Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA)

What is an ELSA?

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 also addressed.

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

It was designed to build the capacity of schools to support the emotional needs of their pupils from within their own resources.

At Sacred Heart, our ELSA is Mrs Jenny Macdonald. She works as a Teaching Assistant in Key Stage 2 and runs our after-school provision alongside Mrs Peters.

What is an ELSA?

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 also addressed.

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

It was designed to build the capacity of schools to support the emotional needs of their pupils from within their own resources.

ELSA sessions can help a child with a wide range of areas including:

- recognising and understanding  emotions

- building self-esteem

- social skills

- friendship skills

- anger and behaviour management

- Loss and bereavement

- relaxation techniques

- transition/ change

Teaching children skills to help them deal with their emotions.

If you think your child would benefit from the support of our ELSA please contact your child's class teacher in the first instance.