Explore key tools, research, and policy resources supporting inclusive early childhood development for Roma and Traveller children across Europe, and advancing equity in early years education.
This interactive tool supports Roma paraprofessionals and other educational assistants in evaluating their competencies across the domains outlined in the guidelines. It enables them to: Reflect on their strengths and areas for growth. Plan…
Learn moreIn general, the situation of Roma children, pupils and students remains challenging across Europe. This report aims to examine the current situation of the enforcement of non-discrimination law in Europe with regard specifically to Roma and…
Learn moreRoma children belong to a social group exposed to multiple axes of discrimination. Roma paraprofessionals, together with other trained professionals and educational leaders, are crucial for achieving the success of education by eliminating…
Learn moreThe right to education of minorities: overview of States’ measures reported in the 10th Consultation on the 1960 Convention and Recommendation against Discrimination in Education Diversity in education should be seen as an asset as it has a…
Learn moreThe European REYN Early Childhood Research Study (the REYN Study) provides an examination of the status of young Roma children and their families across Europe. It offers a comprehensive understanding of the multi-layered and intersectional…
Learn moreYoung Roma children have an equal right to thrive. The fulfilment of this right calls for urgent and comprehensive measures and coordinated public investment. However, there is general concern about how effective Roma inclusion policy measu…
Learn moreRecognizing the importance of the child’s first language in learning processes and settings, and especially for children from vulnerable groups like the Roma, REYN Croatia has created this visual dictionary to support multilingualism in ear…
Learn moreAn increasing number of children are growing up in environments in which more than one language is spoken. For many of these children, early childhood education and care (ECEC) is often their first contact with the majority language of the…
Learn moreThe overall results of the REYN Early Childhood Research Study in Bulgaria are represented in this infographic, showing at a glance the status of young Roma children in the country. Data collected in interviews with Roma families with young…
Learn moreThe overall results of the REYN Early Childhood Research Study in Ukraine are represented in this infographic, showing at a glance the status of young Roma children in the country. Data collected in interviews with Roma families with young…
Learn moreThe overall results of the REYN Early Childhood Research Study in Hungary are represented in this infographic, showing at a glance the status of young Roma children in the country. Data collected in interviews with Roma families with young…
Learn moreThe overall results of the REYN Early Childhood Research Study in Croatia are represented in this infographic, showing at a glance the status of young Roma children in the country. Data collected in interviews with Roma families with young…
Learn moreThe overall results of the REYN Early Childhood Research Study in Kosovo are represented in this infographic, showing at a glance the status of young Roma children in the country. Data collected in interviews with Roma families with young c…
Learn moreThe overall results of the REYN Early Childhood Research Study in Serbia are represented in this infographic, showing at a glance the status of young Roma children in the country. Data collected in interviews with Roma families with young c…
Learn moreThe overall results of the REYN Early Childhood Research Study in Slovakia are represented in this infographic, showing at a glance the status of young Roma children in the country. Data collected in interviews with Roma families with young…
Learn moreThis report presents findings from FRA’s 2021 survey on Roma in Croatia, Czechia, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Portugal, Romania and Spain, as well as in North Macedonia and Serbia. The survey includes interviews with more than 8,400 Roma, colle…
Learn moreThis European Network on Roma Inclusion (EURoma Network) reference document identifies critical aspects to consider in the context of the Child Guarantee National Action Plans and of the 2021-2027 programming period of the European Cohesion…
Learn moreThe overall results of the REYN Early Childhood Research Study in Bosnia and Herzegovina are represented in this infographic, showing at a glance the status of young Roma children in the country. Data collected in interviews with Roma famil…
Learn moreThe overall results of the REYN Early Childhood Research Study in Slovenia are represented in this infographic, showing at a glance the status of young Roma children in the country. Data collected in interviews with Roma families with young…
Learn moreThe overall results of the REYN Early Childhood Research Study in Italy are represented in this infographic, showing at a glance the status of young Roma children in the country. Data collected in interviews with Roma families with young ch…
Learn moreThe overall results of the REYN Early Childhood Research Study in Belgium are represented in this infographic, showing at a glance the status of young Roma children in the country. Data collected in focus groups and interviews with Roma fam…
Learn moreWith the aim to support ECEC settings, leaders and professionals to identify and overcome these challenges, the Diversity+ project has launched the Diversity+ Charter: a set of minimum requirements that ECEC services and institutions have t…
Learn moreThis report focuses on recruitment and retention of ECEC staff, and examines the best ways to educate and train this staff, both through initial training and continuing professional development. It welcomes the fact that the vast majority o…
Learn moreThis Case Study Report, prepared in partnership with World Health Organization (WHO) and the LEGO Foundation, describes the implementation experiences and emerging lessons of COVID-19 response strategies of seven programmes that prioritize…
Learn moreThis rapid review takes stock of emerging research on nurturing care for young children during the COVID-19 crisis. This review synthesizes 112 scholarly and scientific studies that have examined three pillars of nurturing care during the p…
Learn moreUNICEF’s vision for integrated, multilevel programming moves beyond approaching parents as recipients of information or education, to a more collaborative partnership where there is a co-construction of support for the child as well as for/…
Learn moreThis five-country wide round of research into the situation of Roma children in state care marks the latest in a decade-long series of interventions by the European Roma Rights Centre. The research covers four EU Member States: Bulgaria, th…
Learn moreThis policy paper presents research on the impact of COVID-19 of Roma children and the barriers to their health and wellbeing and the potential of participatory responses. The findings are set in the current context of child poverty and rel…
Learn moreEducation and professional realization of the Roma community / Образование и реализация на ромската общност The study was conducted in 140 settlements in Bulgaria. To overcome the lack of up-to-date information, TSA worked together with a s…
Learn moreThe Equal Opportunities Initiative Association (EOIA) has been working with Roma communities in Sofia since 2008, helping to increase enrolment rates of young Roma children in pre-school. Today they collaborate closely with local authoritie…
Learn moreHealthy eating habits in children between the ages 0-3. How to raise strong and smart children? / Здравословно хранене на децата от 0 до 3 години. Как да отглеждаме здрави и умни деца? This project is part of the REYN network Bulgaria, coor…
Learn moreThe Republic of Bulgaria has endeavoured, over the last three decades, to address the stark injustices evident in the socioeconomic situation of the majority of its Roma citizens and as evidenced in the country’s National Roma Integration S…
Learn moreThis booklet contains ideas for parents and caregivers to help support their young child’s physical, cognitive and social-emotional development. The booklet includes specific ideas for children from 0-9 and is broken into helpful sections b…
Learn moreENG: Travelling Travellers. An overview of the living conditions of travelling Travellers and existing supporting initiatives NL: Rondtrekkende woonwagenbewoners. Een overzicht van de leefomstandigheden van rondtrekkende woonwagenbewoners e…
Learn moreRoma and Travellers living in western EU countries are less often in the limelight than those living in central, eastern and southern EU countries. While they represent a smaller proportion of the population in the west, they also face prob…
Learn moreWhen it comes to policies, strategies, and programs that support the inclusion of the most vulnerable and marginalized children, we cannot fail to consider the early childhood development (ECD) professionals with the same cultural and ethni…
Learn moreWhen it comes to policies, strategies, and programs that support the inclusion of the most vulnerable and marginalized children, we cannot fail to consider the early childhood development (ECD) professionals with the same cultural and ethni…
Learn moreWhen it comes to policies, strategies, and programs that support the inclusion of the most vulnerable and marginalized children, we cannot fail to consider the early childhood development (ECD) professionals with the same cultural and ethni…
Learn moreWhen it comes to policies, strategies, and programs that support the inclusion of the most vulnerable and marginalized children, we cannot fail to consider the early childhood development (ECD) professionals with the same cultural and ethni…
Learn moreIn accordance with evidence from the Lancet and UNICEF recommendations on Early Childhood Development and Nurturing Care, preventive support for caregiver health and emotional well-being is key to optimal child development. There is recogni…
Learn moreThe LEGO Foundation aims to build a future in which learning through play empowers all children to become creative, engaged, life-long learners. Parents are fundamental to that aim, as they are heavily invested in their children’s developme…
Learn moreThe UK Government has recognised the impact that parents playing, talking to and reading to their children has on early language development. This is fantastic. But the benefits of play are much wider: it contributes to cognitive, motor, em…
Learn moreThis report outlines good practice in the education of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller (GRT) school children in the UK. It interviews schools, provides case studies, and includes an overview of the findings from Traveller Movement’s three year ed…
Learn moreThe RISE Institute, UNICEF and the Early Childhood Development Task Force have released the results of a global survey of inclusive early childhood development (IECD) and early childhood intervention (ECI) programs. This large survey was de…
Learn moreUNICEF’s global report on pre-primary education presents a comprehensive analysis of the status of early childhood education worldwide. It contains interesting facts and figures on Romani children. It also outlines a set of practical recomm…
Learn moreA report by the European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) focuses on how socioeconomic preconditions affect the health of Roma in Europe. Infant mortality is reported to be between two to three times higher than majority population. Please fol…
Learn moreWhen it comes to policies, strategies, and programs that support the inclusion of the most vulnerable and marginalized children, we cannot fail to consider the early childhood development (ECD) professionals with the same cultural and ethni…
Learn moreThe START project explored ways to facilitate participation in ECEC of Romani children, especially by easing transitions between home and ECEC or school environments and by working with families. The case study is a source of inspiration as…
Learn moreThe network of experts working on the social dimension of education and training (NESET) has recently published an ad hoc report titled ‘Overview of the integration of Roma citizens in Spain and some transferable lessons for the EU’. The ne…
Learn moreFor most children, early childhood education and care (ECEC) provides the first experience of life in a group away from their families. This experience plays a crucial role in children’s learning, development and well-being. The benefits of…
Learn moreThe Balkan Barometer is an annual survey of regional perceptions and attitudes across a wide array of social, political and economic factors impacting life in South East Europe (SEE). It includes comparable data on pre-primary education in…
Learn moreOnly one third of children aged 0-3 has access to center-based early childhood education and care (ECEC) settings. The report provides indicators on the key quality areas of governance, access, staff, educational guidelines as well as evalu…
Learn moreIn this report, researchers present and discuss the findings of seven in-depth case studies of curriculum, pedagogy, and/or social climate interventions currently ongoing in seven European countries, from distinct geographic regions, divers…
Learn moreWhen it comes to policies, strategies, and programs that support the inclusion of the most vulnerable and marginalized children, we cannot fail to consider the early childhood development (ECD) professionals with the same cultural and ethni…
Learn moreWhen it comes to policies, strategies, and programs that support the inclusion of the most vulnerable and marginalized children, we cannot fail to consider the early childhood development (ECD) professionals with the same cultural and ethni…
Learn moreWhen it comes to policies, strategies, and programs that support the inclusion of the most vulnerable and marginalized children, we cannot fail to consider the early childhood development (ECD) professionals with the same cultural and ethni…
Learn moreWhen it comes to policies, strategies, and programs that support the inclusion of the most vulnerable and marginalized children, we cannot fail to consider the early childhood development (ECD) professionals with the same cultural and ethni…
Learn moreWhen it comes to policies, strategies, and programs that support the inclusion of the most vulnerable and marginalized children, we cannot fail to consider the early childhood development (ECD) professionals with the same cultural and ethni…
Learn moreWhen it comes to policies, strategies, and programs that support the inclusion of the most vulnerable and marginalized children, we cannot fail to consider the early childhood development (ECD) professionals with the same cultural and ethni…
Learn moreWhen it comes to policies, strategies, and programs that support the inclusion of the most vulnerable and marginalized children, we cannot fail to consider the early childhood development (ECD) professionals with the same cultural and ethni…
Learn moreThe NESET report examines the added value provided by, and the prerequisites for, integrated working – as well as the crucial role, played by early childhood education and care (ECEC) services – in order to better serve all children and fam…
Learn moreThe brief describes the nature of pre-primary services within the broader concept of early learning. We then share definitions of what is meant by play in early childhood, followed by key points of why learning through play builds lifelong…
Learn moreThis guide documents the promising practices of the Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) Play Hubs, which support integration of Roma at local level. The practices and the accompanying recommendations are based on the evidence from the…
Learn moreIn a recent study conducted in the scope of ISOTIS, in Portugal, Roma families and non-Roma families experiencing financial hardship, with 3 to 6 year-old children, were interviewed about the frequency of reading activities involving adults…
Learn moreThe 2018 Fostering Effective Early Learning (FEEL) study focuses on the importance of quality, and how to strengthen it in early childhood education and care (ECEC) settings. Extensive research demonstrates that the benefits of ECEC for chi…
Learn moreAlthough diversity is an opportunity to make schools more inclusive, creative and open-minded, inequality in education is highest among Roma and migrant children. Europe needs more efficient, but at the same time more inclusive and equitabl…
Learn moreThe ISOTIS project is about the integration of services. A new publication from project shares successful inter-agency work for disadvantaged groups, immigrant and Romani Families in Belgium, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland,…
Learn moreThis report addresses the acknowledged scarcity of quality, disaggregated, child focused data on Roma children which is widely seen to impede the development of positive policies and programmes promoting full realisation of their rights. Th…
Learn moreOne in a hundred Roma makes it to University, why is that? The study One in One Hundred: Drivers of Success and Resilience among College-Educated Romani Adolescents in Serbia, is a collaboration between the François-Xavier Bagnoud Center fo…
Learn moreKhetaun (Together): With Key Steps to Inclusion of Romani Children into Quality Early Childhood Programs was an international project financed by the European Commission implemented in 4 countries (Slovenia, Latvia, Slovakia and the Czech R…
Learn moreIn view of preparing children adequately for life in the 21st century eight key competences have been identified by the European Union. Among these competences are the ability to communicate in the mother tongue and cultural awareness and e…
Learn moreThe Roma Early Childhood Inclusion (RECI)+ Slovakia Report (2017) maps the current state of the system of early childhood education and care (ECEC) in Slovakia. In particular it identifies and analyses the obstacles of access to quality pre…
Learn moreThis tool is intended to help improve settings’ inclusiveness and can be used by all professionals and staff to reflect on their setting’s inclusiveness, focusing on the social, learning and physical environment. The tool was developed as p…
Learn moreThe purpose of this report is to provide an evidence-based review of literature on Roma health, covering 2008-2013 and the following indicators: 1. Mortality and life expectancy 2. Prevalence of major infectious diseases 3. Healthy life sty…
Learn moreThis report focuses on the experiences and perceptions of disadvantaged families (in particular, low-income families with and without a migration background) in the field of early childhood education and care. It presents case studies based…
Learn moreThe paper examines the risks and challenges related to the cooperation of pedagogical assistants (PAs) with Roma parents/families and their work with Roma pupils, and offers further insight into ways to overcome these risks and challenges. V…
Learn moreA Review of Roma Education Initiatives in Central and South-eastern Europe The purpose of this report is to start to distinguish between the growing number of Roma education programs, policies, initiative and interventions being implemented…
Learn moreAn under-studied question In its work at regional level within the EU, the Bernard van Leer Foundation focuses on Roma populations, who across Europe face higher risks of discrimination and difficult living conditions. Catalina Ulrich of th…
Learn moreThis article analyses the effectiveness and the outcome reached by the different policy measures towards Roma people adopted by the Italian Government since the spring of 2008. According to Luigi Manconi, sociologist, Roma people are unplea…
Learn moreTo be a Roma woman is something special. To be an educated Roma woman is something exceptional. A video, which won the Women are future Award in the category Key Woman, tells the story of Samanta Baranja, REYN Slovenia National Network coor…
Learn moreThis report represents an intermediary stage within the project titled, “Adapting shared experiences to each partner”. The project objective is the development of cooperation practices in the field of Roma inclusion by cross-border transfer…
Learn moreThis case study features the potential of small scale community based interventions and the need to have strong anti-discrimination, social justice and peace-building components when working on Roma inclusion. Under the Capacity building of…
Learn moreThe video depicts how access to education can be provided to children in rural areas, especially those from nomadic and migrant communities in Mongolia. The project, supported by the Asian Development Bank, improves access of poor children…
Learn moreThis midterm review takes stock of the progress since the launch of the EU Framework for National Roma Integration Strategies (NRIS) in 2011. The EU Framework aims to close the gap between Roma and non-Roma in four key areas: education, emp…
Learn moreThis video tells the story on the kindergarten’s experience of inclusion. What was their most important learning? What were the biggest challenges in building the trust between the preschool institution and Roma community? What are their pl…
Learn moreThe Council of the European Union calls the Member States and the Commission to continue the commitment for Roma inclusion and invites them both to ensure the effective use of EU funds for the social and economic inclusion of Roma. It stres…
Learn moreENG: PARENTS’ CORNER. HOW TO WORK WITH ROMA PARENTS EFFECTIVELY BG: КЪТЧЕ ЗА РОДИТЕЛИ. ЗАЩО И КАК ДА ИЗГРАДИМ ПАРТНЬОРСТВО СЪС СЕМЕЙСТВАТА? The Parents’ Corner brochure examines successful strategies for effective collaboration with the par…
Learn moreResearch on the developing brain shows us that early childhood experiences build the foundation for a skilled workforce, a responsible community, and a thriving economy. A new evidence base has identified a set of skills that are essential…
Learn moreIn this publication, REYN Croatia shows how poverty affects Romani children and how it generates a vicious circle that is hard to break. Poverty leads to socio-emotional and cognitive disadvantages, low school attendance, school drop out, a…
Learn moreBased on the information provided in the three case studies around the projects funded by Bernard van Leer Foundation and implemented by partner organizations in Belfast, Ghent and Rome, this report shows the key findings in the studies. It…
Learn moreRomani children in South East Europe. The challenge of overcoming centuries of distrust and discrimination. (2007) The report provides an overview of the situation of Romani children in South East Europe. It is shown, on the base of availab…
Learn moreThe case study clearly demonstrates both the urgent need for intervention and the challenges of working in a politically and economically hostile environment marked by discriminatory practices and segregation of Roma. It also showcases the…
Learn moreThe project aimed to support children from the age of 2 ½ years until the age of 12 in exercising their right to quality education by supporting their parents, improving communication between schools and parents, supporting school teams and…
Learn moreData Collection in Countries Participating in the Decade of Roma Inclusion 2005–2015. The lack of data about Roma communities remains the biggest obstacle to conducting any thorough assessment of how governments are meeting their Decade com…
Learn moreThis is an example of Roma good start initiative in Topaana, a Roma settlement in Skopje, the capital of The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Emanuel is a six-year-old Roma boy with hearing disability. It caused him severe difficultie…
Learn moreSupporting early years practitioners working with Gypsy, Roma and Traveller families with transferable ideas for other outreach early years workers. This document is aimed at anyone working outreach with children from Gypsy, Roma and Travel…
Learn moreThe BODI project aims to contribute to the development of teachers’ competences for an understanding of cultural differences in early childhood education. It contributes to involve parents with different cultural backgrounds and to engage t…
Learn moreNevzat, is one of the 25,000 Roma who suffers from multiple chronic diseases (tuberculosis, bronchitis and asthma) in Macedonia. He and his wife often require emergency assistance but the healthcare institutions do not meet their needs. Ple…
Learn moreThe publication is the fruit of joint collaboration between the Council of Europe and UNESCO, which are committed to supporting the well-being and flourishing of Roma children and their right to education and development from birth. It is a…
Learn moreThis publication presents the process of and lessons learned from the review and reorientation of a program for active health protection of mothers and children for greater health equity, with an explicit but not exclusive focus on the Roma…
Learn moreThe family literacy project (STEP 2015) investigated how family literacy initiatives might benefit mobile communities in Scotland through the design and implementation of three pilot programmes. The pilot programmes ran in three different l…
Learn moreWhen ‘Special’ means ‘Excluded’: Roma segregation in special schools in the CEE/CIS region (2009) This paper provides a brief overview of the groundbreaking case of “D.H and the Others vs. the Czech Republic” that brought into focus the rig…
Learn moreIn this study, REYN Croatia analyzes the second language acquisition process and the effort it requires. In Croatia, some Roma speak Romani Chib while some use the Bayash Romanian language, and Croatian is spoken as the second language. The…
Learn moreSummary analysis of key findings from MICS surveys in Roma settlements in the three countries. The lack of information on Roma communities, especially children, young people and women, hinders the development of effective social inclusion p…
Learn moreGetting out to dream, Italy This report shows the situation of Romani children in the city of Rome, Italy. The presence of Roma in Italy is estimated by the Council of Europe at around 0,25%. 60% of the Romani population is younger than 18.…
Learn moreThis European Commission communication reports some conclusions regarding on the implementation of the EU Framework for National Roma Integration Strategies. It also reviews the Roma integration measures put in place in different countries…
Learn moreThe Dosta! campaign toolkit was conceived to help you understand what the campaign is about and how you can use it to combat anti-Gypsyism by taking concrete actions at the local level. The toolkit includes a video kit that you, or media pr…
Learn moreThe 2016 Council of the European Union conclusions state firmly that the EU Member States and the Council have to continue cooperation in accordance with the EU Framework for National Roma Integration Strategies (NRIS). Member States are as…
Learn moreThe EU Framework for National Roma Integration Strategies is calling on EU Member States to prepare or revise National Roma Integration Strategies in order to address more effectively the challenges of Roma inclusion and to tangibly improve…
Learn more“A Teacher” (in Croatian, with English subtitles) Produced by REYN Croatia. This is the story of Vesna, a Croatian teacher in pre-primary school. Vesna’s first goal is to teach her pupils how to create a community. Why a community? They wil…
Learn moreThe Fiecare Copil în Grădiniță (FCG) program was launched in 2010. The development of FCG has been largely funded by the Romanian corporate sector, by an American non-profit organization (Alex Fund). The Romanian state budget funded the foo…
Learn moreThe brochure presents a number of views of positive action in employment and non-employment contexts. Thanks to the various contributors, with their wide range of backgrounds and perspectives, the brochure offers an impression of what posit…
Learn moreThis report on the early childhood education and care (ECEC) of young Roma children in the Czech Republic departs somewhat in its approach from previous Roma Early Childhood Inclusion (RECI+) Studies and Reports. The preparation of this rep…
Learn moreThe Roma Early Childhood Inclusion (RECI)+ Croatia Report is intended to aid the authorities in ensuring the development of unhindered and equal access for Romani children to quality early childhood education and care (ECEC) services. The p…
Learn moreThe Roma Early Childhood Inclusion (RECI) Serbia report concerns the situation of young Romani children and their families in the Republic of Serbia. Serbia has undertaken a process of social inclusion, which implies the development of poli…
Learn moreThe Roma Early Childhood Inclusion (RECI) reports build a detailed picture of early childhood policy and provision frameworks, highlighting the barriers and opportunities for improving the access of Roma children to appropriate and high-qua…
Learn moreA detailed picture of early childhood policy and provision frameworks in Macedonia, highlighting the barriers and opportunities for improving the access of Roma children to appropriate and high-quality early childhood development (ECD) serv…
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