ELSA Support
What is an ELSA?
Emotional Literacy Support Assistants (ELSAs) are specially trained teaching assistants who work under the guidance of educational psychologists to support the emotional well-being and development of children and young people within the school environment. Their training equips them to provide targeted emotional support, and they receive ongoing professional supervision from educational psychologists to ensure the effectiveness and quality of their work.
ELSAs assist pupils in understanding and managing their emotions, while also fostering empathy and respect for the feelings of others. They offer a safe and supportive space for students to reflect on their personal experiences and develop strategies for coping with challenges.
At Belmore Primary Academy, the designated ELSA is Ms. Pitcher. For further information about the ELSA programme or to discuss support options, please contact Ms. Pitcher via the school office.
ELSA relationship
ELSAs are compassionate, empathetic, and dedicated individuals who strive to ensure that children and young people feel happy, secure, and supported within the school environment. Their aim is to help pupils reach their full potential—socially, emotionally, and academically.
ELSAs possess a deep understanding of the various barriers to learning that some children and young people may encounter. They are equipped to provide targeted support to help overcome these challenges. By fostering emotional development, ELSAs assist pupils in managing life’s difficulties and developing effective coping strategies.
While ELSAs do not offer solutions, their role is to guide children and young people in discovering their own paths forward. They provide a source of support, encouraging self-reflection and resilience.
Central to the ELSA approach is the importance of building trusting relationships. These relationships create a safe, nurturing, and reflective space where children and young people feel valued and understood.
ELSAs can help with...
- Loss and bereavement
- Self-esteem
- Emotions
- Friendship issues
- Relationships
- Anger management
- Behaviour
- Anxiety
- Bullying
- Conflict
- Relaxation Techniques
How to refer a child for ELSA support
Children are typically referred for ELSA intervention by their class teacher, SLT, or SENDCo. The ELSA and SLT collaboratively review referral forms and engage in discussions with class teachers to carefully assess each child's individual needs. Based on this evaluation, they determine and prioritise which pupils would most benefit from an ELSA programme over the next 6–8 weeks.
With clearly defined programme objectives, the ELSA then designs a structured sequence of support sessions. These sessions are tailored to help the pupil develop essential skills and coping strategies, enabling them to better manage social and emotional challenges.
A typical ELSA session
An ELSA programme runs from 6-8 weeks. Each session is scheduled to last between 30 to 40 minutes and occurs on a weekly basis. Sessions typically begin with an emotional check-in, providing an opportunity for open conversation. This is followed by a structured, interactive main activity, which may include games. The session concludes with a period of calm, quiet time intended for relaxation and reflection.
ELSA sessions will be delivered in a one-to-one format or as part of a small Nurture Group, depending on the individual needs of the child.
In certain cases, one-off sessions can be arranged, and for some children, weekly check-ins may be more appropriate than a full programme of sessions.
