Ethnic Minorities and Traveller Achievement Service

Ethnic Minorities and Traveller Achievement Service - EMTAS

eMail: emtas@doncaster.gov.uk | Telephone: 01302 734225 | Fax: 01302 734727
Address: EMTAS Service Coordinator , c/o Carr House Centre, Danum Road, Doncaster, DN4 5HF.

About the Service

In order to access any of these services please contact EMTAS, at the above address.

Christine Parker - Head of Service
Peter Bacon - Service Coordinator BME

Training

Training is available to schools on request. Training can be tailor made to the school's requirements and could be presented in twilight sessions or as a part or complete training day. Training is free but if you wish it to be held at the Carr House Centre room hire and refreshments will be charged to the school. Training is available in the following areas:

Racism and Racist Incidents
Racial equality
Cultural Diversity/Awareness
Traveller Culture
Meeting the specific needs of pupils for whom English is an Additional Language
Educational provision for refugees and asylum seekers
Strategies for raising the attainment of ethnic minority pupils

Advice and Consultancy

Advice and consultancy is available in various formats. These range from sessions with relevant personnel in schools such as heads, co-ordinators or class teachers to specialist advice from EMTAS staff working in schools on a day to day basis. Advice and consultancy is a free service although there may be a charge for photocopying of materials or resources left permanently with a school. Advice and consultancy is available in the following areas:

Racism and Racist Incidents Racial Equality
Cultural Diversity/Awareness
Refugees and asylum seekers
English as an Additional Language
Raising the attainment of ethnic minority pupils
Support to extend the curriculum to include a multicultural perspective
Resources with regard to any of the above areas

Resources

EMTAS has a loan base of books, artifacts and posters to develop the curriculum to include a multicultural perspective. These resources are available to teachers in Doncaster schools. The centre can also be used as a reference base by appointment. This service is free but loss and damage will be charged to the school.

New DVD available - Traveller Voices. Super new resource for Cultural Training Contact EMTAS for details.

Support for Pupils with English as an Additional Language (EAL) including refugees and asylum seekers.

EAL support staff work in collaboration with mainstream colleagues in order to provide EAL support to targeted pupils. This will include the following key activities:

The initial assessment of pupils referred for EAL support
The planning, preparation and delivery of curriculum based language learning activities
The identification of resources to meet specific needs
The regular evaluation of the support provided
The monitoring and recording of the progress of targeted pupils and the provision of feedback to teachers, pupils and parents/carers
The establishment and maintenance of regular contact with the parents/carers of targeted pupils
Participation in school-based meetings concerned with the education and welfare of targeted pupils.

Pupils identified as being in need of EAL support should be referred to EMTAS, and appropriate assessment and support will be arranged. EAL teacher support is available for targeted pupils of statutory school age. Bilingual Classroom Assistant (BCA) support may also be available for nursery children as well as those of statutory school age. Bilingual support is dependent on the availability of EMTAS staff members that speak the relevant languages.

Support is currently free but schools are expected to take some responsibility for the management and guidance of BCAs. Detailed guidelines on the respective roles and responsibilities of EAL teachers and BCAs are available separately.

Support for Refugee and Asylum Seeker Pupils

EMTAS provides support to schools in meeting the specific needs of refugee pupils by:

Supporting schools in the initial induction of pupils
Providing cultural and home country information for schools, and awareness raising of refugee issues
EAL teacher support for children whose first language is not English
Bilingual Classroom Assistants, wherever available, support the child in mother-tongue
Training and teacher networks for mainstream teachers working with refugees
Access to dual-language materials
Updated information on national and regional developments
Information sharing meetings with schools, support services, and other related parties.

EMTAS also provides some translated materials for use by schools e.g. letter packs and contacts for schools to access translation services, and interpreters for meetings with parents etc.

These services are free but schools are expected to pay for translation and interpretation to meet the needs of individual pupils.

Support for Traveller Pupils

EMTAS Traveller Service is able to offer a wide range of support to schools and families. Support may include:

Liaison with schools, parents, outside agencies and other Traveller Education Services.
Delivery of training for schools and other agencies.
Resources and displays for use in promoting cultural awareness.
Direct teaching of pupils, including assessment, target setting and provision of support packages.
Advice to schools on the content of Distance Learning Packs. Training for parents on how to use Distance Learning packs
Advice to schools and parents.
Assistance to meet Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) targets for Traveller pupils.
Initiatives to promote educational provision for children from Traveller communities.