Evidence given to a recent parliamentary inquiry has raised deep concerns about the impact of cuts to specialist education support for children from Gypsy, Roma and Traveller (GRT) communities.
MPs on the Women and Equalities Committee were told by education experts that the school life of children from these communities is blighted by racism and bullying, from both teachers and pupils.
The committee, which is undertaking an inquiry into inequalities faced by Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities, heard that children feel increasingly marginalised and isolated at school, which is contributing to poor attendance and high exclusion rates (see box).
A key way of countering this is for councils to continue investing in specialist education support services, according to Kalwant Bhopal, professor of education and social justice at the University of Birmingham's centre for research in race and education.
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