The local authority aims to ensure that the educational needs of traveller children are addressed by working in partnership with traveller parents and their children, mainstream schools and other professionals in order to achieve access to and continuity of education. This is done through the Avon Consortium Traveller Education Service (ACTES). ACTES supports five groups of travellers: - Gypsies
- Irish travellers
- Circus travellers
- Showmen (Fairground) travellers
- New travellers
ACTES serves the unitary authorities of South Gloucestershire, Bristol, North Somerset and Bath and North East Somerset. The service is led by South Gloucestershire on behalf of the four unitary authorities. The main functions of the service are:
- To provide a support service to schools and traveller families in South Gloucestershire, Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset and North Somerset to improve access to education, enhance the quality of educational opportunities and raise educational attainment
- To ensure that school placements are obtained for traveller children in school as soon as possible following their arrival in the area
- To provide curriculum and social support to traveller children in school in response to their assessed needs
- To provide resources to better enable teachers to meet the needs of traveller children
- To provide welfare support to the children and their families promoting increased attendance of traveller children
- To work with schools and parents to extend parental involvement in their children's learning
- To provide advice and support about pre-school services to traveller families
- To liaise with the four unitary authorities, with other traveller education support services, with traveller organisations and with the DfES in order to maintain and enhance the service
- To provide information and training for teachers and others, in order to increase understanding and support for the traveller communities