ELSAs

Information for Families About the ELSA Team

At Grove Street, we have the most amazing team of highly skilled ELSAs who have a vast understanding of children's emotional needs and work relentlessly  to support them.

We are lucky enough to have three qualified Emotional Literacy Support Assistants, Miss Harry, Miss Gillies and Mrs Evans. They have been trained by Educational Psychologists to plan and deliver programmes of support to children who are experiencing temporary or longer term additional emotional needs. We also have Mrs McCann, an extremely experienced Teaching Assistant, who has a comprehensive understanding of children's emotions and has had training in areas such as Trauma Informed Practice and ACEs. Mrs McCann is also going to complete her ELSA training this year.

You will find our ELSAs at the gates each morning or in the Bungalow. They know exactly when a child needs a little bit of extra support and magically hear what a child is telling them even when no words are spoken. Our ELSAs then spend time in classes, checking in with children and making sure they are feeling calm,safe and ready to learn.

Our ELSAs also know instinctively when families need some extra help as well. Sometimes a cup of coffee and a chat is enough, but from time to time our ELSAs might signpost families to other support as well.

Sometimes children face life challenges that can affect their ability to engage with learning and may need greater support to develop their emotional literacy than others. ELSA is an initiative developed and supported by educational psychologists. It recognises that children learn better and are happier in school if their emotional needs are addressed.

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

Recognising emotions

Self-esteem

Social skills

Friendship skills

Anger management

Loss and bereavement

What happens in an ELSA session?

ELSA work is delivered on both an individual basis and through small group work. Sessions are fun, we use a range of activities such as: games, role-play with puppets, Lego Therapy and  Drawing and Talking.  ELSA sessions take place in our ELSA rooms which are based in The Bungalow, providing a calm, safe space for  children to feel supported and nurtured.

How does ELSA work?

Children are usually referred for ELSA support by their class teacher, Senior Leaders, or by parents' request.  The ELSAs regularly  meet as a team to discuss children's needs and to identify and plan the support children need during their weekly sessions.  They then plan support sessions to equip children in developing new skills and coping strategies that allow them to manage and understand their emotions. Individual objectives are set with the child in partnership with the Class Teacher. 

Supporting - not Fixing

Our ELSAs aren't there to ‘fix’ the child. What they can do is provide emotional support.  We aim to establish a warm, caring relationship with a child and to provide a safe space where they are able to share their thoughts and feelings. Through building  positive relationships with  children, our ELSAs can help them to think about their emotions, worries and anxieties, and give them the time and space to reflect on these and share their thoughts and feelings. By doing this, our children who benefit from  ELSA support, can develop in confidence and  self- belief, becoming curious  learners who are able to achieve their unique potential.  

 You can find out more about the role of ELSAs at https://www.elsanetwork.org/