| Lisa Smith (Co-chair) | Apologies |
| Candace Thomas (Co-chair) | Apologies |
| Esther Stubbs (Vice-chair) | Apologies |
| Maria Bowers (Vice-chair) | Apologies |
| Anne Walker (Treasurer) | Present |
| Hazel Marsh | Present |
| Sue Mutter | Apologies |
| Colin Clark | Apologies |
| Hilary Heath | Apologies |
| Brian Foster | Present |
| Margaret Wood | Present |
| Aluna Lepadatu | Apologies |
| Thomas Acton | Present |
Agenda
- Apologies
- Minutes of previous Meeting
- Matters Arising
- Finance Update
- Correspondence
- Consultations
- Modern Slavery
- Subgroup organisation
- AOB
Minutes of previous meeting
Matters arising
- EC members to consider attending the Moving for Change networking event in May.
- On agenda
Agreed
Finance
Discussion
- Caf Bank £7128.51
- PayPal £973.25
- Total £8101.76
Action
ACERT Correspondence summary from February 12 to March 10 2025
Summary
- Various newsletters: Peabody Trust, Roma Support group, Moving for Change, Traveller Movement.
- Concern from a Traveller education teacher regarding the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill provisions for EHE.
Actions
Discussed this at the ACERT Education Network on March 5.
Consultations
Discussion
Several ongoing consultations, including those related to Ofsted report cards, inspector toolkits, and school accountability. Brian provides an overview of these consultations and suggests the group should review them and potentially respond, particularly to highlight the educational challenges faced by Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller communities. Margaret and Brian agree to collaborate on reviewing the consultations and creating a framework for gathering feedback from other interested parties, including community members and teachers.
Action
Meeting scheduled Friday 28th March 11:15
Modern Slavery
Discussion
Thomas then presented a draft response he wrote regarding modern slavery, explaining why anti-modern slavery campaigners find it difficult to engage with GRT organisations. The group discussed potential approaches to address the issue, including offering advice to community members on maintaining culture while complying with modern slavery legislation and advocating for the restoration of workers’ safeguards and improved employment tribunal processes.
There was a discussion of modern slavery and its relation to immigration, family relationships and the power dynamics within them.
Action
Brian agreed to review Thomas’s text and try to develop an ACERT position on the issue to provide guidance to families.
Meeting planning
Discussion
Candace has proposed several 30 minute sub-group meetings. There was concern that the use of WhatsApp was possibly excluding some members.
Thomas has an old iPhone and hasn’t been able to access WhatsApp. He has a more up-to-date iPad but needs to explore how to use his phone number on it.
Action
- Margaret to contact Sue Mutter about joining the WhatsApp group.
- Margaret to phone Aluna to discuss the next education network meeting.
Education Support Network
Action
Next EC meeting
14th April 2025 5:30pm
