At Sir Henry Fermor CE Primary School we provide an Emotional Literacy Programme called ELSA.

ELSA stands for Emotional Literacy Support Assistant. ELSA support in schools is designed to help the school support the needs of their pupils. ELSA acknowledges that children and young people learn best when they feel happier, and their emotional needs are being addressed. We aim to establish a warm, respectful relationship with pupils and to provide a reflective space where they are able to share their thoughts and feelings honestly. We can’t necessarily fix their problems but we CAN provide emotional support. Meaningful change cannot be achieved rapidly and is dependent upon the context and complexity of the presenting issues. For children with complex or long-term needs it is unrealistic to expect ELSA intervention to resolve all their difficulties, however support will be designed to target specific aspects of a child’s needs. If additional support is needed, we will work with the pupil’s family and help to organise specialised support from other agencies.

An ELSA is someone who:

· Has attended a full ELSA training course.

· Regularly attends supervision groups led by Educational Psychologists.

· Develops bespoke programmes to support the emotional needs of the children in their school.

ELSAs are trained to plan and deliver programmes of support to pupils in their school who may be experiencing temporary or long term additional emotional needs.

ELSAs primarily work on an individual basis with one child, however, there are cases where group sessions may be appropriate such as, when working on social skills and friendship skills.

ELSAs receive support and supervision from Educational Psychologists but will still report to a line manager within their school. The school will also help with the identification and prioritisation of children who would benefit from the support of an ELSA. The ELSA will then liaise with the teachers, heads of year, DSL and SENCos within the school.

What can ELSA help with?

· Recognising and Understanding Emotions

· Building Self Esteem

· Social Skills

· Social Situations

· Friendship Skills

· Anger and Behaviour Management

· Bereavement

· Therapeutic Stories

· Relaxation Techniques

· Real-Life Problem-Solving Skills

· Transition / Change.

How long should an Elsa Programme Last?

There are very few cases where ELSA should become a permanent feature of a child’s support system, as the programme works best when there are aims for children to work towards and achieve. At Sir Henry Fermor CE Primary School a course of ELSA sessions is usually between 6-8 weeks, this is always reviewed and is dependent on the child.

ELSA sessions will typically happen once a week across a term and last between 20 – 45 mins. Some children may benefit from shorter sessions depending on how long they can stay engaged. The ELSA working with a child will get to know the ideal session length for them

During a session, an ELSA should:

· Check how the child is and how they have been feeling for the past week.

· Review the content that was covered in the last session and see if any of the information needs to be revisited.

· To introduce new content through engaging games and activities.

· End the session in a way that helps the child to adjust to going back to class.

How to refer a child for ELSA support:

Children are usually referred for ELSA support by their class teacher, senior leaders, DSL or the SENDCo. With the programme aims in mind, the ELSA will plan support sessions to facilitate the pupil in developing new skills and coping strategies that enable them to manage social and emotional demands more effectively.

Depending on the child’s needs, a one off session can also be arranged, as well as weekly check- ins rather than a programme of sessions.

Supporting as part of a team around the pupil:

ELSAs act as part of the team around a pupil to support them in a school environment. If a pupil has complex challenges to overcome, then the school will communicate with other professionals and agencies to help the child get the support they need.