A Pilot Study to Investigate Barriers to Educational Inclusion for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Children in West Sussex

In March 2007 West Sussex County Council (Ethnic Minority Achievement Service) funded a research project to examine barriers to educational inclusion for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller (GRT) children in West Sussex. The research was carried out in West Sussex where there are large numbers of GRT children who attend local primary and secondary schools. The GRT families who participated in the research were from English Roma, Irish Traveller and Travelling Showmen backgrounds. The TES also work with GRT families from other diverse backgrounds including Scottish, European and New Age Travellers. The research was conducted by the authors, all of whom participated in interviewing families and members of the TES. The research was particularly concerned to examine parent’s views of the TES and to explore the role of TES in the education of GRT children. We wanted to examine how parents felt about schooling and education in general and assess how the achievement and attendance levels for the group could be improved. The project also explored the views of members of the TES about related issues. We would have liked to examine the views of children, but this proved to be problematic. However future research must include the views of both children and school professionals.