Gypsies and Travellers

We can help your child to access education and have the best possible experience at school. We support Gypsy and Traveller children and young people who:

• arrive from other areas
• need help with school transfers or transition
• are new to schooling
• travel seasonally for work

We can help by:

• arranging for you and your child to visit schools and going along to support
• helping you to secure a school place for your child for a short period of time if your family travels for work
• supporting your child to settle into a new school
• supporting you and your child if they experience bullying at school
• supporting you to apply for school transport and free school meals
• supporting you with school-based distance learning, helping your child continue education through the travelling season while staying in touch with the base school
• visiting you to monitor distance learning and give advice

Starting school

Please note, when your child starts school, you’ll be asked to complete a form about their ethnic background. It’s important to choose the category that best describes your culture and values so that:

• teachers can link your child’s home experience to their work in school
• staff in your child’s school can learn about your culture
• schools, the Department for Education and the local authority can check that every child is being treated fairly
• the school can take extra care if they know your child may be at a higher risk of being bullied