How the EMTAS team can support you

Contact the Ethnic Minority and Traveller Achievement Service (EMTAS) for help.

The Ethnic Minority and Traveller Achievement Service (EMTAS) helps schools include pupils from minority ethnic backgrounds. The service also provides bilingual support and specialist knowledge in refugee education.

There are two teams:

Traveller Education Support (TES)

Supporting Gypsy, Roma, Traveller (GRT) and Showman children.

Email tes@westsussex.gov.uk.

Ethnic Minority Achievement (EMA)

Supporting English as an Additional Language (EAL) pupils or children from any other minority ethnic backgrounds.

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 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 points, 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 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.

  • local authority maintained schools fund EMTAS collectively and can access support with no additional cost.
  • Academies can access the same support by purchasing a package - contact the team for further information: