Supporting Romani (Gypsy), Roma and Traveller children in primary education
In Key Stage 1 and 2, children are becoming increasingly independent at school and may also begin to experience more friendship issues and bullying.
This section explores the common barriers and experiences that may affect Romani (Gypsy), Roma and Irish Traveller children in Key Stages 1 and 2, and outlines practical ways schools can support inclusion, identity, confidence and learning.
Racism and racist bullying can be very distressing for children. It can cause upset and harm and be emotionally and mentally damaging for those involved. Open discussion around this is therefore very important. If you become aware that a child is experiencing racism, racist bullying or is perpetrating racist ideas/ stereotypes, you need to know how to tackle it.
Listen to what a child and/or their parent is telling you. Children need to be supported to speak out if they think someone is being deliberately unkind to them and/or repeatedly. Children need to feel comfortable to come and tell you or another trusted adult in school.
Likewise, parents of Romani (Gypsy), Roma and Irish Traveller children may have their own negative experiences of racist bullying at school. Work with parents to ensure that they understand your approach to racism and/or bullying. Remember that for some Roma children/parents, English may not be their first language and as a result, there may be language barriers to consider.
Being bullied and experiencing social exclusion from their peers can make children anxious and unable to interact with other children or adults. Help children to value difference by actively presenting positive attitudes and messages about differences amongst us all. Please note that racist bullying may amount to unlawful discrimination or harassment under the Equality Act, depending on the circumstances.
Helpful resources on responding to bullying and racism can be found here:
Talking to Children About Racism - NSPCC
Responding to Bulling – Anti Bullying Alliance
Romani Gypsy, Roma and Irish Traveller pupils have the highest rate of absence of any ethnic group. Persistent absenteeism is often an early indication that adverse factors are causing a child to not want to attend school such as racist bullying. When parents feel their children are not safe or happy, they are more likely to remove their children from school.
There may also be a lack of understanding from Romani (Gypsy), Roma and Irish Traveller parents regarding the legalities of school attendance, particularly for European Roma parents who may not be familiar with the education system in the UK.
All schools and settings will have their own procedures for managing attendance issues. Encourage parents and families to have open conversations with you about what is preventing their child from attending school. You can find more information on school attendance on The Traveller Movement’s Education Microsite:
Attendance – The Traveller Movement
There is a direct link between low attendance and low attainment. 2019 data shows that children in Key Stage 2 who did not achieve the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths missed on average four more days per school year than their counterparts whose performance exceeded the expected standard. You can find more information about this below:
Why is School Attendance so Important and What are the Risks of Missing a Day?
Research has shown that there are many other factors to low educational attainment for racially minoritised children including:
To learn more about these issues, read the Runnymede Trust’s reporting which although the focus is Secondary schools there are similarities in Primary Schools:
Race and Racism in Secondary Schools 2020
Excluded: Misrecognition, control and the Roma experience in Bradford schools 2026
Romani (Gypsy), Roma and Irish Traveller communities are overrepresented in the criminal justice system. Some parents may not understand the legalities relating to school attendance or care proceedings due to low levels of literacy and this may lead to unintentional non-compliance with the Law.
If the Local Authority is not satisfied that the parents are providing a suitable education to a child of compulsory school age, and it is appropriate for the child to attend school, they can apply for a School Attendance Order under Section 437(3) Education Act 1996. The order will require parents to register the child at a named school. Failure to comply with a School Attendance Order amounts to an offence, following non-compliance the parent can be prosecuted. Please note that Local Authorities must act reasonably and proportionately when taking enforcement action.
To find out more about School Attendance Orders, please see the UK Government’s Guidance below:
Parental involvement in the criminal justice system, and imprisonment can have a huge impact on children’s mental health and wellbeing. If a child has a parent in prison, establish how the parent’s absence has been explained to the child and maintain a consistent approach. You should agree with the main carer how you will respond to any questions the child may raise about their imprisoned parent.
Keep an eye on the child’s behaviour and respond appropriately to any displays of distressed behaviour.
There are several approaches that you can use to support inclusion and celebrate Romani (Gypsy), Roma and Irish Traveller children in Key Stage 1 & 2.
Schools should incorporate the cultural and linguistic backgrounds and faiths of their community into daily activities. This could include:
It is important to remember that some parents and children may be hesitant to disclose their ethnicity due to fear of discrimination. Encourage pride and celebration of children’s Romani (Gypsy), Roma and Irish Traveller heritages to ensure that children feel as though they are in a safe and welcoming environment.
Celebrate and encourage participation in Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month (GRTHM), which is celebrated in June each year.
Useful resources for celebrating Gypsy (Romani), Roma and Traveller History Month can be found below:
Some examples of children’s books representing Romani (Gypsy), Roma and Irish Traveller children can be found here:
