• Provide advice and support to schools regarding the inclusion of pupils from Traveller families.
• Provide advice and support to Traveller families regarding admission to school and attendance.
• INSET and training regarding support for Traveller families.

Travellers have historically been excluded from education. Although now most Traveller children attend schools, Ofsted has noted that they are a group most at risk of underachievement in the education system. The Traveller Education Service aims to promote access, inclusion, achievement and opportunities for Traveller families living in or visiting Hackney.

In fulfilling the statutory requirement of LEAs to deliver a quality Education Service to Traveller children and their families and to comply with National policy documents and guidelines on best practice the TES engages with the Traveller communities in a variety of settings.

The Service works with Gypsies, Travellers of Irish Heritage, Eastern European Roma, and circus and fairground families. Gypsies and Travellers of Irish heritage have been recognised as racial groups within the meaning of the Race Relations Act and the Service assists the Council and schools to meet statutory requirements under Race Equality legislation.

Schools, families, pupils and other agencies can approach directly to access the services.

It partners other agencies within the Learning Trust such as Admissions, Educational Attendance Service, and Special Educational Needs Service etc. Also it liaises with a wide range of other relevant agencies such as Social Services, Health Services, Housing Services, and Connexions etc.

A particularly good relationship has been developed with The London Gypsy and Traveller Unit and this has enabled the TES to access valuable links with the Traveller communities. This has led to the promotion of improved access, achievement and inclusion in education for families in housing and site accommodation.

The Traveller Education Service is part of the Inner London Consortium of TES's which also includes Camden, Greenwich, Lambeth, Southwark, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest. This is a forum for the useful sharing of information, INSET and development of resources for Traveller pupils.

The Traveller Education Service is well integrated into the network of TES's across the country which supports effective tracking of mobile families and also helps to provide continuity of provision for pupils as they move from one LEA to another.

Membership of NATT and ACERT ensure up-to-date engagement with current trends and best practice in Traveller Education.

Schools, families, pupils and other agencies can approach the Travellers Education Service directly to access the services. The TES are supported by The Learning Trust's Budget enabling the following services to be offered without charge:

• Support to families with children out of school
• Support to families and schools with admission procedures, interviews and induction
• Early years admission, induction and inclusion
• Mid-phase admission and continuity, and Key Stage and phase transfer support
• Outreach work between home and school
• Supporting parental understanding of the education system and involvement in their children's education
• Support for attendance and support to prevent exclusions
• Supporting and developing best practice that promotes inclusion and achievement
• Staff In-Service Training (INSET)
• Monitoring access, attendance and achievement of Travellers
• Support for Special Educational Needs (SEN) entitlement and assessment
• Targeted teaching interventions for individuals or groups
• Access to extra curricular activities
• Mentoring at Key Stage 3 and 4, and advice on options at Key Stage 4

A comment from the recent OFSTED Inspection Report on the Learning Trust with reference to JRS 16 makes reference to the work of the Service: "Another small team supports Traveller pupils. This team works well at increasing Travellers' involvement in education and liaises effectively with other support agencies." Page 28 Paragraph 98

The OFSTED inspection report 22 /09/ 2003 on Kingsmead School where there are a high number of Travellers said: "The school has a highly mobile population and thus close links are established with The Traveller Support Team and these pupils are tracked carefully to try and minimise any underachievement."

A profile of the Traveller communities in Hackney as supported by the TES:

Overview: The academic year 2002/03 the Traveller Education Service identified 259 Traveller children between the ages of 3 and 18 living in the borough. Of these 167 were enrolled in schools during the year.

The breakdown is as follows:

The turnover rate for families arriving in or leaving the borough was 34%.

The housing/accommodation profile for these children was as follows:

The Service reported that there have been five unauthorised camps during the year. Of these two have been in existence for more than a year.

The Service has supported 196 school places in 40 schools. The turnover of pupils starting or leaving over the school year was 48%. Hence the Service is dealing with significant mobility within the borough as well as in and out of borough.

Key contacts:

Nigel Hill
Advisory Teacher for Travellers/ KS3
0208 820 7191
nigel.hill@learningtrust.co.uk

Christine Sanders
Advisory Teacher for Travellers/KS4 & Post 16
020 8820 7194
christine.sanders@learningtrust.co.uk


The Learning Trust
The Technology & Learning Centre
1 Reading lane
London E8 1GQ

Links:

http://www.cre.gov.uk/policy/gtstrat/role.html
(CRE Strategy) - Gypsies and Travellers: A Strategy for the CRE 2004 - 2007