What is an ELSA?

An Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA) is a specialist teaching assistant with a wealth of experience of working with children. ELSAs are trained and regularly supervised by the Educational Psychologists in the Local Education Authority. An ELSA is a warm and caring person who wants to help your child feel happy in school and to reach their potential educationally.  Their aim is to remove the barriers to learning and to have happy children in school and at home.

ELSAs will help children learn to understand their emotions and respect the feelings of those around them. They can provide time and space for pupils to think about their personal circumstances and how they can manage them.

What can the ELSAs help with?

Loss and bereavement

Support through a serious illness

Self-esteem

Social skills

Emotions

Friendship issues

Relationships

Anger management

Behaviour

Anxiety

Bullying

Conflict

Relaxation techniques

Separation (including divorce)

We have several qualified Emotional Literacy Support Assistants who deliver programmes of support to pupils who are experiencing temporary or longer term additional emotional needs. This approach is used across the whole school to support students across all their lessons.