Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru | National Assembly for Wales

Y Pwyllgor Plant, Pobl Ifanc ac Addysg | Children, Young People and Education Committee

Grant gwella addysg: Plant Sipsiwn, Roma a Theithwyr, a phlant o leiafrifoedd ethnig | Education Improvement Grant: Gypsy, Roma and Traveller, and Minority Ethnic Children

EIG 04

Ymateb gan : St John Lloyd RC Primary School

Response from : St John Lloyd RC Primary School

 

Q1. From 2015-16, the Gypsy Children and Traveller Children Grant and the Minority Ethnic Achievement Grant were merged into the new Education Improvement Grant. What impact has this had on the levels of educational support available to Gypsy, Roma and Traveller and Minority Ethnic children, and their educational outcomes?
None.

If this is a concern to you, how should this be addressed?
This school would like all the funds placed in the school budget so that we have control on who supports and how our GRT pupils are educated.  School would like to interview and line manage the staff themselves this will ensure continuity in teaching and learning in line with the school's own policies and procedures.  School could then use its own MER procedures, INSET and ensure high standards for all our pupils.  This would allow accountability for the school.

Q2. How effective are other Welsh Government policies and strategies for supporting the education of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller, and Minority Ethnic children?
I do not know of any recent policies or strategies that strategically support the education of GRT and ME pupils.

If this is a concern to you, how should this be addressed?
Yes
A working party comprising of specialists working with WG (including School leaders, EMTAS staff and members of the various communities) to plan effective support.

Q3. What more could be done to support the educational attainment of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller and Minority Ethnic children: 1. in schools; 2. by Local Authorities; 3. by regional consortia; and 4. by the Welsh Government.
1. Monies given to schools for reasons stated above.

Do you know of examples of good practice or successful policies? If so, what are they?
Good practice can be seen in Greenway primary and at St John Lloyd RC primary.

Q4. If you could recommend to the Welsh Government one thing it could do to improve the educational attainment of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller, and Minority Ethnic children, what would it be?
Reaching out to the families and the Communities. The school find the GRT community the hardest to reach and hardest to teach community.

Q5. Do you have any other concerns about the amalgamation of the other previously separate grants into the Education Improvement Grant? If so, please provide details.
No Response

Q6. Finally, are there any other issues relating to the terms of reference that you would like to draw to the Committee’s attention?
No Response