Hello and welcome to our school ELSA page where we are pleased to be able to share information with families about emotional literacy support. On this web page we aim to share helpful strategies and resources on how children can be supported with some aspects of their well-being. For example empathy, self esteem and calming techniques. We will include recommended books which may be useful and links to other websites to promote self-help at home.

Diolch,

Mrs Bradley (DHT/ALNCo) and Mrs Powling (ELSA)

What is ELSA?

There will always be children and young people in schools facing life challenges that detract from their ability to engage with learning. Some will require greater support to increase their emotional literacy than others. ELSA is an intervention developed and supported by Educational Psychologists. It recognises that children learn better and are happier in school if their emotional needs are also addressed.

The majority of ELSA work is delivered on an individual basis, but sometimes small group work is more appropriate, especially in the areas of social and friendship skills. Sessions are engaging, and incorporate a range of activities such as: games, role-play with puppets or therapeutic activities such as mindfulness, arts and craft.  ELSA sessions take place in our very own 'ELSA room' which provides a calm, safe space for the child to feel supported and nurtured.

In ELSA we aim to provide support for a wide range of emotional needs:

Recognising emotions
Anxiety
Self-esteem
Social skills
Friendship skills
Anger management
Loss and bereavement

How does ELSA work?

Pupils are usually referred for ELSA support by their class teacher, Senior Leaders or the ALNCo. Referrals are discussed with parents/carers and will be placed on the school-based waiting list. Every half term, pupil referrals are prioritised to identify which pupils require a weekly programme for the next 6-8 weeks. With the programme aims in mind, support is then planned to facilitate the pupils to develop new skills and coping strategies that allow them to manage social and emotional demands more effectively.

Supporting - not fixing

Remember, ELSAs are not there to fix pupil problems. ELSAs provide emotional support by establishing a warm, respectful relationship with pupils and providing a reflective space for pupils where they are able to honestly share their thoughts and feelings.

It needs to be appreciated that change cannot necessarily be achieved rapidly and is dependent upon the context and complexity of the presenting issues. For pupils with complex or long-term needs it is unrealistic to expect ELSA intervention to resolve all their difficulties, however the support will be designed to target specific aspects of a pupil's need. Training and development of ELSAs is an ongoing process and wisdom is required to recognise when issues are beyond the level of expertise that could reasonably be expected of an ELSA. In these cases, school supports parents/carers with referrals for specialist teaching. The Educational Psychologist that works with our school has regular supervision sessions with our ELSA, and is able to offer advice on suitability or nature of ELSA involvement in complex cases.

So what do the pupils think?

On completion of their ELSA programmes, we ask the pupils to reflect on their experiences and to kindly leave feedback. Here are some of the lovely comments received: 

‘ELSA sessions have been really fun and have helped me to make new friends.’
‘ELSA has helped me with my confidence.’
‘I like having someone to talk to.’
‘I like mindful breathing and colouring, to calm me.’
‘I know I can use the ELSA Rainbow to check in with Mrs Powling when I need to.’