Ethnic Minority and Traveller Achievement Service (EMTAS)

Find out about our educational and language support for children from ethnic minority or Roma, Gypsy or traveller backgrounds.

West Berkshire Ethnic Minority and Traveller Achievement Service (EMTAS) provides specialist advice and guidance to schools to support Minority Ethnic pupils, pupils speaking English as an additional language (EAL), and Gypsy, Roma and Traveller (GRT) pupils.

EMTAS work in partnership with schools to raise attainment and fulfil their duty to promote equality and diversity.

We are part of the Early Years, Vulnerable Learners and Families team in Education Services.

What we offer

We offer support for pupils and their families, including:

one-to-one English language interventions to support new arrivals who are beginners in English
assessment of newly arrived pupils who are struggling with integration. Pupils with SEN needs will be prioritised
short term interventions for children to target specific gaps in learning: GReaT 121 project
liaise with families to promote closer communications between school and home
Early Years Outreach sessions on the Traveller sites using the Health Bus
joint working with West Berkshire 'Admissions' and 'Transport' departments to ensure fair access for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller pupils

We offer support for schools and organisation, including:

advice on teaching strategies to support EAL pupils
training for teachers and teaching assistants to meet the needs of pupils with EAL, including providing strategies to support beginners to English or more advanced bilingual pupils
training for teachers and teaching assistants to support the teaching and learning of pupils from Gypsy, Roma and Traveller families
attainment data collected termly, tracked at pupil level and monitored by sub-level
liaise with other professionals, for example: Educational Psychologists, Health and Social workers, Education Attendance Officers and more
joint working with West Berkshire's Education Attendance Officers to improve attendance
referrals to other agencies, for example: CAMHS and EHA, for assessment and intervention

How to get support

If you feel that your child needs help with language or educational support and fits into the above criteria, please contact your child's school first.

The school will then arrange for a visit, and support, from EMTAS.