Cultural Awareness When Working with Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Pupils and Families Some

Cultural Awareness When Working with Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Pupils and Families – some key information

Ethnicity Gypsies and Travellers are recognised under the Equality Act 2010 and are entitled to legal protection from discrimination. (*This includes Romany Gypsies, Irish Travellers and European Roma).It is estimated that there are 300,000 Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people in the UK. When writing about Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities, the word ‘Travellers’ should always start with a capital letter as it defines an ethnic group.

Gypsies in Britain – A short history • 1427-1508 First record of Gypsies in Britain • 1530 - First law making being an immigrant Gypsy punishable by death • 1596 - 106 Gypsies condemned to death at one sitting in York • 1783 – First act repealing the above legislation • 1939-1945 In WW2, 300-500,000 Gypsies died in the concentration camps • 1976 - Anglo-Romany Gypsies legally recognised as an ethnic group in the UK • 2000 – Irish Travellers are legally recognised as an ethnic group in the UK • 2008- Scottish Gypsy Travellers recognised as an ethnic group in the UK

Romany Gypsies • Originated in northern India (Rajasthan) • Began to arrive in England 1427-1508 • Various trades, especially horses, entertainers, metal workers, agriculture. • Laws against Gypsies throughout history. • Non-Gypsies are known as ‘gorgias’

Irish Travellers • Possibly more ancient origins than Romany people (maybe in 5th century). • The first report of Irish Travellers in England was 1850. • There are now thought to be around 15,000 Irish Travellers in Britain • Community languages- Shelta (Gammon and Cant) • Rfer to themselves as ‘Pavee’ or ‘Minceir’ • Traditionally worked in metal crafts such as tin-smithing.

Roma and other Gypsy communities • Some people came seeking asylum/an escape from persecution/discrimination from Eastern European countries,. E.g. Latvia, Czech Republic, Poland, Romania and Bulgaria. • Different Gypsy communities across Europe - Sinti, Gitane, Kalderash, Rom and many more • Share many cultural characteristics with indigenous UK Romany population - language has some elements in common Occupational Travellers • Include Showman or fairground or circus people • Include Bargees or boat dwellers living primarily on narrow boats • Showmen do not view themselves as an ethnic group but a cultural one united by the fairground industry.

Homework/ Support for learning at home NB Space at home is often limited particularly for those living in trailers and this is not always conducive to home study

• Discussions with pupils and family re. importance of education, and where, how and why homework is required. • Appropriate in-school provision for completion of homework, with advice support, if needed. • Differentiation • Alternative formats (e.g. if exercise books tend to get lost) • Information technology- don’t assume- many Travellers cannot access the Internet • Additional family responsibilities

Home/School liaison • Time • Flexibility • Professional boundaries • Face to face discussions • Respect for history, culture & language • Sensitivity to lack of school experience/negative experiences of school (e.g. European Roma) • Strategies to assist literacy issues • Careful interagency working- (+ signposting) • Involve parents as much as is possible in school activities

Gypsy Roma Traveller Traditional Family Life For many Travellers……… • Family is central to Traveller life • Family is educator and socialising agent • Women focus on running the household, raising children and attending to husbands. • Husbands work with male relatives and take responsibility for the family. They will often dictate when and where families travel • There are still strict rules on cleanliness, modesty and faithfulness • For further information derived from Travellers themselves, please see: Save the Children

Travelling - Distance learning. • Encourage parents to inform school of travelling plans- when they are leaving and when they plan to return • In a secondary school, appoint a link staff member to coordinate collection of work from different subject teachers • Young children with access to a computer will benefit from practice software – offer to load and explain this to parents/carers • Agree communication, marking and arrangements with family. • If using IT as basis for distance learning, check systems work! • Vary format of work set. • Encourage staff to set interesting work linked to the work the child will be missing. • Failure to complete distance learning in the past is not a reason not to bother-persist • Take opportunities to incorporate travelling experience into learning • Encourage other pupils to maintain contact, e.g. via email and social media

Aspirations/Post 16 • Explore options early • Seek ways to encourage wider perspectives • Discussions with parents • Career guidance • Building opportunities to explore aspirations into PSHE, tutor time, other subjects. • Reference to Gypsy, Roma and Traveller role models from different walks of life.

Traveller Languages

• English Gypsies speak Anglo Romani/ Romanes/Poggerdi Jib (čhib) • Irish Travellers speak Shelta or Gammon • Scottish Travellers may also speak Cant • European Roma families will speak Romani but there will be many different dialects • Purely oral tradition although linguists have recorded it in written form • Speakers often prefer to keep the language secret

Living in a Caravan - Possible Practical Implications • Limited space • Lack of dedicated study space • Fixed furniture • Noise • Limited IT connectivity • Additional responsibilities

Racism towards Travellers Negative stereotyping of Travellers can be very problematic and often results in members of GRT communities actively hiding their ethnicity. The Out of Site resource from Show Racism the Red Card addresses this problem in great detail, with a variety of well tested activities and resources. Out of Site

Persecution GRT communities have suffered from persecution throughout their history. In Tudor England vagrancy – and therefore being a Gypsy - was punishable by death. Gypsy/Roma suffered extreme persecution by the Nazis: the Holocaust as it affected Gypsies is known as The Porrajmos.