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Good teaching needs good networks and good networks need good teachers.

The GTC Networks provide support by linking teachers nationally and putting them in touch with the latest research and evidence. They let teachers have a voice at national debates on changes to education.

Derbyshire Gypsy Liaison Group

Setting up the Liaison Group

The Derbyshire Gypsy Liaison Group was set up in 1987 by Robert Dawson, a headteacher in Derbyshire who had identified that there was a need for culture specific books for the teaching of reading to Gypsy and Traveller children. In response to this need he has written and edited a number of age specific, illustrated books and produced educational aids such as a board game.

He recognised that there was a need to improve relations between Travellers and the local settled community. Following a visit to the travellers’ site near his school he set about organising a group to counteract some of the hostility and misunderstandings of the local settled community towards them.

Their response was keen and the Liaison Group published a self-financed booklet about local Travellers. This was followed by an open day in a school near the site with an exhibition of photographs, films and resources produced by the travelling community, to which the local settled community was invited.

The Derbyshire Gypsy Liaison Group included representatives from the Church and police as well as education and health professionals.

Resources on education and travellers

Robert Dawson identified that schools had a dearth of resources on education and Travellers. Securing the backing of the Esmee Fairbain Foundation and the Tudor Trust he began to produce relevant resources himself.

Robert invited traveller education officers across the country to tell him what they needed. Together with the travelling community, the Liaison Group produced the materials. Using tapes as well as drawing on oral traditions they began producing books for use in schools. They have now produced 11 titles.

The group is interested in hearing from teachers who are keen to be involved in this project, either to write non-fiction books or to produce resources. Books need to be relevant to specific cultures: Romany, Gypsy or Irish or Scottish travellers. Books and resources are needed for pre-school children and for 6 to 16 year olds. Books must be reading age specific. Robert Dawson will edit all new materials.

The Liaison Group is a non profit group and all money raised will be used to produce new materials.

The group can also be contacted by teachers wanting appropriate resources for teaching reading to Gypsy, Roma and Traveller children.

Please contact: bob@robertdawson.co.uk


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