School refutes Traveller claims - Wales

A HEAD teacher has defended her school after angry mums claimed their children were being unfairly separated from other pupils due to "Traveller illiteracy".

Mum of six Rebbecca Price, of Llwynhendy, says two of her children are being taken out of regular lessons at Ysgol Bryn Teg in order to receive extra help with reading and writing.

School bosses insist the group are benefiting from being in a "privileged position", but Mrs Price said she felt discriminated against and that the children, aged 7 and 8, were being singled out because they came from a Traveller family, and not because they needed the extra help.

The 32-year-old said: "My kids have been in school since they were three. They do not need this help.

"The group of children who are being taken out of class are all Traveller children.

"My sister-in-law's kids are top of their class, yet they are being taken out of lessons to take part in this group — what's the point in that?

"If anything, it's taking away attention from children who may need more help. I'm disgusted, just because they are Traveller children does not mean that they cannot read or write.

"I have spoken to the school about my concerns and I was told that it was down to 'Traveller illiteracy', which I find incredibly offensive. I can understand giving help to Traveller children who have not attended school since day one — but my children have."

Mum of five Tracy Crouch said three of her children attended the sessions.

"We have been told that they attend on the basis of their ability, but this is not the case," she said. "It seems to have been done on the basis that they are Gypsies.

"My children have attended school since they were three and we have no concerns about their education.

"There are 14 Gypsy children in the school and 11 attend this course. But the other three kids are in nursery so they are too young."

The school said it had held meetings with concerned parents to discuss the issue.

But head teacher Delyth Williams said the children in the group were in a "privileged position".

She added: "Ysgol Bryn Teg is a model school for Read Write Inc which has rigorous examination criteria of assessment.

"The success of this initiative shows in the progress children are making with their reading levels, and the parents who attend teacher meetings are delighted with the skill levels their children are attaining.

"To achieve this success we are proud that much of our teaching is done through small group work.

"Carmarthenshire Council has received a grant from the Welsh Assembly for a literacy project with traveller families.

"The children from these families have been in the privileged position of receiving either one-to-one or small group tuition for short, sharp sessions twice a week. We have seen our pupils from these families benefit from this extra support."