Traveller Children in the Early Years
The history of Travelling communities has been characterised by nomadism, self-employment, oral transmission of culture from generation to generation and strong family ties.
Gypsies, Roma and Travellers of Irish Heritage are ethnic groups with distinctive lifestyles, customs and values, recognised by the Race Relations Act 1976 and the Race Relations Amendment Act 2001. Their relationship with settled societies all over the world shows a similar pattern of discrimination, exclusion, poor access to education and other public services and a continuous pressure from others to 'settle'. Although nomadism and self employment may appear to be a matter of choice, most Travellers were born into their culture and way of life. The term “Traveller” is often used to encompass all these groups.
Young Traveller children benefit, in the same way as all other children, from a carefully planned, high quality Foundation Stage or preschool curriculum. Staff may however find it is helpful to be aware of the following cultural information.
Even at the age of five many young Traveller children have neverbeen separated from their mothers before. This can be very traumatic for both mother and child. Some mothers are very apprehensive about the security of settings and schools and may need constant reassurance about their child’s safety.
Staff may need to be patient and sympathetic to a mother’s need to settle her child in the environment and to learn to trust the staff at the setting, who the Travellers regard as being from another culture. Some Traveller parents will not persist in settling in their child at a setting if the child says that he/she does not want to go, or does not settle quickly. Providing a welcoming environment and a flexible curriculum, that reflects the child’s needs, will encourage children to want to attend.
In Traveller society children are often considered as babies until school age. Dummies, bottles and nappies may still be in use. Occasionally children have had limited experience of drinking from a cup and food and snacks are given on demand so the child can feel quite hungry. Some Traveller mothers tend to spoon feed their children until they are six or seven. If an older child is present he/she may try to help the younger one by doing the same. These are cultural differences in child rearing methods and can be addressed by explaining the issues to the family and by emphasising that everyone can help by encouraging the child to want to be independent.
Past experience of hostility may lead some children to be very worried and suspicious of all non-Travellers.
Many Traveller children are taught from a very early age to look after their siblings and cousins in the extended family. They may group together whenever possible. This should not be interpreted as a deliberate way of excluding non-Travellers from play but is about caring for, and protecting each other, and is a deeply held cultural and family custom. However Traveller children should be encouraged to interact with other children within the setting. It is often helpful to teach playground style games to all children to encourage co-operative and collaborative play.
A significant proportion of Traveller parents has little or no basic literacy and may need a tactful offer of assistance with filling in forms. It is important to follow all procedures for Traveller families as for others but to be aware that there may be a need for more frequent oral reminders as well as written information.
Where there is more than one Traveller family linked to the setting it is also important to remember to refer to families individually rather than as a group. Traveller people do not always get on well with each other even if they are related or living on the same site.
Very young children may wear large and valuable jewellery. This is part of the culture and should be tolerated where it is compatible with the setting’s responsibility for safety. A careful explanation of the safety issues may lead some parents to accept a compromise.
A trailer (Traveller word for caravan) has little space for indoor play and movement. Young children can be quite overwhelmed by large, unfamiliar, indoor spaces and the noise level of a confined area. This can lead to behaviour such as sitting under tables, which should diminish once the child becomes accustomed to the surroundings. Lack of familiarity with large spaces can also mean that children may wander around inappropriately. Again this is likely to diminish with time and sensitive handling.
Many everyday items and fixtures in a trailer are not exactly the same as those in housing. For example some children are not used to seeing free standing cookers and fridges, washing machines inside the home, or chairs and tables which are not fixed to the floor and possibly have not experienced an indoor bathroom and toilet. Topics and themes need to take account of these differences in daily experience. A little help in teaching the appropriate use of basins and toilets will go a long way towards avoiding problems.
Resources and/or a corner in the setting or classroom, which reflect young Traveller children’s everyday lives, will help in the settling in period and in access to the curriculum generally.
The home corner could become a caravan for a time, with decorative cushions and cardboard chinaware decorated by the children. Many Traveller children are very interested in, and knowledgeable about a range of animals. Very young children are often attracted to playing with water because families may have had to treat it as a scarce resource. Providing plenty of water play opportunities at appropriate times will help children learn when and where water play is acceptable.
Some children may not previously have had access to writing and drawing materials, scissors or books if their parents are not literate and do not understand their value to children’s development.
Many Traveller families have a very strict moral code and parents, carers or children may be uncomfortable with a situation where boys and girls have to undress in front of each other. Anatomically correct dolls might not be acceptable to some parents.
When Traveller families attend important events such as weddings, christenings and funerals they may be away for several days. Children are almost always included in these events, so this may mean missed sessions. Individual settings may need to discuss and create their own policies for this eventuality. In general the expectations of regular attendance at school/nursery or preschool are the same for Traveller children as for all other children.
Many parents are deeply concerned about health issues. Children may be kept at home during health scares even though this is happening in a different geographical location. If children do become ill there may be a longer period of absence than might usually be expected.
Traveller parents are very protective of their children and may not allow children of any age to go on trips outside the setting. Asking parents or carers to accompany the children on trips can be one way of overcoming this.
Traditionally Traveller children have not attended preschool or nursery. Sometimes parents have felt that at five years old children are too young for school. However in recent years many more parents have seen the advantages for their children and have gained the confidence to access opportunities for early learning through play. Settings too have benefited by opportunities for learning more about Traveller culture and lifestyle
“She was lovely to have in because she was fresh and bold and very spontaneous”
Quotation from member of staff in a school nursery who recently admitted their first Traveller child
“ .. the experience of having Traveller children in school has broadened everyone’s horizons and broken down barriers.”
Quotation from headteacher of an infant school in Essex
All the above considerations are intended as background information only and will apply in varying degrees to individual young people.
Sensitivity on the part of professionals to different life experiences and values will help young people and families to gain the maximum benefit from the services available to them.
EMTAS, CraysHillPrimary School, London Road, Crays Hill, Billericay, CM11 2UZ
Tel/Fax: 01268 531291