Ms Carol Baxter:

I cannot say there is a view, and I will certainly bring that back to my colleagues, but it was more that there is a recognition that early learning and care is vital for all children. The approach in the Equal Start programme, which is obviously a large national programme, has been to ensure that Traveller children are supported to participate, but equally that providers respond appropriately. That has been the area of focus. One thing in a related area that we in our unit are working on is a cultural training standard. In the first instance this will be public service providers, but we hope to roll it out more broadly later. We will have a standard cultural awareness competency so that public servants engaging with Travellers and Roma engage with them in a culturally sensitive and appropriate way. We are in the first stages of developing that. The first documents have gone to the steering committee for its views and the intention is that it will be for discussion at the next steering committee. It is live at the moment. We have been working with the Traveller and Roma organisations and public service organisations. We think that is a good way to ensure service providers develop the competency and are equipped to engage appropriately with Travellers and Roma.