Traveller education
Northumberland Traveller Education Service
The Traveller Education Service in Northumberland (NTES) aims to support schools and Traveller families to facilitate the access of Traveller children to a broad and relevant curriculum.
We work closely with the National Association for Traveller Teachers to support Traveller children and families as effectively as possible.
The Service operates on a County-wide peripatetic basis and consists of a full time manager, a full time teacher and a part time family liaison officer who operate from an office base at the Education Development Centre at Hepscott Park, Morpeth.
Northumberland Local Authority has a statutory obligation to provide education for all children from pre-school through to sixteen living wihtin its administrative boundaries This applies to temporary residents such as Traveller children, as well as permanent residents of the County.
Key publications about the education of Traveller pupils can be viewed and downloaded to print here.
Referral
Schools should inform the Service immediately whan a Traveller child is enrolled. Requests for support should be forwarded to the Service Manager and an initial assessment of the child's learning needs can then take place.
Support
Training
In-service training sessions can be arranged to assist schools in their work with Traveller children and families.
Resources
A range of culturally relevant materials are available for loan to schools on a short term basis.
Information
General information and advice is offered to school staff working with Traveller children. More specific assistance can also be provided eg the compilation of distance learning packs by base schools.
Home/School Liaison
Site visits to liaise with parents are arranged as appropriate.
Curriculum
NTES staff work in partnership with class or subject teachers to develop approaches to differentiation which will enhance access to the curriculum for all Traveller children.
Strategy
Although NTES will respond to all requests for support, it should be recognised that because of the need to utilise the support time available efficiently and effectively, both schools and the service will have to prioritise needs. An agreed strategy for meeting the needs of each child referred to the Service will be drawn up, in partnership with the school concerned and this will document the type and level of support, the expected learning outcomes and agreed review dates.
Awareness raising
The TES work in schools to raise awareness about Traveller culture and children. A recent visit from a storyteller was a huge success.
Other Local Authorities
Whilst this area of the website is under construction, perhaps you would like to look at the work of the Traveller Education Service in Leeds to get an idea of the range and diversity of the Traveller communities and our work with them. There are currently two competitions for 2009 Gypsy Roma Traveller month on this site.
Distance Learning
Some travelling children, particularly those from the fairground community, have a stable regular Winter base. But from March to November, their travelling season, they are rarely in one place for more than one week or two at a time.
For those children a system of Distance Learning initiated by the “base” school may be the best way of maintaining educational continuity from Winter to Summer.
School-based Distance Learning offers the most effective strategy for improving educational continuity and moving towards equality of opportunity for travelling children.
Also, pupils whose education has been interrupted can return to school with a loss of skills, poor self-esteem and anxiety about school. Distance Learning can help to overcome these difficulties.
Further information about Distance Learning and the TES can be found here.
