Traveller Education Support Service (TESS)

Travelling children appear to achieve higher standards in schools which place great emphasis on equality of opportunity and by encouraging the acceptance of cultural and ethnic diversity, establish an ethos which fosters self esteem and pride in individual and group identity. *Source: Ofsted Report 1996 'The Education of Travelling Children.'

Aims and Objectives of the TESS

The aim of the TESS is to ensure that Traveller children residing in or travelling in Suffolk access and benefit from the full range of educational opportunities to which they are entitled.

To achieve this aim TESS has identified the following objectives, which are to:
– ensure access to school from official and unauthorised sites
– improve levels of attendance of Traveller children
– raise the achievement levels of Traveller pupils
– ensure the policies and practices of schools are inclusive and reflect an understanding of Traveller cultures and lifestyles.

Note: Click on the F.A.Q.s button to the left to see frequently asked questions about Traveller Children in education.

In order to help Suffolk's schools to realise best-practice in helping Traveller pupils, we provide the following METAT Resources and guidance documents, as well as being able to offer advice on an ad hoc basis. Click on the icons below to access a PDF or Word.doc of these resources: