Updated May 2010

An introduction to

The ELAMP Projects

The ‘E-Learning And Mobility Projects’ have been focused on the use of ICT to provide enhanced independent and distance learning support for Traveller children. Their primary focus has been the challenge of interrupted learning.

The ELAMP initiative started with a research exercise coordinated by NATT+ and funded by the Nuffield Foundation in 2003-04. This looked at ways of using ICT to bridge the gap between mobile homes and schools and was followed by a series of phased pilot projects involving local Traveller Education Support services (TESS) and schools in different parts of the country. These phased pilots have been funded by the DCSF and 2009-10 marks the final year of the project. The initial pilots focused on providing ICT-enhanced distance learning support for pupils who travelled away from their winter base-school, with the internet allowing pupils to keep in contact with school and to exchange work.

In 2006 the project took on another challenge; exploring the use of ICT to re-engaged secondary-age Traveller pupils who had left school or were on the fringes of schooling. This work was targeted on Key Stage 4, with local TESS staff acting as a bridge to draw these often disaffected youngsters back into a framework where they could make a fresh start with education as well as exploring relevant vocational options.

From 2006, the original (distance learning) work of the project has been referred to as ‘Strand A’ within the project, whilst the re-engagement work has been referred to as ‘Strand B’.

From 2008, the work of Strand A was also broadened to begin to gain experience of supporting Traveller pupils who didn’t travel away from school but would clearly benefit from having a laptop and internet access to improve their schoolwork. This decision was taken in the run up to the Government’s ‘Home Access’ programme which was due to be launched in 2009 and is intended to promote the home-use of ICT by school-age pupils and their families.

Distance Learning (Strand A)

Since 2004, DCSF funding has allowed well over 30 TESS in different parts of the country to work with both primary and secondary base-schools in order to support young mobile learners during their travelling season. In 2008-09 (the last year for which records are currently available) the project was supporting 122 primary-age pupils and 140 secondary learners. These youngsters are registered with the scheme, and receive distance learning support via the internet as well as interactive learning materials and access to web-based resources, The equipment is also used by their siblings, and often by parents.

These are small numbers on a national scale, but the project has enabled a number of both TES and schools to gain experience of this type of provision and this platform of experience has led to efforts to publish two ‘good-practice’ guidance documents, which are there for others to draw from. The first of these was published in 2006 and is entitled School Supported Distance Learning. It is available on the web at the following link:

Download guidance document from DFES webpage

The second was published in January, 2010 and is focused on the launch of the Home Access programme. It is entitled Home Access on the Move: Providing for mobile families. As the title suggests it is intended as a reminder to LAs and schools across the country that the new programme should take account of the particular needs of mobile families in encouraging and supporting local Home Access developments.

Download pdf of the document

Home Learning (a recent Strand A development)

As noted above, since 2008 the ELAMP project has also set out to explore the use of laptops and the internet to support Traveller pupils for aren’t mobile, in preparation for the launch of the main Home Access programme which will initially run through to March, 2011 and will promote the use of ICT in the home to reinforce learning. Over 300 primary and secondary (non-mobile) pupils were registered with ELAMP for the school year 2008-09, and the experience of TESS staff in preparing and supporting the families will be shared with colleagues via NATT+

Re-engaging disaffected Key Stage 4 Traveller Learners (Strand B)

Whilst considerable progress has been made in the primary sector, Traveller transfer rates to secondary have been variable across the country and large numbers of pupils also drop out during Key Stage 3. There seem to be a variety of reasons for this which include bullying, the perceived lack of relevance of the secondary curriculum to Traveller families and cultural dissonance.

Strand B of ELAMP started from 2006 and set out to address this different kind of interrupted learning challenge. Again a number of TESs became involved, currently 23) and each has set out to work with small groups of learners in order to re-engage them. These learners again have a laptop and internet access, and they also have their own virtual learning environment; although essential learning materials are also available on a CD-ROM as wireless connectivity has proved problematic on many of their sites. There are currently approximately 100 learners. They work with their tutors on a weekly basis to complete ‘challenges’, which are units of work designed to help them obtain ‘wider key skills’ qualifications. These challenges focus on carefully chosen topics like ‘Looking after an animal’ or ‘Becoming an ICT expert’ with direct relevance to the interests of the youngsters. Tutors also encourage the young learners to explore vocational (post-16 options).

The project has proved successful, with about 75% of participants gaining qualifications and several of those who are not going into the family business taking up college places. From September, 2010 this provision will be taken over by the Ormiston Education Trust and will become a self-funded initiative open to any school or Local Authority. It will be part of the trust’s ‘You Choose’ programme and will be entitled ‘Bridge Builder’.

For more information please see the You Choose section

More Detail?

The outcomes of the research phase of the project were published by Trentham Books in 2004. The title of this booklet is Traveller Education: changing times, changing technologies. (ISBN-10: 1 85856 351 8).

Since then the project has produced annual evaluation reports which cover the pilot phases and are to be found on the NATT+ website. Remember that from phase 4 (2006) onwards you will find separate reports for Strand A (distance learning and subsequently home access) and Strand B (re-engaging disaffected learners).

Most Recent ELAMP Reports

Using ICT to Support Distance Learning for Traveller Children [PDF 286KB]

A report on the progress of Strand ‘A’ of the E-LAMP initiative
Phase 6: 2008-09

This report is the latest focused on the continuing work of ‘Strand A’ of the ELearning and Mobility Project (ELAMP). This part of ELAMP has aimed to promote the development of school-supported distance learning for mobile Traveller children whilst they are away from school during the working season. The various phases of the initiative date from 2004 and have explored the use of ICT to bridge the gap between home and school and to enhance the educational opportunities of Gypsy Roma and Traveller (GRT) pupils.

Building Bridges for Traveller Children [PDF 427KB]

Using ICT to Create Links Back into Education.
A progress report on the progress of the Wider Key Skills Bridging Project
Strand B of ELAMP: 2008-09

One of the major challenges in work with Traveller families is to encourage and support take-up and achievement within secondary education, and a particular challenge is presented by Key Stage 4 (14+) when all too many young Travellers have become disengaged from school. This project explores the potential of an ICT-based learning approach as one way to re-engage young Travellers into learning and to build bridges for their educational and occupational futures. The intention has been to counter cultural dissonance by picking up on vocational and personal interests. These have been used within the project as a springboard for developing a range of skills which can, in turn, help the young participants to pursue post-16 and work-related opportunities.