceptable that we are failing children in this manner, further subjecting them to segregation and demonisation.

* Grace Claire O'Neill is a photographer who campaigns for Gypsy, Romany and Traveller rights and representation

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Why are schools still such hostile places for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller children? | Grace Claire O'Neill

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s schools returned to some kind of precarious "normality" in September, I found myself reflecting on the experience that Gypsy, Roma and Traveller (GRT) children have of the education system. When looking at the performance and attendance of ethnic groups within both a primary and secondary setting, the statistics are staggering.

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Richard O’Neill (Author), Kirsti Beautyman (Illustrator)

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The Lost Homework (Travellers Tales) : O’Neill, Richard, Beautyman, Kirsti: Amazon.co.uk: Books

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Addressing Racism and Racist Incidents in Schools

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Addressing Racism and Racist Incidents in Schools

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Improve accessibility for nomadic learners using these digital tools

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Improve accessibility for nomadic learners using these digital tools

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1st level English and Literacy - Scotland - BBC Bitesize

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English and Literacy resources for learners at First Level in Scotland's Curriculum for Excellence.

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1st level Maths and Numeracy - BBC Bitesize

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Maths and Numeracy resources for learners at First Level in Scotland's Curriculum for Excellence.

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At Starfall, children have fun while they learn. Educational games, movies, books, songs, and more for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade learners.

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Whole school approach to racism and racist incidents

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Whole school approach to racism and racist incidents

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Whole school approach to racism and racist incidents: guidance

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This guidance has been designed to assist school leaders, school staff, and local authorities to implement a consistent and robust whole school approach to responding to racism and racist incidents in schools.

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Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month 2025

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Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month 2025

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"I had no idea there were so many awards you could get outside school..... Awards can give you the chance to get the experience....that employers look for."
"My 100 hours Saltire Award will be really helpful to me on my CV."

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Aiden - a different way of learning || Awards Network

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Having a mobile phone and going online is great for lots of reasons. But it's important to be aware of the dangers too. Learn how to stay safe online.

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Gypsy/Travellers in Scotland: an analysis of Scotland’s Census 2022

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Gypsy/Travellers in Scotland: an analysis of Scotland’s Census 2022

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Gypsy/Travellers in Scotland: an analysis of Scotland’s Census 2022

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This report analyses Scotland’s Census 2022 data on Gypsy/Traveller demographics and compares results to the rest of Scotland (excluding Gypsy/Travellers).

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Educational Experiences of GT Children and Adults in Scotland

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Educational Experiences of GT Children and Adults in Scotland

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Article 12 in Scotland - build capacity and social capital

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Article 12 in Scotland - build capacity and social capital

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Article 12 in Scotland - build capacity and social capital

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Article 12 in Scotland works to build capacity and social capital through access to formal and non-formal learning and development opportunities that amplify the voice of those young people who are less likely to be heard.

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 Improving outcomes for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Children in education

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 Improving outcomes for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Children in education

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'All partners should have high expectations that all Traveller children and young people receive an education, enter the senior phase of the curriculum, achieve the four capacities, and go on to realise positive, sustained destinations'.

The Scottish Government - Improving educational outcomes for children and young people from travelling cultures: guidance (2018)

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Have any questions? 0131 554 2561 contact@awardsnetwork.org

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Rats for neighbours, smells like death: Life for UK’s Travellers

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How the UK’s nomadic communities struggle to make a home amidst foul smells, bad air quality, dust, noise and vermin.

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The Gypsy Traveller Service in D&G works with schools to provide additional support across the curriculum in Literacy, Numeracy, Health and Wellbeing and Employability Skills. 

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The Gypsy Traveller Service in D&G works with schools to provide additional support across the curriculum in Literacy, Numeracy, Health and Wellbeing and Employability Skills. 

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* Equitable access to education for nomadic communities.
* Support to address gaps in learning through short-term and targeted programmes of work.

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An animation describing life as a young Traveller

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An animation describing life as a young Traveller

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The Two Fires

”It’s about us. It’s about Travellers. About who we are – what we do. People don’t know enough about Travellers. I want teachers or other people to know more. Like that family is most important."

Young Scottish Traveller

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A STEP community cohesion project. Created in collaboration with Animation Jam and Traveller pupils from Coupar Angus Primary School, Perth and Kinross.

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DSime_Working with Roma Families_Nov 2024

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Watch videos co-produced with young people from the Traveller community reflecting on their right to education.

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All children have rights under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). Below you can find the rights that relate to your child's human right to an education (Article 28). For more information watch the video on children rights and view or download the UNCRC poster here.

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There are some things that you need to keep you happy, healthy, and safe. These things are called your 'rights'. All rights are connected and nobody can take them away from you. Your rights are gathered together in something called the UNCRC. This stands for the "United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child", [...]

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Combine three random words to create a password that's 'long enough and strong enough'.

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Gypsy Traveller Services - Information for schools and parents/ carers

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Gypsy Traveller Services - Information for schools and parents/ carers

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Read this free ebook by Maxine Lambert. Find thousands of free educational ebooks for classroom use at read.bookcreator.com

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Every June since 2008, people from across the UK have celebrated Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month. Through celebration, education and raising awareness, Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month helps to tackle prejudice, challenge myths and to amplify the voices of Gypsies, Roma and Travellers in wider society.

This year our theme for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month is " Weaving Journeys: A celebration of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller lives, histories and cultures ".

The theme will focus on patterns of travel, spanning across the past, and leading to the future. It will ask and feature where Romany Gypsy, Roma, Irish Traveller and other nomadic communities have travelled before, and where people would like to travel next, as a celebration of cultures and traditions.

Download our "Weaving Journeys: A celebration of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller lives, histories and cultures" GRTHM participation packs below for everything you'll need to get started.

Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month 2023 Brochure Expand

Have you ever wondered what popular decor might adorn an Irish Traveller family home? Or if there are any significant shapes or colours in Romany Gypsy or Roma cultures?

Then, take a look at our Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month Brochure, filled with stories from Boater, New Traveller, Showmen, Romany Gypsy, Roma and Irish Traveller people, mesmerising patterns, and a look at what inspired this year's 'Weaving Journeys' theme.

Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month Brochure - Download here.

We've created an Education pack to increase understanding and engagement with Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month across schools and prisons.

You'll find resources such as a competition for children to design their own patterns, or a how-to guide on raising awareness of and celebrating Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month. The packs include something for everyone across education, from schools to prisons.

Education pack - Download here.

This year, we've decided to provide a Digital Engagement pack for anyone and everyone, so that you can celebrate Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month 2023 in your own way.

The pack provides guidance on how you can mark and celebrate GRTHM online, and the tools you need to do so - including social media templates and images, and print 'n' stick map posters, featuring stopping places across the UK.

Digital Engagement pack - Download here.

While you're here, why not check out our social media channels to see what we're up to this GRTHM?
@GypsyTravellers /FriendsFamiliesandTravellers @FriendsFamiliesandTravellers
We've created a poster timeline of significant dates in history for Gypsies, Roma and Travellers, which you can find in the packs above, and an exciting series of print 'n' stick maps, with marked stopping places across the UK.

Download the maps and stickers.

Celebrate Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month online using our social media images:

All of our Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month materials are free, and we hope you enjoy them!

Your support means that we can highlight the importance of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month, and increase understanding and awareness of nomadic communities. If you would like to help us continue our work in future years, donate here.

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Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month 2023 - Friends, Families and Travellers

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This year's theme for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month is 'Weaving Journeys', focusing on patterns of travel, old and new.

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Celebrating Roma, Gypsy and Traveller stories

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Alex Strick explores the absence of characters of Roma, Gypsy and Traveller (GRT) heritage, and meets the creators of two new books hoping to redress the balance.

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Early years Maths learning resources for adults, children, parents and teachers.

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(Useful document, but deals with an English context. See Education Scotland below for Scottish context).

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Resources and ideas for GRT History Month (June)

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Resources and ideas for GRT History Month (June)

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This colourful book can help young readers from Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community written and produced by Maxine Lambert.
Read the digital book. The Pavee and the Buffer Girl by Siobhan Dowd
This book tells the story of Jim, a young Traveller boy, his experiences at the Buffer school (Buffer is what Travellers call non-Travellers) and developing new friendships.
Find out more and purchase the book. Books by Richard O'Neill
Author and playwright, Richard O'Neill has written a serious of illustrated books with fantastic representation of Gypsy and Traveller characters. Look out for Polonius and The Pit Pony, Yokki and The Porno Gry, The Lost Homework, and Ossiri and The Bala Mengro.
Purchase books by Richard O'Neill. The Show Must Go On
Purchase this book to celebrate 'World Funfair Month 2021'. Follow Mary Ann and her travelling Showmen family as they defend their yard from developers. The generations work together to help everyone understand that Grandad Henry is right: 'not all treasure glistens'.

Purchase the book.
Wee Bessie by David Pullar
Wee Bessie is Inspired by the childhood of Scottish Traveller Betsy Whyte one of Scotland's most celebrated storytellers.
Find out more on Good Reads. Books by Janna Elliot
Settela Steinbach was a Dutch Sinti girl, she was murdered along with other members of her family in Auschwitz. Janna Eliot translator of the original biography, created the novel 'Settela's Last Road' for younger readers.
See all of Janna's books on Good Reads. Why the Moon Travels by Oein DeBhairduin
Why the moon travels is a haunting collection of twenty tales rooted in the oral tradition of the Irish Traveller community.
Find out more about the book. Can't lose Cant
A book of Cant, the Old Language of Irish Travellers, by Children in Co Kildare Ireland.
Buy the book. Books by Robert Dawson
Robert Dawson has a wide selection of books and activity booklets on his website, including 'Leaves in the Holocaust', a novel about the persecution of Roma and Sinti people in World War Two.
View the Robert Dawson website. Fairground Art: The art forms of Travelling Fairs, Carousels and Carnival Midways by Geoff Weedon and Richard Ward
The authors devoted years of research to photographing and cataloguing the work of fairground artists as well as investigating the histories of the craftsmen and their creations.
Find the book. they lit fires: lenti hatch o yog Raine Geoghegan
Raine Geoghegan presents a selection of timeless and culturally rich songs and monologues based upon her Romani Roots.
Purchase the book.
Books by Maggie Smith-Bendell

Maggie's books, including 'Rabbit Stew and a Penny or Two' recount the 'old ways' and Romani Gypsy life and culture at the dawn of the 21st Century.
Find out more on Good Reads. Books by Eva Petulengro
Eva Petulengro is a Romani author who spent her childhood in a caravan before settling in Brighton. Eva's books 'The Girl in the Painted Caravan' and 'Caravans and Wedding Bans', reflect on Eva's life on the road.
Find out more. The Showmen's War by Michael Smith, Stephen Smith and Kevin Scrivens
This book was produced to accompany the Exhibition held at the Fairground Heritage Centre in 2018 to commemorate the part played in the Great War by the Travelling Showmen of Great Britain.
Find the book. Voyage of the Sparrowhawk by Natasha Farrant
In the aftermath of World War One, Ben, Clara and Lotti try to rebuild their lives, As they make their way on an epic journey, some of which on a narrowboat, they search for loved ones and a place to call home.
Books by Jess Smith
Jess Smith comes from a long line of Travelling people and writes about her early years on the road in Scotland with her family.

View Jess' website.
The Stopping Places by Damian Le Bas
In this critically acclaimed book, Damian seeks to better understand his heritage by setting out on a journey to discover the stopping places - the old encampment sites known only to Travellers.

Find out more about the book.
Gypsy Girl by Rosie McKinley
Rosie McKinley is an Irish Traveller, she grew up on the road moving around England and Ireland. Read her story of roaming fields and meadows with her siblings.

Find out more about the book.
Muddy Waters by DH Clacher
A series of fun, vibrant and colourful books sharing Muddy's adventures on the UK Waterways.
Find out more about the books. Books by Betsy Whyte
The Yellow on the Broom and Red Rowans and Wil Honey cover Betsy's childhood as a Gypsy Traveller in 1920s and 1930s Scotland, as well as traditional workmanship from hawking to, fruit and potato picking until the Second World War.
Find out more about the books. Smoke in the Lanes by Dominic Reeve
The author's account of living the Gypsy life on the road in the 1950s.
Find out more about the book. Gypsy Princess by Violet Cannon
The story of Violet's parents and her childhood.
Find our more about the book.

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Teaching Resources - Friends, Families and Travellers

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Many Gypsy, Roma and Traveller young people feel that their culture and way of life is not recognised or affirmed within the education system. We have created this page to support teachers and other staff in ... Teaching Resources Read More "

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Teaching Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History

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Teaching Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History

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Published: 16th June 2021

In the UK

Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people are the largest minority ethnic group in some communities (and therefore in some schools) in the UK. Yet the past of Gypsy, Roma, Traveller people may rarely be part of history lessons. The result is that pupils of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller heritage may not encounter their past in history classrooms and myths and stereotypes may take root in the minds of others.

History teachers may not teach these histories because they lack knowledge about the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller past; they may lack cultural understanding and therefore be reticent to teach what could be sensitive and emotional material; and they may be very short of curriculum time. This webpage is designed to support teachers in this position to teach Gypsy, Roma and Traveller history.

Important context

The Council of Europe Strategic Action Plan for Roma and Traveller Inclusion (2020-2025) found that: "Many of the 10-12 million Roma and Travellers in Europe suffer from extreme poverty and exclusion. The existence of widespread anti-Gypsyism reinforces and aggravates their economic and social deprivation. These inequalities persist despite ongoing efforts at national, European, and international level to tackle anti-Roma and anti-Traveller prejudice, discrimination and crimes and address further their inclusion." (p.7) and proposed the "Promotion of the teaching of Roma and Traveller history and the Roma Holocaust and inclusion in school curricula and textbooks, also through training of trainers and teachers" (p.20) as part of the solution.

On 1 July 2020 the Council of Europe (of which the UK is a member) set out seven 'Principles and proposed actions for including the history of Roma and/or Travellers in school curricula and teaching materials '. The first of these states:

Teaching of the history of Roma and/or Travellers and its inclusion in national school curricula and teaching materials should:

1. include a balanced and contextualised teaching of Roma and/or Travellers' history, reflecting both their national presence and historical context and their common history as a people present in Europe for centuries;

2. include information about the contribution of Roma and Travellers to the national economies, in particular trade, metalwork and other handicrafts, as well as animal husbandry, and refer to various aspects of Roma and/or Travellers' history and culture, such as storytelling, literature, religion, music and traditions, as well as the asymmetric social progress and unequal access to social rights they have experienced.

Teacher subject knowledge

Prof Becky Taylor, University of East Anglia, has recorded this podcast about the history of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people in Britain (see also part 2). In it she also addresses matters of cultural understanding. Also recommended is Prof Taylor's general European survey: Another Darkness, Another Dawn: a history of Gypsies, Roma and Travellers published by Reaktion Books in 2014

A Short Animated History of Britain's Gypsies, Roma and Travellers called Roads from the Past from Travellers' Times. It gives a short overview and is useful for teachers and pupils.

Ensuring Gypsy, Roma and Traveller children do not feel unseen in the history classroom - Teaching History article by Richard Kerridge and Helen Snelson

Our Migration Story: Romani Gypsies in 16th century Britain from Runnymede Trust

Gypsies: an English History by David Cressey (OUP: 2018) is an excellent place to start for an overview of what is known about Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people and communities in England from Tudor to modern times.

Eve Rosenhaft podcast: Romani History

A text for gaining general awareness about contemporary communities is: 'Gypsies, Roma and Travellers, A Contemporary Analysis' by Declan Henry (Critical Publishing: 2022)

Teaching resources

Secondary: Do Gypsy, Roma and Traveller children see themselves in your history classroom? - Helen Snelson and Richard Kerridge, 2022

Primary: Promoting Gypsy, Roma and Traveller heritage in your primary history curriculum - Matthew Flynn (Primary History 89)

Celebrating Gypsies, Roma and Travellers (PowerPoint slides, 4MB) - A display resource for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History month in June - or for any other month of the year.

No Place to Be: A Graphic History of Gypsies and Travellers in Modern Britain (PDF, 29MB) - Gerardo D'Ambrosio & Becky Taylor

Life before the Romani Genocide - images and descriptions about life for Romani people in the 1920s and 30s.

The Friends, Families and Travellers website has a teaching resources section, and their Gypsy, Roma & Traveller History Month page has an education pack as well as previous years' materials.

Other useful web-links for history teachers

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Teaching Gypsy, Roma and Traveller history

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Published: 16th June 2021 Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people are the largest minority ethnic group in some communities (and therefore in some schools) in the UK. Yet the past of Gypsy, Roma, Traveller people may rarely be part of history lessons.

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Teaching Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History

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Teaching Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History

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Published: 16th June 2021

In the UK

Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people are the largest minority ethnic group in some communities (and therefore in some schools) in the UK. Yet the past of Gypsy, Roma, Traveller people may rarely be part of history lessons. The result is that pupils of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller heritage may not encounter their past in history classrooms and myths and stereotypes may take root in the minds of others.

History teachers may not teach these histories because they lack knowledge about the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller past; they may lack cultural understanding and therefore be reticent to teach what could be sensitive and emotional material; and they may be very short of curriculum time. This webpage is designed to support teachers in this position to teach Gypsy, Roma and Traveller history.

Important context

The Council of Europe Strategic Action Plan for Roma and Traveller Inclusion (2020-2025) found that: "Many of the 10-12 million Roma and Travellers in Europe suffer from extreme poverty and exclusion. The existence of widespread anti-Gypsyism reinforces and aggravates their economic and social deprivation. These inequalities persist despite ongoing efforts at national, European, and international level to tackle anti-Roma and anti-Traveller prejudice, discrimination and crimes and address further their inclusion." (p.7) and proposed the "Promotion of the teaching of Roma and Traveller history and the Roma Holocaust and inclusion in school curricula and textbooks, also through training of trainers and teachers" (p.20) as part of the solution.

On 1 July 2020 the Council of Europe (of which the UK is a member) set out seven 'Principles and proposed actions for including the history of Roma and/or Travellers in school curricula and teaching materials '. The first of these states:

Teaching of the history of Roma and/or Travellers and its inclusion in national school curricula and teaching materials should:

1. include a balanced and contextualised teaching of Roma and/or Travellers' history, reflecting both their national presence and historical context and their common history as a people present in Europe for centuries;

2. include information about the contribution of Roma and Travellers to the national economies, in particular trade, metalwork and other handicrafts, as well as animal husbandry, and refer to various aspects of Roma and/or Travellers' history and culture, such as storytelling, literature, religion, music and traditions, as well as the asymmetric social progress and unequal access to social rights they have experienced.

Teacher subject knowledge

Prof Becky Taylor, University of East Anglia, has recorded this podcast about the history of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people in Britain (see also part 2). In it she also addresses matters of cultural understanding. Also recommended is Prof Taylor's general European survey: Another Darkness, Another Dawn: a history of Gypsies, Roma and Travellers published by Reaktion Books in 2014

A Short Animated History of Britain's Gypsies, Roma and Travellers called Roads from the Past from Travellers' Times. It gives a short overview and is useful for teachers and pupils.

Ensuring Gypsy, Roma and Traveller children do not feel unseen in the history classroom - Teaching History article by Richard Kerridge and Helen Snelson

Our Migration Story: Romani Gypsies in 16th century Britain from Runnymede Trust

Gypsies: an English History by David Cressey (OUP: 2018) is an excellent place to start for an overview of what is known about Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people and communities in England from Tudor to modern times.

Eve Rosenhaft podcast: Romani History

A text for gaining general awareness about contemporary communities is: 'Gypsies, Roma and Travellers, A Contemporary Analysis' by Declan Henry (Critical Publishing: 2022)

Teaching resources

Secondary: Do Gypsy, Roma and Traveller children see themselves in your history classroom? - Helen Snelson and Richard Kerridge, 2022

Primary: Promoting Gypsy, Roma and Traveller heritage in your primary history curriculum - Matthew Flynn (Primary History 89)

Celebrating Gypsies, Roma and Travellers (PowerPoint slides, 4MB) - A display resource for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History month in June - or for any other month of the year.

No Place to Be: A Graphic History of Gypsies and Travellers in Modern Britain (PDF, 29MB) - Gerardo D'Ambrosio & Becky Taylor

Life before the Romani Genocide - images and descriptions about life for Romani people in the 1920s and 30s.

The Friends, Families and Travellers website has a teaching resources section, and their Gypsy, Roma & Traveller History Month page has an education pack as well as previous years' materials.

Other useful web-links for history teachers

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Teaching Gypsy, Roma and Traveller history

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Published: 16th June 2021 Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people are the largest minority ethnic group in some communities (and therefore in some schools) in the UK. Yet the past of Gypsy, Roma, Traveller people may rarely be part of history lessons.

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Watch this Heritage Documentary 'Searching for the Travelling People'

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'The Ballad of the Travelling People', created by the pioneering radio producer Charles Parker alongside folk musicians Peggy Seeger and Ewan MacColl in 1964, was the eighth of a ground-breaking series of BBC Radio Ballads that explored the lives of ordinary working people.

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Promoting Gypsy, Roma and Traveller heritage in your primary history curriculum (Podcast)

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Promoting Gypsy, Roma and Traveller heritage in your primary history curriculum (Podcast)

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Matt Flynn, published 26th November 2021

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Promoting Gypsy, Roma and Traveller heritage in your primary history curriculum

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It goes without saying that the events of Black Lives Matter have prompted many leaders and teachers to take a step back and reflect on their curriculum content and how effectively it reflects the diverse story of our islands. However, it is not just Black History that is requiring more prominence in school curriculums. Another community who arrived on our shores over five hundred years ago, yet remain on the fringes of society, often being overlooked, are Gypsy, Roma and Travellers (GRT).

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Inspirational Romani, Roma and Irish Traveller Women

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Inspirational Romani, Roma and Irish Traveller Women

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Podcast about the history of British-Irish Gypsy Travellers (2 parts)

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Podcast about the history of British-Irish Gypsy Travellers (2 parts)

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Professor Eve Rosenhaft, published 6th August 2021

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In this podcast Professor Eve Rosenhaft of the University of Liverpool looks at the history, diversity and development of the Romani community across Europe. She examines the role and influence of the Romani as part of European culture and history, the historic challenges they have faced and the rise of Romani political activism in the post war era.
Professor Rosenhaft discusses how Nazi discrimination and persecution of the Roma peoples was a continuation of practices that had become institutionalised in Germany over the previous century and looks at the impact of the holocaust and how it has been remembered.
Professor Rosenhaft also provides an introduction to the BESTROM Project which explores the cultural contribution to Europe’s public space/s of its Romani minorities (Roma, Sinti, Manouche, Gitanos, and others), considering them as agents in the processes of building shared European commons and identities.

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Video about the history of Gypsy Traveller Peoples

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Video about the history of Gypsy Traveller Peoples

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Roads From The Past - Short Film - Travellers' Times Online

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Video about history of Gypsy Traveller Peoples

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Video about history of Gypsy Traveller Peoples

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Roads From The Past - Short Film - Travellers' Times Online

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Promoting Gypsy, Roma and Traveller heritage in your primary history curriculum (Podcast)

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Promoting Gypsy, Roma and Traveller heritage in your primary history curriculum (Podcast)

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Matt Flynn, published 26th November 2021

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Promoting Gypsy, Roma and Traveller heritage in your primary history curriculum

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It goes without saying that the events of Black Lives Matter have prompted many leaders and teachers to take a step back and reflect on their curriculum content and how effectively it reflects the diverse story of our islands. However, it is not just Black History that is requiring more prominence in school curriculums. Another community who arrived on our shores over five hundred years ago, yet remain on the fringes of society, often being overlooked, are Gypsy, Roma and Travellers (GRT).

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The Traveller Movement and Twinkl teamed up to produce a free education pack that can be used in schools to celebrate Gypsy, Roma and Traveller history month (GRTHM).

The pack includes a handy tool designed to support a school assembly on the topic of GRTHM and help people understand the purpose and importance of this annual celebration. You can download your free copy here.

Travellers' Times caught up with The Traveller Movement's Education and Partnerships Manager Patricia Stapleton to find out more;
Why did you decide to partner with Twinkl to create this free education pack?
We know that Gypsy, Roma & Traveller cultures are not taught enough in schools across the UK, especially since the celebration of Gypsy Roma Traveller History Month (GRTHM) stopped being funded by the Department for Education.

To effectively challenge the discrimination faced by Gypsy Roma Traveller communities, it's so important that the tide is changed early and all children growing up have an understanding of what it truly means to be Gypsy, Roma or Traveller, instead of the biased views they get from the media and probably even at home.

On top of this, we feel it is also really important that Gypsies, Roma and Traveller children feel comfortable in school. Seeing and experiencing their culture taught and respected in this way at school is just one way of doing this.

There are activity sheets with facts about Gypsy, Roma and Travellers and their history and fun creative ideas to help bring GRTHM into the classroom for all to enjoy.

The Twinkl GRTHM resources were developed by our previous education manager Abi, our community interns and the Traveller Movements National Advisory Group.
Who do you hope it will be used by and why do you think it's important?
We've used these resources to target schools to hold special assemblies for one week in June to focus on the heritage and traditions of Gypsies, Roma and Travellers.

We've also requested schools to include these resources in multi-cultural days. The schools we have visited have had such a positive response to these resources and we know that they will be making a difference to children everywhere, helping them to enjoy GRTHM.

More than these resources being used by schools though, we are calling for every school in the country to celebrate GRTHM, every year!

We also have a children's book, which is a useful tool to combat bullying and have also developed a lesson plan to help deliver this key message.

You can contact the education team on 0207 607 2002 if you would like to deliver the lesson plan in your school.

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Free education pack to celebrate Gypsy, Roma and Traveller history month

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The Traveller Movement and Twinkl teamed up to produce a free education pack that can be used in schools to celebrate Gypsy, Roma and Traveller history month (GRTHM). The pack includes a handy tool designed to support a school assembly on the topic of GRTHM and help people understand the purpose and importance of this annual celebration.

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I'm Not Allowed to Play with you Anymore

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I'm Not Allowed to Play with you Anymore

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A story about the impact of racism on developing minds

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This short story is produced by the Traveller Movement in co-operation with members of the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community and is based on real experiences. We would like to thank all those involved in creating this story. The project was funded by the Department for Communities and Local Government.

A short story by the Traveller Movement Illustrations by Liz Pope www.ejpea.com Copyright ©2017 Traveller Movement Charity no. 1107113 Company no. 4038939 No portion of this book may be reproduced in any way, except short quotation for the purpose of review, without the express written consent of the author. The Traveller Movement The Resource Centre, 356 Holloway Road, London, N7 6PA Tel 020 7607 2002 | Fax 020 7607 2005 www.travellermovement.org.uk

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I'm Not Allowed to Play With You Anymore

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This short story is produced by the Traveller Movement in co-operation with members of the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community and is based on real experiences. We would like to thank all those involved in creating this story. The project was funded by the Department for Communities and Local Government.

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Relationships, Sexual Health and Parenthood FAQs

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Relationships, Sexual Health and Parenthood FAQs

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This section of the RSHP Scot website poses and answers a number of frequently asked questions about the resource.

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Relationships, Sexual Health and Parenthood

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How do primaries acknowledge and respond to concerns about RSHP?

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How do primaries acknowledge and respond to concerns about RSHP?

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Damian Le Bas (Author, Narrator), Penguin Audio (Publisher)

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The Stopping Places (Audio Download): Damian Le Bas, Damian Le Bas, Penguin Audio: Amazon.co.uk: Books

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STEP Case studies (Oban, Edinburgh and  D&G)

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STEP Case studies (Oban, Edinburgh and  D&G)

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The content on this page reflects the stories of people from Hampshire's Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities who chose to stay in education. The qualifications and training they went on to receive has led to some great careers.

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Supporting young women from Black, Minority, Ethnicity (BME) backgrounds in secondary school

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Supporting young women from Black, Minority, Ethnicity (BME) backgrounds in secondary school

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The Action for Children Heritage and Inclusion Project is helping to reduce levels of isolation felt by young ethnic women in Edinburgh. The project supports young women from Black, Minority, Ethnicity (BME) backgrounds to spend time researching and developing heritage learning using oral histories, archives and art collections, allowing them to become more aware of their own heritage and increase their participation within their own communities.

Explore this resource

Over 50 BME young people in Edinburgh have been supported by the Heritage and Inclusion project to participate in the Duke of Edinburgh award and they have produced two videos which highlight issues related to equality and inclusion.

'My Heritage' is a six minute video featuring young women from different cultural backgrounds and focusses on equality issues relating to gender, race, culture and religion. The young women explore the importance of their culture and heritage and of challenging the assumptions and misconceptions of others. 'Everyone has a choice' is a central message of the video.

'Cultural Inclusion' is a three minute video where members of the project highlight the importance of understanding other people's culture and religion. The young women focus on the need to challenge preconceptions and show that understanding different cultures is the first step to inclusion.

How to use this resource

The videos can be used to support open, honest conversations about gender, race, culture and religion and to counter some of the misinformation that has spread in recent years, particularly in some sections of the media. They should be used in the context of a broader anti-racist education programme, and may assist establishments to meet their legal obligations to promote equality and tackle discrimination based on gender, race and religion.

The resource also focuses on participation and empowering young to people to have their voices heard.

Improvement questions

To what extent do we celebrate diversity of race, religion and cultures?

How do we, as an establishment, support all of our young people to feel listened to, valued and included?

As practitioners, do we support young people to question media content and potential bias?

To what extent do we use whole setting approaches or class settings to explore issues related to racial equality?

Further information

The Heritage and Inclusion Project provides an example of good practice in widening participation. Research conducted by Action for Children found that many young women from Sikh and Muslim families have limited opportunities to take part in extra curriculum activities and further education due to cultural barriers.

In the past, the Duke of Edinburgh award has not been accessible to all groups due to cultural restrictions. Levels of participation in this award programme were negotiated and adapted to be inclusive for all young people, raising the statistics in Scotland considerably for participation by diverse groups. Due to the innovation and dedication of the project leader there are now more ethnically and culturally diverse girls participating in the award in Edinburgh than in the rest of Scotland.

The inclusive activities increase self-esteem, confidence, and cultural awareness. The project:

Delivers cultural awareness through art and film;

Supports positive destinations;

Delivers awareness of services available to young women focusing on young women's rights;

Supports refugee and asylum seekers.

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Heritage and Inclusion Project - Supporting young women from Black, Minority, Ethnicity (BME) backgrounds in secondary school

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Education Scotland is a Scottish Government executive agency responsible for supporting quality and improvement in Scottish education.

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Gypsy, Roma and Traveller ( GRT) pupils are among the lowest achieving groups of pupils at every key stage of education, although some GRT pupils achieve very well at school.

There are many complex and interwoven factors that may influence the educational attainment of GRT pupils. Schools and local authorities can make a big difference to their life chances through:

clear high expectations of all pupils, regardless of their background

an inclusive culture that welcomes all communities

strong engagement from parents

Kingsholm Primary School (Gloucestershire)

Compared to reception year, this primary school has a much higher proportion of pupils of Traveller ethnicity and pupils joining the school later. The school reports that most GRT pupils have good attendance and attainment. Ofsted has rated Kingsholm Primary as outstanding.

Strong community relations

Ofsted recognises the school's successful promotion of good relations between pupils from different communities and its refusal to tolerate discrimination of any kind. Initiatives designed to prevent discrimination include whole school assemblies to raise awareness of GRT culture.

High expectations of attendance

Kingsholm Primary also has rigorous attendance systems, with the same high expectations for all pupils' attendance, regardless of their ethnicity. There is a named attendance officer who works closely with GRT parents to ensure they understand the possible sanctions for any unauthorised absence. The attendance officer follows up any cases of lateness or absence on the same day.

Working with occupationally mobile families

The school has good relations with its Showmen families, working closely with them to plan any periods of travelling for work, helping to minimise disruption to pupils' education. For example, the school encourages Showmen to try to arrange their work so that pupils can attend the school at the start of term and to dual register their children at 2 or more schools while they travel.

Shirley Community Nursery and Primary School (Cambridgeshire)

Around half of all children at Shirley Primary are from minority ethnic backgrounds, with around 90 children of GRT ethnicity. Ofsted's most recent report notes that Traveller children are making good progress at the school. Ofsted has rated Shirley Primary as good.

Identifying the concerns

The school works with GRT pupils and parents to identify any concerns. This includes:

pupil voice interviews with GRT children about their attitudes to school and homework to inform the school's understanding of any issues they experience

consultations with parents, including a questionnaire to capture their main concerns and assess the level of interest in future events for parents

Parental engagement

The school identified that GRT parents lacked confidence in their knowledge of what their children are learning in maths and phonics, and how they might support these areas at home. The school's interventions included:

a jointly run session with the on-site children's centre for GRT parents, invited personally by school staff (one such session, recognising that GRT communities have an oral story culture, supported parents to understand how to construct a written story, and gave them a 'story sack' resource to support their children's learning at home)

support for children beginning school, including introductory sessions for parents and children on the main areas of learning that will be covered at school, and expectations of good attendance and behaviour

regular tailored update letters to GRT parents on their children's progress in reception class

The school reports higher levels of usage of the children's centre, improved parental engagement and a smoother transition from early years provision to primary school.

Wisbech St Mary CoE Primary School (Cambridgeshire)

This small primary school has around 160 pupils, with a large minority of Gypsies and Irish Travellers. The school reports good attainment of GRT pupils up to key stage 2. Ofsted has rated Wisbech St Mary Primary as good.

Supporting transition to secondary school

Having identified that GRT parents were more likely than other communities to opt for home education after primary school, the school put into place additional support for their transition to secondary school. Their actions included:

a designated teaching assistant and home liaison officer from Cambridgeshire's Traveller Education Team working with parents to identify and alleviate common concerns, such as explaining the secondary school's anti-bullying policies to the parents

year 5 and 6 pupils spending a day at a local secondary school to carry out an enterprise project, looking at what they will learn in secondary school and how it will improve their employment prospects.

parent-and-child visits to the secondary school to familiarise themselves with the building and staff

Parkside Community Primary School (Kent)

This small primary school has a higher-than-average number of pupils of Romany or Gypsy heritage. Ofsted reports that pupils' achievement, including those of GRT heritage, is good and improving across the school. Ofsted has rated the school as good overall.

To achieve these results, Parkside School has:

set high expectations from the senior management team for the attainment, attendance and inclusion of all pupils, including GRT children

raised awareness of GRT history and culture through assemblies and events like book week, including oral storytelling

ensured all staff attend Kent local authority's training to develop awareness of GRT history and culture

adopted a no-tolerance approach to bullying

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Gypsy, Roma and Traveller pupils: supporting access to education

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Schools showing successful practice in improving the attainment and attendance of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller (GRT) pupils.

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Raising Gypsy Traveller Pupil Attainment: Introduction

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Raising Gypsy Traveller Pupil Attainment: Introduction

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Raising Gypsy Traveller Pupil Attainment: Leadership and Management

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Raising Gypsy Traveller Pupil Attainment: Leadership and Management

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Raising Gypsy Traveller Pupil Attainment: Learning and Teaching

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Raising Gypsy Traveller Pupil Attainment: Learning and Teaching

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Raising Gypsy Traveller Pupil Attainment: Engagement with Parents, Carers and the Wider Community

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Raising Gypsy Traveller Pupil Attainment: Engagement with Parents, Carers and the Wider Community

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A Good Practice Guide for Improving Educational Outcomes for Gypsy Traveller Children in Education

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A Good Practice Guide for Improving Educational Outcomes for Gypsy Traveller Children in Education

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There are simple, practical methods for integrating Traveller children into the education system, as my school has shown, yet local and national government has yet to pick up on them

Travellers are one of the most marginalised and vulnerable ethnic minorities in Britain and far too often their needs - in particular for their education - are overlooked. In Traveller communities it is sometimes accepted that children will not receive a secondary education. It is worrying this acceptance now appears to be shared by local and national government.

Education is one of the strongest methods of successfully integrating minorities into the wider community. It's time those in power took the issue of education for Traveller children more seriously.

If we fail, we risk condemning another generation of Travellers to a life of poverty, racial stereotyping, and social exclusion. Why am I concerned about this? Over the past 10 years my school, Holy Family Catholic Primary in South Gloucestershire, has welcomed significantly more than the average number of Traveller children through its doors. Some years, almost a third of the children have come from the Traveller community.

Teaching Traveller children is challenging but extremely fulfilling, and we have made significant progress. This has been achieved through the hard work of our staff, reaching out to the community, building relationships and trust with a group still apprehensive about dealing with outsiders.

When you consider that slang like "gypsy" and "pikey" is still culturally acceptable, as is a disdain for Traveller lifestyles, this apprehensiveness about dealing with community structures, such as schools, is understandable.

Traditionally, this nervousness to integrate has resulted in low school attendance. At Holy Family, we have managed to turn this around and achieved it by setting out on an ambitious programme of training and learning about the Traveller community.

We identified a member of staff responsible for visiting homes and building links, and by fostering these attendance has increased, integration of Traveller parents has improved and a governor responsible for Traveller relations has been established. We also looked at the needs of Traveller children and developed a curriculum that makes learning accessible, providing skills needed for further education.

Nevertheless, more still needs to be done above and beyond the actions of one school.

First, the government needs to radically rethink its home-schooling policies. Parents are entitled to educate their children how they see fit. But if children are home schooled, there needs to be considerably more safeguarding and standards checking than is currently applied.

It is far too easy for those in the Traveller community to use the home-schooling argument to opt out of education. Everything we have seen suggests parents who have been to secondary school themselves are more likely to send their children there as well. Toughening up home-school inspection would not only put an end to legalised truancy, but would also send a clear message to the Traveller community that Britain takes their education and integration seriously.

The next is funding. We were able to fund our work on Traveller integration but not every school can. If the government is serious about fostering community cohesion, funding for minority outreach is essential.

Schools must also take a pragmatic approach. Look at small changes you could make with a large impact. Highlight a member of staff responsible for minority relations. Consider adapting the curriculum slightly: for example, Traveller children tend to spend a great deal of time outdoors so we became a Forest School in order to incorporate this into our pedagogy.

Of course, not every school is going to find themselves in the same specific situation as us. The Traveller population varies depending on where you are, but the approach we take is important for two reasons.

Firstly, just because a minority is small, it doesn't mean you should make a minimal efforts to integrate them. Secondly, the methods we used to integrate with the Traveller community are the same as those we would have used to reach any isolated and marginalised section of society.

"Integration" is a buzzword politicians are particularly fond of using, but the onus of integration should not be left to minorities alone.

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There are simple, practical methods for integrating Traveller children into the education system, as my school has shown, yet local and national government has yet to pick up on them Travellers are one of the most marginalised and vulnerable ethnic minorities in Britain and far too often their needs - in particular for their education - are overlooked.