What is ELSA?

ELSA stands for emotional literacy support assistant. ELSA acknowledges that children and young people learn best when they feel happier and their emotional needs are being addressed. ELSA's are supported by Educational Psychologists within the Local Authority and attend regular supervision and training.

What help and support can the ELSA offer your child?

• Recognising their own or others emotions
• Learning and developing friendship skills
• Learning and developing Social Skills 
• Support and developing self-esteem 
• Anxiety/ worries/ nightmares and looking at how to cope with these feeling (this includes separation anxiety/worries)
• Feelings of Anger and look at how to cope with these
• Loss and Bereavement
• Changes in their life (eg: moving house, parental separation/divorce or a new baby in the family)
• Anything that is having an impact on a child's life and/or schooling.

Supporting - not fixing

Please remember that ELSA's are not there to fix children's problems.  What I can do is provide emotional support.  I aim to establish a warm, respectful relationship with a pupil and to provide a reflective space where they are able to share honestly 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 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 need.  Training and development of ELSAs is an on-going process and wisdom is required to recognise when issues are beyond the level of expertise that could reasonable be expected of an ELSA.  However we can sign post you to outside support that maybe more suitable in complex cases.

ELSA working hours 

Monday - 9:30am - 2:00pm

Tuesday - 10:00am - 1:30pm

Wednesday - 9:30am - 1:30pm

Thursday - 9:30am - 2:00pm

Friday - 9:30am - 2:00pm

Useful links

• Mind
  National mental health charity

• Samaritans
  Confidential emotional support service

• Young Minds
  Charity committed to improving the emotional wellbeing and mental health of children and young people

Useful App links

• Mood Kit
  App approved by the NHS and listed as one of the best Apps for depression and anxiety

• Anxiety UK
  Helps all those suffering from anxiety disorders