Policy actions  1 of 3

Educational outcomes for Gypsy/Traveller children

Young Gypsy/Travellers' educational outcomes are among the worst in Scottish education. We know that school attendance rates are the lowest of any ethnic group and exclusion rates are the highest, and that many Gypsy/Traveller children do not make the transition from primary to secondary school.

Those who are mobile may face interruptions and a lack of continuity to their education. And whether mobile or not, children and young people from the Gypsy/Traveller community, or from any Traveller culture, may need support to overcome barriers to their learning.

Through the Scottish Traveller Education Review Group (STERG), we have developed the guidance 'improving educational outcomes for children and young people from travelling cultures' to:

  • set out the context for supporting all Traveller children and young people and their families
  • encourage an understanding of the challenges they face in engaging with the education system
  • support schools and local authorities to offer effective, inclusive approaches

We published the guidance Improving educational outcomes for children and young people from travelling cultures in December 2018.

We also fund and support the work of the Scottish Traveller Education Programme (STEP).

Anti-bullying strategy

Concerns over bullying and harassment have been given as one of the reasons preventing children from Gypsy/Traveller communities attending school.

We are refreshing the National approach to anti-bullying for Scotland's children and young people by developing up-to-date anti-bullying guidance which reflects policy and legal developments, and recent research.

The guidance will help schools and local authorities to develop their own policies and ensure that all types of bullying are dealt with effectively.

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