Information,

Strategies

and Suggestions

for working with

Roma pupils

Hospital and Outreach Teaching

Further Information on

supporting Roma children

in your school STEP

Scottish Traveller Education Programme www.step.education.ed.ac.uk

ROMA support group www.romasupportgroup.org

Gypsy Roma Traveller History Month www.grthm.co.uk

National Association of Teachers of Travellers

www.natt.org.uk

European Roma Rights Centre www.errc.org

Roma Rights

www.europeandialogue.org

ITS- Interpreting and translating services

Email: interp.trans.services@edinburgh.gov.uk

EAL Service– www.ealedinburgh.org.uk

 

 

 

Contact:HOTS

63 Niddrie Mains TerraceEdinburgh EH16 4NX

0131 469 2830 

0131 469 2830

The word Roma doesn’t derive from the country of Romania or from the capital of Italy.

It is believed that the Roma migrated from India or Pakistan in the middle ages and settled in Eastern Europe.

Roma are not a homogeneous group. They have different backgrounds, cultures, identities and history depending on where they come from.

Who are the Roma?

Further useful activitiesUse Clicker on the computer to create a personal profile or learn specific vocabulary

Play Kims game, matching pairs and dominoes to develop attention and language

Range of board games- to support counting skills, language and build friendships.

Use simple visual games on the computer or ipad apps to develop literacy and numeracy skills –HOTS staff can advise.

Provide the child with a picture dictionary to aid communication between child/teacher.

Celebrate Roma culture in school– create a display or presentation. Use Out of Site activity pack to challenge stereotypes (access online )

Selection of activities at a desk provided if the childis feeling overwhelmed e.g. colouring , sorting, construction.

 

 

 

Getting it right for Roma children

Smile and make the child feel welcome.Ensure the child’s first and second names are pronounced properly

Talk to your class/group about what it is like to come to school and not understand anything.

Take the child on a tour of the school

Teach basic survival language eg hello, goodbye, yes, no, toilet, hungry, thirsty etc. Perhaps make a visual ‘fan’ with images the child can recognise.

Label everyday items in English.

English.

Pair with a friendly buddy

Make a visual timetable, alphabet chart, labelled colour chart,

Include the child with their intellectual peer group in class as much as possible.

Encourage attendance at homework club, sports clubs, youth organisations and extra-curricular activities.

Potential barriers to

learning for Roma pupils

pupils  Many Roma from Eastern Europe have been denied access to mainstream school so a 10 year old may be experiencing school routines for the first time.

Roma language is oral with little written material.

Many Roma in Scotland are the first in their family to access education.

Family is the most important thing to Roma.

English may be the childs 3rd language, the first being Romani and then the language of the country they come from.

Schooling doesn’t start until the child is 6 or 7 in their own country.

Access to modern facilities and healthcare may have been limited.

Emotions are often expressed loudly and spontaneously.

 

 

 

 

 

ENCOURAGE!