UNIQUE insights into prejudice and educational difficulties were outlined when gypsy parents took the reins at an educational conference on the schooling needs of travelling children.

The Lancashire Children's Fund-backed conference at Chorley's Woodlands Conference Centre was organised by Lancashire County Council's Traveller Education Service (TES).

But parents requested that they be put in charge -- and brought talented children along to give displays of gymnastics, music and juggling. Showstoppers included accordionists William Langton, Sarah Langton and Julie Langton, who recently appeared on stage with singer Joe Longthorne.

Lancashire's Chartermark-winning TES was established in 1986 and offers help to keep Gypsy children up to speed educationally.

Invited to the day-long conference were County Coun Alan Whittaker, Lancashire County Council Cabinet member for Education and Young people, educationalists and teachers from across the county.

They heard how parents had grasped the importance of raising the expectations of their children.

Adele Boswell said: "Our children suffer educational disruption if they move from school to school -- but they are quick to adapt.

"One problem is that teachers have traditionally automatically put our children into the bottom classes, but often our children are well-educated.

"They have sometimes suffered in the past because their parents have not seen the need for education beyond the basics.

"That has changed -- they know that in the modern world they will need a better education."

Travelling children are now all helped to continue their studies by the TES which provides extra tutors and support for those falling behind and which sends teachers to temporary camps. The aim, however, is to get them all into school.

Jeanne Kenyon, Lancashire TES Head of Service, said: "The parents asked to be put in charge to raise awareness of their situation and to dispel some myths.

"Their attitudes and those of others have always put them outside the mainstream. The problem is that parents never felt that education was of any value to them in the past. They have realised its value over the years and now want to raise awareness of their culture so that people in education understand them better."