Bradford GRT Awareness for Schools (and other Professionals)
Context
On 22 July 2021, Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities invested £1million in Gypsy Roma and Traveller Education Areas. Over 600 GRT children and young people; 150 schools, over 100 staff members and several local areas across Bradford, Central
Bedfordshire, Essex, Hillingdon, Surrey and Open Doors Education and Training, were supported and reached during the one year GRT Education Areas pilot programme.
In Bradford there has been long standing support for GRT pupils; it has primarily focussed on initial access to education rather than maintaining engagement. Over the last few years the LA has started to change the approach to GRT engagement – although progress
has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Data gathered over the lifetime of the pilot, evidenced a need for an intervention-based approach to support the narrative in relation to pupils who are ascribed as GRT, accessing education.
It should be noted that GRT is a wide definition of ethnicity ascription and within it these children will be from culturally different backgrounds which may require differing interventions dependent upon the specific barriers identified.
The established project here:
European Roma Communities Strategy for Bradford Launched - Bradford For Everyone
The pilot culminated in colleagues from DLUHC visiting Bradford, to see first-hand the successful outcomes, including a visit to a school, meetings with relevant stakeholders and a final presentation of the Bradford Pilot delivered by the lead Officer.
Upon completion of the intensive, direct work of the project, a training package has been developed, specifically aimed at supporting and developing the inclusion of GRT families & children in to the school community. This training is a legacy offer, accessible
now officers are no longer in-post and once the pilot has drawn to a close, therefore being accessible at any point in the future, and for as long as it remains relevant.
That training package is now being made available to download
HERE. (note: large file so download may take some time)
Please give feedback on the training via https://smartpolls.co.uk/p/34503 - any written feedback can be sent to education.access@bradfod.gov.uk
If you have any questions regarding the training package, please email
education.access@bradford.gov.uk in the first instance.
Special thanks must be noted to the following:
- DLUHC for their investment, commitment, challenge and support during the GRT Pilot;
- the Officers who worked diligently throughout the pilot;
- the schools involved in the pilot;
and critical to the success of the pilot…
- the children and families of the GRT Communities, without whom none of this would have been possible.