The Traveller Education Support Service provides advice, guidance and focused support to schools and to parents and pupils from the Traveller community as part of the Children & Young People’s Services main aim:
"to help improve pupil outcomes and ultimately their life chances"
The Traveller Education Support Service has a number of related objectives to help us to meet that aim:
- To improve the quality of educational support provided to the Traveller community;
- To provide a consistent service to schools and families in need of support across Northern Ireland;
- To facilitate equality of access from pre-school to post-primary education;
- To build the capacity of schools to meet the educational needs of Traveller children and young people;
- To promote whole school approaches to service development;
- To promote full inclusion and integration across all areas of youth education;
- To support and encourage family learning, out of school hours learning and life-long learning.
The service produces a comprehensive annual delivery plan which sets out how the Traveller Education Support Service delivers a range of activities aimed at helping to meet the service delivery objectives set out above.
Parental support
The Traveller Education Support Services is here to help Traveller pupils and parents to access education and to provide practical advice and support to schools which have Traveller children attending.
The Education Authority has a statutory duty to make sure that education is available for all children of compulsory school age (4 to 16 year-olds) in their area, appropriate to their age and abilities and any special educational needs that they might have. Parents may also express a preference as to which school they wish their child to attend, although obtaining a placement in any particular school depends on a number of factors including availability of places.
The Traveller Education Support Services is here to help Traveller pupils and parents to access education and to provide practical advice and support to schools which have Traveller children attending. It is important that parents support their children in school. Traveller Education Support Service staff can be contacted to provide help and advice or signposting to the appropriate service. You can also get help from your local Traveller Support Group or Family Support Worker or from the other organisations.
School/Professional Support
We provide a direct link between Traveller parents and schools or EA services.
- The Traveller Education Support Service also liaise with health visitors and other agencies who work with young Traveller children to improve service delivery.
Careers Advice
Every school has a Careers Advisor who can advise you on your career plans. Also, the Careers Service of Northern Ireland has advisors who can offer you help in choosing the right career and can guide you as to what qualifications you might need to work in the area you want.
Mon-Fri: 9:00am-5:00pm
Traveller Education Contact Information
Advisor
Dr Kieran Shields
Newry Teacher Centre, Downshire Road, Newry, BT34 1EE
Mobile: 07876136509
Email: [email protected]
Assistant Advisory Officer
Karen Turner
Newry Teacher Centre, Downshire Road, Newry, BT34 1EE
Mobile: 07765411285
Email: [email protected]
Area: Newry, South Down, Banbridge, Craigavon, Portadown, Lurgan.
Traveller Education co-ordinators
|
Name |
Contact Details |
|
Carmel McReynolds |
|
|
Concepta Gilheaney |
|
|
Paula Smyth Hutchinson |
|
|
Samantha Cummings |
|
|
Sinead McDonagh |
|
Roma Support co-ordinators
| Name | Contact Details |
|---|---|
|
Abigail Linton |
|
|
Rosemary McKee |
|
|
Val Loughery |
|