How the EMTAS team can support you

Contact the Ethnic Minority and Travellers Achievement Service for help

The Ethnic Minority and Traveller Achievement Service (EMTAS) helps schools include pupils from minority ethnic backgrounds. This includes:

  • Gypsy, Roma, Traveller and Showman children
  • pupils who speak English as an Additional Language (EAL)

The service also provides bilingual support and specialist knowledge in refugee education.

For support email emat@westsussex.gov.uk.

EMTAS support

EMTAS supports schools, pupils and families through a range of services. These include in-school support, home visits, and help by phone or email.

Staff include Liaison Officers, Advisory Teachers and Bilingual Liaison Officers. They work across 2 teams:

  • Traveller Education Support (TES)
  • Ethnic Minority Achievement (EMA)

EMTAS can help with:

  • advice on inclusive teaching for EAL pupils, Traveller pupils and other minority ethnic groups
  • guidance on:
    •  admissions
    • induction
    • attendance
    • transition
  • observation, assessment and recommendations for individual pupils
  • support for parents to help them access education
  • support for schools to improve parental engagement
  • direct work with pupils in school, including intervention
  • programmes in English or a first language
  • support at key stages, such as:
    • moving to secondary school
    • heritage language GCSE spoken exams

Network meetings

EMTAS runs network meetings for schools across the county and in local areas.
These meetings help schools:

  • share best practice
  • discuss common challenges
  • keep up to date with local and national developments
  • access peer support and continuing professional development (CPD)

Termly meetings focus on:

  • supporting Gypsy, Roma, Traveller (GRT) and Showman children
  • supporting children who speak English as an Additional Language
  • supporting refugees and asylum seekers
  • promoting diversity and inclusion

Training for schools

EMTAS offers training tailored to your school’s needs. Topics include:

  • English as an Additional Language (EAL)
  • traveller cultural awareness
  • recognising racism and celebrating diversity

You can book training for:

  • individual staff
  • groups of staff
  • whole staff teams
  • local school groups

An annual programme of online EAL sessions is also available for individual staff to attend.

  • Maintained schools and academies
  • Local authority maintained schools fund EMTAS and can access the service.
  • Academies can access the same support by purchasing a package.

For support email emat@westsussex.gov.uk.