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 14
Ymateb gan : Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Merthyr Tudful

Response from : Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council

1. 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?

It has reduced the number of staff available to support these groups. The LA service has been reconfigured by allocating support for those pupils in levels A and B in order to target those with the greatest need.  

2. How effective are other Welsh Government policies and strategies for supporting the education of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller, and Minority Ethnic children?

Those for the GTs have been revised recently, but that for Minority Ethnic children is less clear. However, the LA has produced its own guidance.(We have not received any guidance from WG on EAL other than the 5 stage model)

3. What more could be done to support the educational attainment of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller and Minority Ethnic children:

· in schools; improve parental engagement, provide alternative curriculum,  increased understanding of their particular needs, engage with anti-bullying training,

· by Local Authorities; improve community engagement

· by regional consortia; increased for support for specific  groups,

· by the Welsh Government- increased funding

(Do you know of examples of good practice or successful policies? If so, what are they?) SRTRC – Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Children in the Welsh School system: Promoting Equality and Tackling Racism

4. 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?- initiatives to improve community engagement and to reduce hate crime

5. 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. Concern- that as part of the amalgamation that the additional funding for these groups will get side lined/lost.

6. Finally, are there any other issues relating to the terms of reference that you would like to draw to the Committee’s attention?