AQW 36203/22-27


Mr Nick Mathison
Alliance Party
Strangford


Tabled Date: 25/11/2025
Answered On Date: 03/12/2025
Priority Written: No


Question:
To ask the Minister of Education to detail when he will update the Traveller Child in Education Action Framework.


Answer:
The Department’s Traveller Child in Education Action Framework was published in 2013, in response to a 2011 report by the Taskforce on Traveller Education, which had been established to assist the Department to develop an action plan on Traveller education. The existing framework outlines commitments to Traveller children and the steps to be taken to ensure that every traveller child has full access to education and outlines the actions in place in order to ensure information is provided to Traveller families detailing how to avail of all educational provisions and opportunities; help improve and maintain school attendance for Traveller children; ensure Traveller parents are aware of the role they play in their children getting the required level of education they deserve; help schools develop an inclusive and welcoming environment for Traveller children; and to provide education on Traveller culture in schools to eradicate the potential for prejudice and hate crimes.
The Department is currently undertaking a review of the Traveller in Education Framework. The review is considering the degree to which the Framework has achieved its stated aims and objectives, with a view to informing the exploration of options for improvement and identifying emerging or new needs that need to be addressed within a revised Action Framework.
A Stakeholder Engagement Group was established by the Department to support the review. The Stakeholder Group was established to support the review of the commitments from the existing Traveller in Education Framework, as well as providing their experience and expertise to help inform the development of the evidence base for the review, in order to ensure that the key barriers and challenges for Traveller pupils are fully captured, and potential actions identified. It is now planned to undertake school surveys and focus groups/discussions with Traveller pupils and their families to further inform the underpinning evidence base for the review.