ABSTRACT
All children come into school with a unique personal culture, whatever their ethnic origin. As educators we need to affirm and respect what each child brings. The purpose of outlining the cultural origins and language roots of the Gypsy Travellers and the close knit family structures common to all Travellers is to emphasise that those concerned with the education of Traveller children should begin by acknowledging that, ‘theirs is a culture having as much integrity as our own’. The story-telling tradition is an important element of Traveller culture. The Romani language, or dialect, has been passed down orally, although it is presently being documented. If teachers are aware of a child’s early vocabulary in terms of feelings and namings, this will obviously enable more effective communication when the young child arrives in nursery or school.
