Education committee probes challenges facing Gypsy/Traveller pupils

The education committee has today launched a call for written evidence as part of its ongoing inquiry into the educational challenges facing pupils from Traveller communities.

The committee confirmed the challenges faced by children from Gypsy, Roma and Traveller backgrounds will be examined through written submissions.

The government has in place a £1 million education programme for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller children. The committee’s inquiry is calling for submissions on how the money should be targeted.

Robert Halfon MP, chair of the education committee, said children from Traveller backgrounds “are at the bottom of the attainment table” compared with other groups.

“Our inquiry will dig deeper into the scale of the problems faced by young people in this group, the specific difficulties they might be facing and the effectiveness of the government’s recent efforts to support them.”

The deadline for written submissions is on Tuesday 25th January 2022.