West Midlands Consortium Service for Travelling Children, Schools and Families

The West Midlands Consortium Service for Travelling Children, Schools and Families is partnership agreement arrangement for the purpose of commissioning services for children and young people from those communities; it has peripatetic Advisory/Support Teachers and provides welfare and administrative services, as well as teaching aids and materials, for West Midlands local authorities and schools.

Worcestershire Children’s Services provides education support and other support services for this community for Gypsy Roma Travellers, Showman families, Circus families, Bargee’s, and New Age Travellers through direct resourcing to schools with a recognised need (catchment area which has high levels of traveller children within the local community) and through partnership services provided throughthe West Midlands Consortium Service for Traveller Children (WMCSTC)

THE WORCESTERSHIRE CONTEXT and OBJECTIVE

To ensure that every Traveller child has equal access, with others, to her or his full legal entitlement to education and other support services; to enable them to take this opportunity to become participant adults in a democratic society; to ensure that all providers and schools have access to knowledge and understanding of Traveller Communities

To support the development of a culture of acceptance in which all children can bevalued equally, treated with respect and provided with equal opportunities within education and access to support services. It is concerned with developing inclusive values, shared by all staff, pupils, governors, parents/carers and communities that are conveyed to all new members of the school. These principles underpin the development of policies and practice through a continuous process of school improvement and access to community services.

To encourage participation in a learning community where all are welcome, their needs are met and personal strengths are recognised. Inclusive practices are those which effectively implement the inclusive culture and policies of the school and community, so that full participation is encouraged from all pupils in classroom and extra-curricular activities, drawing upon their knowledge and experience outside the school

THE ROLE OF THE SERVICE

On behalf of the eleven participating Children’s Service Authorities, the Service co-ordinates, monitors, advises, supervises and assists the provision for children from the Travelling communities throughout the West Midlands region; they do this by:

• Work to promote anti –discriminatory practice in all spheres of education and through liaison with other agencies
• Encourage Traveller families to make a commitment to education, whether they are officially or unofficially sited
• Deliver support to schools to assist them in integrating Traveller children successfully
• Work in partnership with schools and other agencies to meet the needs of Traveller children, families and schools within an educational context
• Work in partnership with schools and other agencies to meet the needs of Traveller children, families and schools within home context
• Provide assistance to families regarding welfare advice and improve Travellers’ knowledge of and access to service
• Provide INSET (in-service education training) and resources to support the education of Traveller children
• Promote knowledge and understanding about travelling communities, regardless of the uptake of places in school by Traveller children
• Produce, circulate and provide teaching and learning materials to support National Curriculum development in schools regardless of the current uptake of places by Traveller children
• Ensure that Traveller Education Service provision is reviewed and monitored on a regular basis

FUNDING

The Service is funded directly from Children’s Services core funding .The 11 other L.A.’s in the partnership fund on a local authority on an agreed funding matrix capita basis fund the remainder.

THE SERVICE OPERATES:

• A public record transfer system to ensure that the educational records of the children keep pace with the children’s, movements from school to school and LA to LA.
• A system for monitoring records ensuring that individual children make progress and that the schools receive advisory support.
• An advisory welfare service for the benefit of the Travelling families and the LocalAuthority Children’s Services (Education Welfare Service and Children Missing Education). A pool of Advisory/Support Teachers experienced in teaching communication skills and who are familiar with the lifestyles of the travelling communities.
• A transport budget to provide immediate assistance to schools registering Travelling children, but experiencing transport difficulties.
• An advisory education service through the pool of Advisory/Support Teachers under the direction of the consortium Senior Advisory Teacher to assist schools in meeting the need of Travelling children.
• A resource Centre containing appropriate and tested materials for use with Travelling children.
• A library/archive for use by teachers, students and colleagues in other agencies.
• An in-service training programme for school staff, welfare staff, students and othersinvolved with Travelling families to promote awareness of Traveller culture and lifestyles, positive attitudes towards the children and an understanding of their educational needs.

PLANNING FOR SUCCESS AND CONTINUITY – RESOURCES

In order to assist Traveller children towards being confident and successful learners, the Service has concentrated on developing and providing resource materials to encourage their positive self image and also to support better understanding of Traveller lifestyle amongst all children.

Attainment Targets and levels of National Curriculum are taken into account when developing materials, ranging from wooden toys, matching, sequencing and jigsaw items using real photographs taken within Traveller communities; materials for project work, wooden inset scenes for language extension, pre-literacy and numeracy booklets, projects, a phonic programme, reading books and an introductory reading and writing programme.

DISTANCE LEARNING: FAIRGROUND, CIRCUS AND SEASONAL TRAVELLERS

Families travel for work purposes usually between Spring and Autumn each year.

Children attend the schools near to their winter sites. All West Midlands schools provide children with Distance Learning Work when they leave each Spring. The work is discussed with their parents who will provide support for them when they travel. The Service supports schools in preparing the work, supports the children’s work during the travelling season and supports the winter schools when the children return. The school, the parents, the children and the Service work together in partnership. Distance Learning Work passes between families and schools throughout the travelling season and the Service plays a vital link role in the process.

INCLUSION PROJECT WORK

There are a number of Inclusion and Community Cohesion projects underway in Worcestershire to engage local communities and traveller children and families together to break down stereotypical barriers and encourage the valuing of difference in both communities. These are all detailed in the GRT/EMA action plan.

The aim is to promote continuity in the education for Travelling Children. Schools are welcome to visit WMCSTC Headquarters and Resource Centre in Wolverhampton, and view:

Teaching resources, Videos and slides, Specialist library collection and Archives (research facilities are available) All visitors are welcome, but please contact the service to make arrangements to ensure there are staff available to discuss specific issues.

Contact details

West Midlands Consortium Service to Travelling Children, Schools and Families
The Graiseley Centre
Pool Street
Wolverhampton
WV2 4NE

Mr Kevin Pace
Principal Adviser/Co-ordinator

General Enquiries: 01902 714646
Fax: 01902 714202

Further information

• Gypsy Roma Traveller History Month
• Educating Gypsy and Traveller Pupils  (516.94 KB) - Publication written for TEN by Judy Templeton