There are four groups covered by this term:
1 People of Romani origin, whose language and traditional crafts can provide a source of fascination for young children.
2 Irish gypsies or travellers who may speak a Gaelic dialect called 'Shelta' in Ireland and 'Cant' in Britain. Most of them here will speak English with a liberal scattering of Shelta. Many still follow a traveling way of life, but may compromise with the mainstream by living on officially-designated sites.
3 Travelling families connected with neither of those two cultures who move around the country on well-established routes working in circuses and fairgrounds.
4 'New Age Travellers' whose idea of freedom has led them to adopt a nomadic way of life.
Early years settings, unless they have specific contacts, are unlikely to have gypsy children using their services. Anyone leading a nomadic way of life today comes up against enormous hostility, partly caused by the loss of spaces where they could live as they wish without coming into conflict with the settled community. Travellers are often anxious about their children going to settings that are part of mainstream society. However, the ignorance and hostility provide reasons for promoting understanding when working with children.
There are few resources designed to help young children learn about gypsies. By far the best are the picture storybooks about Tess the Traveller, written by Fiona Earle and Rose Heulin and illustrated by Loll Golding. These are published in association with Friends, Families and Travellers (www.gypsy-traveller.org), a useful source of information on gypsy and traveling life. Some areas have local groups of people working with gypsies and travellers who are also able to supply information.
Another source is the Traveller Education Service run by the local Children's Services Department.
