THOUSANDS of children across East Lancashire are getting ready for a new school term -- but what about those who find accessing education more difficult?

Chief Reporter MICHELLE FIDDLER spoke to a family of travellers to see how they are helped by the education system in Lancashire.

MOST parents find it a struggle to get their children into their school uniform.

But mother-of-12, Mary Ward has trouble getting her son Bernie out of it.

For although he is nine years-old this is the first time in Bernie's life that he has had a chance to go to school on a regular basis.

In the past few years Mary and her family -- who are travellers -- have been living on camp sites across the North West -- including sites in Burnley, Blackburn, Bury and Rochdale.

Often the family -- who live in two caravans -- spend only a few days in one place before being moved on and they had never stayed in one place long enough for the children to go to school.

But Mary has finally decided to settle in East Lancashire and for the past nine weeks the family have been living on a patch of waste land in Accrington while they wait to move into a council house early next year.

And five of Mary's youngest children - Bernie, 10 year-old Charlene, fondly known to her family as "Tootsie", seven year-old Jim, six year-old Danny and five year Frankie -- have finally had a chance to have their first real taste of school by going to Huncoat Primary School.

The Traveller Education Service (TES), run by Lancashire County Council, supported 631 children from travelling families who were living in Lancashire and Blackburn with Darwen council areas last year. And they offered advice and support to hundreds more.

Many families choose to "distance learn" and the TES offers them support. Others choose to send their children to the nearest school to the camp they are living in -- whether for just a matter of days, weeks or months.

The TES deals mainly with gipsy and Irish families, while fairground and circus families tend to be more seasonal. New age travellers and 'barge' families are also helped. Most children from travelling families only go to school until the age of 11.

Jeanne Kenyon, who is head of the TES service in Lancashire, said: "The law is that children have to go to school and our role is to try to provide for these children while they are in this area.

"Some disadvantaged groups can't access education but the more mobile they are the more of a priority they are for us.

"It is all about priorities and how important it is for the families. Education ceases to be a priority when children get to secondary school age because that is truly when the culture kicks in.

"They think their children are going to be educated out of their own culture and they think by that age the children have a role in their own society.

"Girls have the same role as their mothers and very few seek employment out of their own culture."

Mary, who went to school when she was younger, said: "There is nothing here for the children to do all day.

"Earlier this year Bernie had an accident when he fell out of the caravan door and hurt his leg. He has had to have operations on his hip and I thought he needed to exercise.

"He has been enjoying it since he has been in school and he has been given a 100 per cent attendance certificate.

"The other kids love it as well. They were all really excited about going to school and haven't had any bother. They have had their noses in books ever since."

Education Access Officer Gill Moxham has been assisting the family and helping the children to settle into school.

She said: "Because Mary and her family have been very mobile it has been difficult for them to access education.

"The children of travelling families don't normally go to secondary school but Charlene is going to give it a try next year and see if she likes it.

"Some young people want to go back to school and some regret that they didn't go.

"A lot of teenage boys are struggling now when it comes to applying for their driving licences or taking their theory tests. But we want to make sure they have a positive educational experience."

IS enough being done to help the children of travelling families come to terms with modern life?

RING OUR FRIDAY JURY HOTLINE ON: 08705 446644.

On hearing the welcome, dial either 9000 for YES, enough is being done to help the children of travelling families come to terms with modern life OR 9001 for NO, enough is not being done

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