Traveller Achievement Service

The Hampshire Traveller Achievement Service is located within Hampshire Ethnic Minority and Traveller Achievement Service (EMTAS). Part of our core service is to improve access, engagement and participation of Traveller children, young people, parents and carers.

EMTAS provides a range of services to support schools to meet the needs of children from traveller backgrounds (including Gypsy, Roma, Travellers of Irish heritage, Showmen, Circus and New Travellers). Services include:

• The support of Traveller Education Officers to support admission into school, to provide a link with parents and carers and communities, to provide advice and guidance on settling in, induction and transition. (Time allocation is identified according to need.)
• Up to 10 hours of support from a Traveller Teaching Assistant (TTA) which can include in-class support, meetings and contact with parents and carers, together with regular advice and guidance for staff working with a child.
• Individualised transition programme for Traveller pupils from primary to secondary.
• The support of a Traveller Education Adviser to help develop inclusive approaches, foster positive relationships and identify opportunities within the curriculum to value and promote Traveller culture. This may include:
  • support with curriculum planning and implementation.
  • advice on distance learning materials to support those pupils travelling.
  • support for pupils from Showmen background who are on school roll whilst they are travelling.
  • supporting schools to build strong links with parents and carers.
  • input and awareness raising of Traveller culture at school assemblies.
  • support for individual pupils in class.