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“It’s a Wonderful Life”: Showmen’s Children and Families Exhibition at Thorntree Primary School

Tuesday 1st of December 2009

At Thorntree Primary School, children from Showmen families make up their largest minority group. Thorntree Primary School ran a Curriculum for Excellence project to celebrate their cultural diversity and to show how Showmen fit within wider communities. The School staff enabled their children to improve their literacy and ICT skills and develop their photography skills using cameras. The children developed a Curriculum for Excellence Project, which involved staff who enabled them to improve their ICT, photography and communication skills. By using cameras the children were able to showcase their “wonderful life” through words and images. This information was then shared with the wider school community. Their parents welcomed and supported this project as a way of telling others about who they are and how they work.

read more in the Positive Images section of the STEP site.

 

South Lanarkshire’s Gypsy Traveller Creative Learning Group at Universal Connections Larkhall

The Gypsy Traveller Creative Learning Group (GTCLG) started in 2003. Its Gypsy/Traveller Project worker worked with Universal Connections staff in Larkhall to secure funding from South Lanarkshire Council and the then Scottish Executive to support a teacher to work 0.4 with Gypsy/Traveller young people of secondary school age. Larkhall Academy agreed to supply a teacher 0.4 a week, on what was seen as a ‘pilot’ project. The GTCLG, while still classed as a ‘pilot’, has been visited three times by HMIE; two of whom described the project as an example of excellence.

read more in the Positive Images section of the STEP site.

 

Guardian Article: My Gypsy Childhood, by Roxy Freeman

Monday 7 September 2009

Roxy Freeman never went to school. But at the age of 22, she decided to get a formal education, forcing her to face up to the prejudices that blight her Gypsy community – and to shackle her wandering spirit

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/sep/07/gypsy-childhood-prejudice-education

 

For people who work with children or work on their behalf - Do the Right Thing

Do the Right Thing http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2009/09/31115520 is the Scottish Government’s response to the 2008 concluding observations from the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child. This document addresses the issues faced by children in terms of the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). The UK is believed to be falling short of fully implementing the UNCRC. After consultation with a wide-ranging list of Scottish stakeholders, which included groups working with and for Gypsy/Traveller children and young people, the report outlines its commitments and approaches to ensuring that “the voices of children and young people are heard and taken account of.”

 

Eleanor Thom - new writer with roots in a Scottish Traveller family

Eleanor Thom is a new writer with family roots in a Scottish Traveller family. Eleanor’s first book, The Tin-Kin was published this year. While The Tin-Kin tells a fictional story it was based on photos, artefacts and memories of Eleanor’s mother’s Travelling family.

Like a forbear Betsy Whyte, Eleanor tells an amazing tale, and tells it amazingly well, but unlike Betsy Whyte, she has a website! Click onto the website http://www.eleanorthom.com/podcast and hear for yourself some readings from the book. An added sparkle was added to this excitement as Eleanor was invited to appear at the Edinburgh Book Festival 2009. Her presentation was impressive, combining her love of writing well with her love of the stories told her as a child.

 

STEP Newsletter - August 2009

We will aim to do a regular newsletter (aiming for 3 a year) Helpful comments are welcome – hope you enjoy it.

Download STEP Newsletter, August 2009 (PDF)

 

Working in partnership, an e-learning community pilot for secondary-aged Travelling learners

With the advances of the Internet and Technology the opportunities for learners to access the curriculum
online are ever increasing. An e-learning community provides distance learning, which will help reduce the
impact of interruptions to learning. Internet supported learning will allow access a tailored curriculum –
anytime and anywhere. The Scottish Government has provided a grant award to enable STEP’s
appointment of a facilitator to manage an exciting pilot development to improve educational outcomes for
Travelling young people.

Download leaflet for further information (PDF, 1MB)

Scottish Child Law Centre: Helping Traveller children and young people understand their right and how the Scottish law affects them

Scottish Child Law Centre - the only Law Centre in Scotland that works exclusively for children and young people. We provide services throughout the whole of Scotland. We help children and young people, their families and carers, and professionals working for and with children by providing expert advice and information through our advice line, email and text services.  All legal queries are answered by fully qualified solicitors.  We also provide training on the law and children's rights to groups and individuals across Scotland, and offer a range of leaflets and publications on various issues. We do school visits as well.

Contact Information:
Freephone for under 18s: 0800 328 8970
Telephone: 0131 667 6333 
Text: text 'SCLC' and your question to 80800
Fax: 0131 662 1713
Post: 54 East Crosscauseway, Edinburgh, EH8 9HD
E-mail: enquiries@sclc.org.uk
Website:   www.sclc.org.uk

Holocaust Memorial Day – January 2009: STEP’s Contribution

‘Holocaust Memorial Day – 27th January - is recognised internationally as the day to commemorate victims of the Holocaust and Nazi persecution as well as victims of later genocides – Rwanda, Bosnia and Kosovo. It also explores wider issues of prejudice, hatred, discrimination and community cohesion in Britain today.' This year’s HMD theme was ‘Stand up to Hatred’.

stepThe Holocaust Memorial Day Trust (www.hmd.org.uk) developed a number of resources and materials that focussed on standing up to the hatred of stereotyping and discrimination many minorities still face in Britain today.

The City of Edinburgh Council Services for Communities and Children and Families this year aimed to develop a 'partnership' programme of Stand up to Hatred commemorative events and displays. STEP was invited to participate in this partnership; this article describes its contribution.

As part of the Council’s wider programme in Edinburgh, STEP aimed to raise awareness among colleagues and students here at Moray House, by:

  • hosting an exhibition of HMD educational resources

  • facilitatating the delivery of two workshops by Gypsy/Traveller young people for University students.

Staff at STEP hoped that these events would stimulate dialogue around the importance of race and equality training in relation to Scotland’s Travelling communities.

Read more about the Holocaust Memorial Day

 

International Roma Day 8th April 2009 - hear Hilary Clinton's message to governments to end racist treatment of Roma people

In recognition of International Roma Day, Secretary Clinton delivered the following message via video:

International Roma Day is an opportunity call attention to the history, experience, and human rights of Europe’s largest ethnic minority.

Promoting and protecting the rights of Roma has long been of personal interest to me. I saw firsthand the plight of the Roma – particularly Romani women and children – when I visited Roma communities in Central and Eastern Europe as First Lady. As a member of the Helsinki Commission, I urged governments to do more to protect and promote the 10 million Roma who live in Europe.

Despite important progress that has been made in the past decade, many Roma still live on the margins of society. They continue to experience racial profiling, violence, discrimination and other human rights abuses. Too often they lack identity documents or citizenship papers, which excludes them from voting, social services, education, and employment opportunities that would enable them to participate more fully in the countries in which they live.

The United States is committed to protecting and promoting the human rights of Roma through our bilateral relations and through our involvement in organizations such as the United Nations and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.

Governments have a special responsibility to ensure that minority communities have the tools of opportunity they need to succeed as productive and responsible members of society. I urge governments throughout Europe to continue their efforts to address the plight of Roma, end discrimination and ensure equality of opportunity in education and employment so that Roma can fulfill their greater promise of success and achievement.

Roma have a rich artistic and cultural heritage, which has left an indelible mark across Europe and the world. It is in the interests of the larger European and global community to create conditions that maximize success for all people within our borders and beyond. I hope that events taking place at our embassies and missions around the world on International Roma Day will be one more step on the path to helping Roma reach a better, brighter future.

15th-20th April 2009: Scottish Showmen's season starts at Kirkcaldy Links Market

15th – 20th April 2009 - The start of the Scottish Showmen’s season at Kirkcaldy Links Market – See the following link for more information www.linksmarket.org.uk.

Planning to Act workshops for young people

Planning Aid Scotland has produced a video of their recent Planning to Act workshop for young people, held in North Ayrshire in 2008. The half-day arts-based workshop aims to raise awareness of the planning system and young people's potential role within it in a creative way.

planning to act

planning to act

Read more about Planning to Act

 

STEP to Host Two Events for Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) 2009

On January 27, 2009 from 10:00am- 3:30 pm

A general invitation is extended to university staff and undergraduates to view an exhibition of HMD resources in the Chessel's Gallery, Chessel's Land, Holyrood Road.

On February 9, 2009 from 1:00pm-5:00pm

STEP has worked with Save the Children and academic colleagues at the University of Edinburgh’s Department of Educational Studies to facilitate the delivery of 2 workshops given by Gypsy/Travellers for undergraduate students at the University.

"This workshop will be delivered by young Gypsy/Travellers who decided that rather than complain about their difficult experiences in education and with the help of Save The Children they would get organised, and in the spirit of Curriculum for Excellence - as 'responsible citizens' and 'effective contributors' – to prepare materials and deliver workshops that highlight their cultures and interests in education.

This workshop is a good opportunity to talk with the young people and in so doing to begin addressing the prejudices that underpin the social acceptance of racism against Gypsies in the UK today."

 

Paper to download: Moving beyond memories: exploring Romani writing in Austria and Traveller writing in Scotland Paper presented by Marianne Zwicker to the Annual Meeting of the Gypsy Lore Society – Washington DC 2008

Marianne Zwicker, a doctoral student and part-time researcher at STEP presented the following paper at the 2008 Annual Meeting of the Gypsy Lore Society at the Georgetown Conference Center in Washington D.C. Marianne was appreciative of support from STEP and the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures at the University of Edinburgh, which enabled her to present an aspect of her doctoral research into Romani writing in Germany and Austria. Marianne described her time at the Conference as a ‘wonderful experience’ and as a much appreciated opportunity to meet other researchers in the field of Romani studies.

Marianne can be contacted by email: M.Zwicker@sms.ed.ac.uk or mari_zwicker@yahoo.de

download the paper: Moving Beyond Memories (PDF)

First impressions at Appleby 2008

Margaret Barrett and Pat Holland, Support for Learning staff with a remit of Gypsy/Traveller education, visited the Appleby Horse Fair for the first time.

read the story of their trip

Launching of My Learning Record and Initial Rapid Assessment Guide (IRAG) Perth March 2008 - updated 2 September 08

As a result of recent research with teachers, Gypsy/Traveller and travelling show and fairground families, a draft version of the My Learning Record was piloted, evaluated and developed with families alongside school and designated teachers across 4 local authorities: Moray, Angus, South Lanarkshire and Highland.

The Scottish Government funded published draft is written in a child friendly way, however, its sections map onto current educational legislation and policy. As a hand held record of the child’s experiences in his/her last few schools, the record is brought to the school by the family. The My Learning Record has space to record information about a young person’s learning.

It aims to provide a teacher with an initial transfer of curricular information that is meaningful to the child. The My Learning Record works alongside the IRAG. This spiral bound document provides a class teacher or teacher working in out-of-school settings with some fun activities to quickly assess a mobile pupil's learning needs.

Together with Keeping in Touch, a STEP leaflet designed to encourage parents to stay in touch with school or out-of school teachers, these national documents aim to establish good practice in supporting learning and teaching, and in keeping track of mobile learners. In particular, they aim to support those learners living in or passing through education authorities with less well developed ‘education outwith school’ services. STEP prepared two versions of the parental leaflet Keeping in Touch, one that is more relevant for Gypsy/Traveller families and one for traveling show and fairground families.

read more about (and download copies of) these new resources

 

Report: Moving On – Again? A survey of Gypsies/Travellers’ views in the North East of Scotland

Ian Taggart LLM, University of Aberdeen

The author of the above research, carried out recently in the North East of Scotland, is currently completing a PhD thesis examining areas of the law as they affect Gypsies/Travellers. Importantly, the research was conducted with families from communities of Travellers; some of whom refer to themselves as Scottish Travellers, while others refer to themselves as Gypsy Travellers. Families who make up these communities currently do not have legal status as an ethnic minority. However, the Scottish Parliament and Scottish Government recognise that these communities comprise Scotland’s oldest ethnic minority. The research draws on an earlier survey that examined Gypsy/Traveller families’ views on public services for Gypsy/Traveller families living in Scotland today.

Gypsy/Traveller communities should not be confused with travelling show and fairground families, who comprise mobile business communities, albeit with their own distinctive cultures, histories and social identities.

Download Moving On – Again? A survey of Gypsies/Travellers’ views in the North East of Scotland in PDF format

 

What does "additional support for learning" mean to a young person?

Enquire recently launched its new young people’s website http://www.enquire.org.uk/yp/ The event, which took place in Edinburgh at the Children in Scotland Offices, was attended by people from different backgrounds, an observation that signals the wide appeal of Additional Support for Learning approaches to meeting children’s unmet learning needs.

ask enquire

read more about the new Enquire services

 

Gypsy Arts Festival, Scotland, August 2008

The Gypsy Arts Festival, owned and produced by The Hungry Arts Ltd, celebrates Gypsy music, food and culture Douglas Hunter, The Festival Director, has organized a Gypsy Arts Festival for Scotland. Events will be held from Monday 25 to Sunday 31 August 2008 at various Scottish venues. The Scottish Storytelling Centre, The Famous Spiegeltent, and The Scottish MELA, Edinburgh, Scotland (See http://www.gypsyartsfestival.co.uk/scotland.html).

This Scottish festival will follow the success of the first two Gypsy Arts Festivals, held in Suffolk in July 2006 and 2007 and funded by: the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Suffolk City Council, the Museum of East Anglian Life, Mid-Suffolk district, Arts Council England and Screen East. 

The festivals held in Suffolk featured Gypsy food, with traditional dishes such as bacon pudding, rabbit stew, and sausage pudding being prepared over an open fire. Other highlights of the festival included arts and crafts workshops, films, painted wagons, dance, music and storytelling. The World Music Concert provided a festive ending to the weekends, featuring different Gypsy bands from around the world. 

For more information on the date and location of the festival, please refer to the website cited above, or email the Festival Director, Douglas Hunter: info@gypsyartsfestival.co.uk.

 

‘IMAGINE—Remember, Reflect, React’: Holocaust Remembrance Scotland.

Holocaust Memorial Day, Monday January 28, 2008 at the Eastwood Park Theatre, East Renfrewshire

Hosted by the East Renfrewshire Council, Scotland’s Holocaust Memorial event focused on this year’s theme of ‘Imagine—Remember, Reflect, React’.  Pupils from East Renfrewshire schools prepared questions in reference to this year’s theme and were present to ask the panel about the Holocaust and its relevance today.

The panel included Ms Nicola Sturgeon MSP, Deputy First Minister & Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing, Ms Annabel Goldie MSP, Leader of the Scottish Conservative Party, Mr Ken Macintosh MSP, Shadow Minister for Schools, Dr Stephen Smith MBE, Chair of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust and Mr John Loughton, Chair of the Scottish Youth Parliament.  Chairing the Question and Answer session was the Rt. Hon George Reid.

read more about the Imagine event

 

Research and Practice: Children, Young People and Families Research Conference at New Lanark, January 18-19, 2008, features Gypsy/Traveller Young People

Organised by the Department of Educational and Professional Studies at the University of Strathclyde and the Glasgow School of Social work, the above conference continued the work of the Children, Young People and Families Research Network initiated last year. A Research Enhancement Grant from Strathclyde University supported the event, which highlighted the important role of research in informing policy and practice. The conference’s Inclusive Education, Inclusive Practices panels included presentations that showed how carrying out research with young people provides insights into everyday experience that contribute to more effective practice.

On the opening day of the conference, a spotlight session featured a presentation called Our Voices: Young Gypsy/Travellers in Scotland. Delivered by Gypsy/Traveller young people, with support from Michelle Lloyd of Save the Children, Edinburgh, the audience enjoyed the presentation and learned a lot about the experience of being a Gypsy/Traveller in Scotland today.  

STEP’s director, Dr. Pauline Padfield delivered a researchbased presentation entitled, Negotiating the complexities of educational access: “If me mam says you’ve got to have a good job like I’ll get a job and I’ll get a good job”. Carried out with Traveller young people and families from the different communities of Travellers that make up Scotland’s travelling people, the presentation demonstrated the issues that shape Travellers’ capacity to access education.

Both presentations provided valuable opportunities for conference-goers to learn about Scotland’s mobile communities. The presentations challenged the prejudices that many Travellers from these hard to reach groups face on a daily basis, and aimed to broaden conference goers’ understandings of Scotland’s diverse Traveller communities.

The overall aim of the conference was to provide space and time for an exchange of knowledge between a wide range of participants; from young people and students to academics and research users. The hope was expressed that this would lead to further collaborations in the future. For Further information please contact the conference organiser:

Dr. Daniela Sime
Lecturer
Educational and Professional Studies
University of Strathclyde
Jordanhill Campus
76 Southbrae Drive
Glasgow, G13 1PP
Phone no: 0141 950 3155
Email: Daniela Sime daniela.sime@strath.ac.uk

 

Different Together: Anti-Racist Curriculum for Glasgow: An Approach for Early Years - February 6th 2008

Glasgow City Council invited STEP to deliver a presentation about Gypsy/Traveller culture and their educational needs at Glasgow's high profile launch of its newly developed anti-racist curriculum pack for Early Years. The audience at Celtic Park Stadium included 150 headteachers. Glasgow's pack contains anti-racist curricular materials for young children, advice and CPD materials for teachers and ideas for working with parents and carers.

STEP's presentation, delivered by Ingrid Todd and Pauline Padfield, aimed to raise awareness of Gypsy/Traveller cultures and lifestyles.

read more about the "Different Together" event

 

New Literature about Gypsies and Travellers for 2008

'More and more people, including Gypsies and Travellers themselves, want to read more accurate and authentic books about or by Gypsies'.  Robert Dawson

Robert Dawson's website www.robertdawson.co.uk offers a selection of literature about and by Gypsies and Travellers as well as a wide range of other materials, e.g. greeting cards and games. Known as 'the specialist Gypsy publisher', Dawson has published many books to meet the growing demand for reliable publications concerning Gypsy/Traveller/Romani history, culture, language and life.

Dawson's new flyer, titled 'Gypsies: A most misunderstood people: Books for Libraries Colleges and Statutory Bodies', lists new and older titles available to order. Included in Dawson's selection are autobiographies, collections of letters and stories, and many books specifically geared towards children and young people (Click here to view PDF).

Please refer to the website link provided above or email Robert Dawson at bob@robertdawson.co.uk for specific details of the books available and information on how to order.

 

A Norwegian Perspective on educational provision for Gypsies and Travellers: A September visit to Scotland 2007

Anne Lund and Bente Moen from the Faculty of Teacher Education and Interpreting, Sor-Trondelag University College, Norway visited STEP to gain an overview of Scottish local authorities' educational provision for Gypsy and Traveller children and young people.

During a meeting at STEP, the Norwegian teachers described their project: How to make Romani children more included in school and classes and how to make them succeed in the school system

read more about the visit


Domestic abuse and child protection workshop, 5 September 2007

TENETAs part of a rolling programme of CPD organised by STEP for members of the Traveller Education Network (TENET) Janette de Haan, a Development Officer at the Glasgow Women's Support Project, delivered a highly informative training day. This day built on last year's initial Domestic Abuse training day. Supported by research into the incidence and the effects of domestic abuse, on women, on their children and their ability to mother, the training day helped deepen our understanding of the overlap between domestic abuse and child protection, and the links between child abuse and woman abuse.  The training covered issues of safety planning and support strategies for women and children living in abusive situations.

Members of TENET highlighted ways of developing strategies within their particular working settings. For example, it was suggested that multi-agency approaches be supported by sensitive information sharing between site-managers, health and social workers, education support staff and police.

It was suggested that the Scottish Government or the Zero Tolerance Trust for example should develop stickers designed to raise boys' and men's awareness of the levels of violence against women, its impact on their own lives as well as those of the women and children involved. Building on the practice of posting awareness raising materials about a range of protection issues in women's public conveniences, it was suggested that information for men and boy's be put up in men's public toilets across the country.

Feedback on the day was 100% positive about its coverage and the sensitivity of its delivery. Unusually, emails were received after the day's event: “This was a new area for me and I found it very informative.”  Certainly, the information brought home the range of complexities involved for all concerned; this subject is not one that professionals can safely ignore. Other feedback from one local authority has shown that the issues have been taken forward.  A meeting between education, site managers and community police has been set up to discuss the issues raised with a view to drawing up some guidance for good practice and to identify other agencies it may be appropriate to involve.

The workshop was timely; the Summer 2007 edition of the Travellers' Times (http://www.travellerstimes.org.uk/) contained an article about domestic abuse among Travellers, followed by a letter of support in Winter 2007 edition, which shows that Travellers themselves want to address these issues among their own communities.

Contact details, a wide range of information, suggestions for further reading and a postal book loan system are accessible through the Women's Support Project by clicking on the following link www.womenssupportproject.co.uk.

 

STEP at the Scottish Learning Festival 2007 - On the move with Scotland's Travelling communities: Supporting learning and teaching; connecting learners and teachers

24 and 25 of September 2007

STEP was delighted to receive an invitation to deliver a seminar at this year's Scottish Learning Festival (SLF). Formerly called SETT, the SLF event took place at the SECC and Clyde Auditorium in Glasgow.

read more about the seminar

News on Roma from Europe

The process of widening the European Union has increased mobility between member states. Since 2004, Scotland has welcomed migrant workers from Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia. From the 1 January 2007, Bulgaria and Romania will be the latest countries to accede to the EU. Other families from these countries seeking asylum in the UK, have been placed in Scotland. This process has led to changes in the composition of ethnic minority communities in Scotland.

Some families from these European countries are Roma. Predominantly located in Glasgow, European Roma families cannot be seen and treated as a homogeneous group. The social/cultural identities of the different Roma communities are defined by a distinctive history, and the traditional occupations associated with each community. However, all Roma have shared the experience of significant levels of racist treatment by their European non-Roma neighbours.

Importantly, all European Roma have minority ethnic status and are protected under the Race Relations (Amendment) Act (2000). A recently published report into research carried out by Oxfam, ‘Report on the Situation
of the Roma Community in Govanhill, Glasgow.’ (http://www.oxfam.org.uk/resources/ukpoverty/downloads/roma_report.pdf), highlights Roma children’s low levels of achievements.

In education, data categories ‘ethnic group’ and ‘national identity’ are used to measure attainment, and these statistical measures have implications for the allocation of additional support. It is important that data categories used for gathering national statistics are capable of reflecting a pupil's Roma ethnicity and national identity, neither of which is currently possible. Without such changes the educational needs of Eastern European Roma pupils cannot be differentiated from non-Roma pupils from the same country. As an unintended consequence, future interventions and specific support may not occur.

However, education colleagues from Glasgow have identified good practice applicable to all. By using a whole family approach, sensitive to differences between families, staff have ensured that Roma children have been warmly welcomed to Scottish schools and had a positive experience from the outset. A whole family approach has helped both families and teachers cope with providing the children with an enjoyable experience of school education.

read more about Travellers from Europe

 

Report: Impact of national guidance: inclusive educational approaches for Gypsies and Travellers: within the context of interrupted learning schools and practice

The Scottish Traveller Education Programme carried out research, funded by the Scottish Executive through its Project 7 Equalities Budget, with schools and Gypsy and Traveller families.

The research explored the impact and effectiveness of the Guidance on local authorities' and schools' development of inclusive educational approaches for Gypsy and Traveller pupils, and support for Gypsy and Traveller families.

Based on this evidence, STEP also drew up a set of recommendations to inform further developments in educational services in schools and out of school settings for school-aged Gypsies and Travellers in Scotland and identified a set of broader issues emerging from its data analysis, some of which have been and continue to be acted upon, while some remain outstanding.

download the Imact of national guidance report in PDF format (950kb)

 

Ministerial Launch - Education for Gypsy/Traveller Children in Scotland: a Guide for Parents

The Scottish Traveller Education Programme (STEP) launched its DVD, 'Education for Gypsy/Traveller Children', and three accompanying leaflets, 'Education in Scotland'; 'Being Safe in School in Scotland' and 'Additional Support for Learning in Scotland', on Friday 17th March 2006 at the New Lanark Heritage Centre. 

read more about the launch

Additional Support for Learning Act

The Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 has a distinct aim which is 'much wider and more encompassing' than the previous special needs legislation (Scottish Executive 2004).

The new Act came into force in November 2005. It applies to children and young people who, for whatever reason, require additional support, long or short term, in order to help them make the most of their school education.

A Summary Handout of the Additional Support for Learning Act is available from http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library5/education/shasla-00.asp , or contact Michael Courtney at SEED on 0131 244 4914; ASLAct@scotland.gsi.gov.uk.

Supporting children's learning: code of practice

The Code of Practice is now available on the Scottish Executive website.   http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/08/15105817/58187

Making partnership work: Effective practice to support children's learning

The Scottish Traveller Education Programme and South Lanarkshire Council led an interactive workshop in Developing partnership approaches to meeting the additional needs of children from Gypsy and Traveller and black and minority ethnic backgrounds at the recent Enquire Annual Conference.

The workshop was one of a number of interactive sessions which explored issues, solutions and best practice in partnership working in relation to The Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004. One of the key themes of the conference explored partnership working from the perspectives of young people, parents and professionals. This opportunity, for highlighting how to meet the additional needs of children from Gypsy and Traveller and black and minority ethnic backgrounds, must be capitalized on. To help you think about this STEP's recently launched Education leaflet, 'Additional Support for Learning in Scotland: Information for Gypsies/Travellers' is available for you to download.  Its purpose is to help Gypsy/Traveller families' understand about The Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004, and how its broader concept of 'additional needs' can help achieve support for their children's learning needs.

 

Paper to download - "Challenges due to European enlargement: The Eastern European Roma/ Asylum Seekers and Refugee"

Paper by Florina Zoltan for the European Social Forum. Download the paper as a PDF.

 

Report: 'Traveller Education, changing times, changing technologies'

A report, 'Traveller Education, changing times, changing technologies' by Ken Marks has recently been published. The report describes the E-Learning and Mobility Project (E-LAMP), a pilot that has used laptop and wireless cards to support the paper based distance learning of a small number of Showground and Circus children and one or two Gypsy and Irish Traveller children. See the Trentham Books web site for more information.

 

Research Report: Issues in school enrolment, attendance, attainment and support for learning for Gypsy/Travellers and school-aged children and young people based in Scottish local authority sites

Pauline Padfield & Betty Jordan

This research, funded by the Scottish Executive, carried out by STEP and reported in March 2004 , involved making contact with, Gypsy/Traveller parents and pupils, Scottish local authority chief executives, the majority of Scottish education and housing departments, the site managers of Scotland's 37 local authority sites, designated Traveller teachers, and schools (pre-school, primary and secondary) reported to be used by Gypsy/Travellers.

The report is available to download in PDF format. You will need Acrobat Reader to open this document - you can download it at no cost from the Adobe web site.

Download the report (PDF format - 977kb)
Download Table 2 (PDF format - 56kb)

 
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