Minority Ethnic and Traveller Achievement Service (METAS)

Buckinghamshire County Council believes that all children of compulsory school age are entitled to a suitable education according to their needs.

In particular the team's purposes are to:

• Raise standards of achievement for those minority ethnic groups who are particularly at risk of under-achieving.
• Meet the particular needs of pupils for whom English is an additional language (EAL)
• Secure improved access to education, more regular attendance and higher levels of attainment of Traveller children.
• Meet the particular needs of refugee and asylum-seeking pupils.

METAS consists of consultants who guide and advise schools on raising the achievement of minority ethnic, refugee and asylum seeking pupils and a peripatetic team of Traveller teachers and liaison workers who offer schools advice and guidance on access, attendance, continuity and achievement of Traveller pupils.

Please note that the main office telephone number for METAS Millbrook has changed to the following :-

01494 475777

Contact Information

The following information is broken down by METAS bases - please click on the relevant link to view the contact details for staff at that base.

METAS Resource Centres

There is a resource centre at each of the METAS sites which Schools, Early Years Settings and childminders are welcome to borrow items from for free.

Minority Ethnic Communities in the UK.

Keep up to date with DCSF documents around this subject area at the Ethnic Minority Achievement Standards site.

http://www.standards.dcsf.gov.uk/ethnicminorities/

Race Equality

In other European countries it is customary to use the phrase 'racism, xenophobia and anti-Semitism' to understand the different forms of prejudice. In the UK the term racism is generally used to cover them all. Racism can be based on differences of culture, language and religion not just skin colour.

In 1993 the murder of Stephen Lawrence, a black teenager, in South East London, became the catalyst to changes in UK Law. The subsequent inquiry highlighted "Institutional Racism" as being a factor in the unsatisfactory way the police force conducted its investigation. To address this issue, not only in the police force but other public institutions, the Race Relations Act of 1976 was Amended in 2000. All educational institutions now need to be aware of and acting upon their new responsibilities under the act.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)

If you are supporting pupils with English as an additional language then it is important to read the guidance for new arrivals.

Refugee and Asylum Seekers

METAS can provide support in the form of information,training and resources to schools who have refugee pupils. METAS consultants works in schools across the county.

Schools with no refugee pupils also need to be aware of the importance of raising their pupils awareness of refugees, the METAS resource centre is equiped with many stories,videos and teaching resources to support schools in doing this.

Gypsy, Roma and Travellers

Raising the achievement of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller pupils is the responsibility of everyone within the education system and a significant measure of the effectiveness of policies to combat educational and social exclusion.  Ofsted has shown that Gypsy Traveller Pupils, mostly either Gypsy/Roma or Travellers of Irish Heritage, have the lowest results of any ethnic minority group and are the groups most at risk in the education system. There is no inherent reason why a child from a Gypsy Roma or Traveller community should not achieve as well as any other child

Aiming High: Raising the Achievement of Gypsy Traveller Pupils DfES/0443/2003

The GRT team within METAS work with schools, Traveller young people and families residing in or resorting to Buckinghamshire.

Traveller families may reside on Local Authority or private sites, resort to temporary stopping places or live in a house. They will retain their GRT status wherever they live, for whatever period of time.

Parents and Community

By working with parents and local community groups in partnership, schools provide a space in which to develop a shared community vision of the education of our children.

Early Years

METAS works in partnership with the Early Years Development and Childcare Service to support Early Years settings (maintained, private, voluntary and independent) in meeting the needs of minority ethnic children. The Early Years Consultants for METAS work across all settings to promote the reflection of cultural diversity and to meet the needs of children and parents with English as an additional language.

METAS advises on, and loans a range of resources that reflect cultural diversity and promote language development. We support settings in raising issues around equality and countering stereotypical and discriminatory behaviour in very young children.

Details of courses we run are available from the Early Years and Childcare Service Training Guide.

Keep up to date with DfE guidance around this subject area at the Ethnic Minority Achievement Standards site. http://www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/ethnicminorities/

Diversity in the Curriculum

Ofsted (2005) recommended "the incorporation of race equality concepts into the curriculum in schools" and reported that "that race equality is no longer a 'bolt on' in education but a mainstream concept".

"The quality of the curriculum should be examined to see how well it meets the range of needs and interests of all pupils". It recommended all curriculum co-ordinators review their subject in order to ensure all themes and topics reflect the multicultural nature of their school and the UK.

Best Practice

Case studies showing how best practice is taking place in Buckinghamshire schools.