Scottish Traveller Education Programme

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Welcome to STEP: background

Moray House has had a long interest in pursuing equality of opportunity in learning for Gypsies and Travellers in Scotland: since 1985 (following the COSLA report which proposed that a national centre be established within one of the teacher training colleges to take a lead in this area) it has received funding on an annual basis from the Scottish Office to support such work. Initially the funds supported several members of staff, on an ad hoc basis, integrating their research findings into the teacher training programmes. Several working parties, involving many of the practitioners in the field, were instituted and small conferences held, between 1986 and 1990, within the central belt.

In 1990 a new post was designated within Moray House for a lecturer who would take a national lead in promoting equality in learning for Gypsies and Travellers in Scotland. In 1991 the Scottish Traveller Education Programme (STEP) was set up as a national centre with a specified remit to the Scottish Office. The main thrust was on school age children and developing more responsive curricula, to promote action within local authorities and schools, liaise with other relevant bodies within the UK and the European Community, provide advice and support to the Scottish Office as requested and generally be proactive in taking a lead in promoting positive change.

STEP's early work included working with a range of institutions including, the Advisory Committee on Scotland's Travelling People (see 8th Term Report), the Showmen's Guild of Great Britain, SGTA, voluntary organisations, the National Association of Teachers of Travellers (NATT) and the Traveller Education Network (TENET), EFECOT and the Centre de Recherches Tsiganes (European wide networks).

More recently, the above European networks have collapsed. The Scottish Parliament and the Scottish Executive are now in place. After some changes in its funding, STEP is funded on a three yearly basis by the Scottish Executive. Each year's funds are allocated after a review of STEP's progress in an agreed programme of work.

For example, STEP's research (2006) into Scotland's public schools use and benefit of the Guidance (2003) has produced a specific programme of work, which includes exploring the development of an e-learning community for Gypsy and Traveller school-aged children and young people. With the support of a newly constituted Programme Advisory Group (PAG), STEP has commenced preliminary enquires into the piloting of an e-learning community. Working with and supported by Learning and Teaching Scotland’s GLOW services (http://www.glowscotland.org.uk/, invited local authorities will develop and deliver this ICT supported learning opportunity to meet the learning and additional support needs of some Gypsy and Traveller children and young people.

The above work is in addition to the general work outlined below, and includes,

research giving a clear focus on the situation of Gypsies and Travellers within Scottish education today;
developing more appropriate content and delivery of the curriculum, particularly in relation to their educational needs associated with interrupted learning (e.g. DfES funded ELAMP projects that deliver Distance Learning, and in raising awareness and teacher training);
linking into and supporting the development of other organisations with a role to play in effecting change, such as the Scottish Gypsy/Traveller Law Reform Coalition, the Scottish Executive's Gypsy/Traveller Strategic Group (a short term group constituted to respond the Scottish Parliament, Equal Opportunities Commission's 37 recommendations for Gypsy/Travellers), the Showmen's Guild of Great Britain, Save the Children (Scotland) and other voluntary organisations, the National Association of Teachers of Travellers (NATT), the Scottish Traveller Education Network (TENET), The CRE – Scotland (which will be replaced in late 2007 by a new body, the Commission for Equality and Human Rights (CEHR), and CERES's Race Relations (Amendment) Act Officers Network (EDENS);
an information service with an associated library(for consultation) & resource centre;
teacher training and awareness raising materials (including publication of national guidelines and multimedia support materials);
holding national and international conferences to promote the exchange of information and enhance productivity.