Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA)
Supporting Every Child to Thrive
At Forsbrook CE Primary School, we believe that every child is unique, valued and created with the potential to flourish. Guided by our Christian vision and values, we are committed to providing a safe, nurturing and inclusive environment where every child feels loved, respected and encouraged to become the very best version of themselves.
Our vision reminds us that by providing quality learning experiences and opportunities, we can make a positive difference to the lives of every child. Alongside high-quality teaching, we recognise that emotional wellbeing is fundamental to successful learning. Children learn best when they feel safe, understood, valued and emotionally secure.
Our Christian values of Love, Joy, Peace, Hope, Friendship, Compassion, Respect and Courage underpin everything we do. They shape the relationships we build, the support we offer and the caring environment we strive to create every day.
Our Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA) provision plays an important role in helping children who may be experiencing emotional or social difficulties. Through nurturing relationships and personalised support, we help children develop the confidence, resilience and emotional skills they need to flourish both in school and beyond.
What is an ELSA?
ELSA stands for Emotional Literacy Support Assistant.
ELSAs are specialist members of school staff who have completed accredited training and receive regular professional supervision from Educational Psychologists. Their role is to support children in developing the emotional literacy and resilience they need to cope with the challenges of everyday life.
At Forsbrook CE Primary School, our ELSAs provide a calm, caring and supportive environment where children feel listened to, understood and valued. Through trusting relationships, children are encouraged to explore their thoughts and feelings, develop emotional understanding and learn practical strategies to manage a wide range of emotions and situations.
Our ELSA provision reflects our commitment to nurturing the whole child. By supporting emotional wellbeing alongside academic learning, we help children develop the confidence and resilience needed to enjoy school, build positive relationships and reach their full potential.
The aim of ELSA support is to help children:
- understand and express their emotions
- build confidence and self-esteem
- develop resilience and perseverance
- manage worries and anxiety
- develop positive friendships and healthy relationships
- solve problems independently
- regulate their emotions appropriately
- develop empathy and emotional understanding
- feel happy, safe and successful in school
ELSA is an early intervention approach. It provides additional emotional support alongside the care children already receive from their families, class teachers and the wider school community.
Our ELSA Team
We are proud to have trained Emotional Literacy Support Assistants at Forsbrook CE Primary School:
- Mrs Streeter
- Ms Hackney
Our ELSAs, including our SENCo, work closely with the Headteacher and class teachers to ensure children receive the right support at the right time.
Support is carefully planned around each child’s individual needs and reviewed regularly to ensure it remains effective. Where appropriate, we also work alongside Educational Psychologists and other external professionals to ensure children and families receive the most appropriate support available.
Working together allows us to provide consistent care that reflects our Christian values of compassion, respect and hope for every child.
What Can ELSAs Help With?
Every child is different, and emotional wellbeing can be affected by many different experiences. ELSA support is always tailored to meet individual needs and focuses on helping children develop the skills they need to understand and manage their emotions independently.
ELSA support may help children with:
- Emotional literacy
- Recognising, understanding and naming emotions
- Managing worries and anxiety
- Building confidence and self-esteem
- Developing resilience and perseverance
- Friendship and relationship difficulties
- Social communication and social skills
- Emotional regulation
- Managing anger and other strong emotions
- Behaviour linked to emotional needs
- Conflict resolution
- Bullying and friendship issues
- Loss, bereavement and grief
- Family changes or difficult life experiences
- Transition between year groups or schools
- Growth mindset
- Problem-solving skills
- Social stories
- Developing empathy and understanding of others
The focus is always on helping children develop lifelong emotional skills that support both their wellbeing and their learning.
How Does ELSA Support Work?
ELSA sessions take place in a quiet, safe and welcoming space within school where children feel comfortable and able to talk openly.
Support may be provided through:
- individual sessions
- small group sessions
- Sessions are carefully planned around each child’s needs and interests and may include:
- discussion and conversation
- games
- stories and books
- creative activities
- role play
- art and craft
- mindfulness and relaxation activities
- emotional regulation strategies
- practical coping techniques
- reflective conversations
Children usually begin with a programme of approximately 6–10 sessions, although this varies depending on individual need. The frequency and length of support is flexible and is reviewed regularly.
ELSA support is not counselling or therapy. Instead, it provides practical emotional support and teaches children strategies that help them become more confident, resilient and emotionally aware.
How Does a Child Access ELSA Support?
Children may be identified for ELSA support through discussions between:
- class teachers
- parents or carers
- the SENCO
- members of the pastoral or wellbeing team
- school leaders
Children are also encouraged to speak to a trusted adult whenever they have worries or concerns.
Following a referral, the ELSA and relevant staff members will consider the child’s needs and decide whether ELSA is the most appropriate support. Parents and carers will usually be informed before sessions begin and, where appropriate, involved in agreeing outcomes for the programme.
If you feel your child may benefit from emotional support, please speak to their class teacher or contact the school office. We will always work in partnership with families to identify the most appropriate support for every child.
Confidentiality and Safeguarding
ELSA sessions provide a safe and supportive environment where children are encouraged to share their thoughts and feelings openly.
Children are reassured that their conversations will be treated with sensitivity and respect. However, complete confidentiality cannot be guaranteed.
As with all members of staff, our ELSAs have a responsibility to safeguard children. If a child shares information that raises concerns about their safety or the safety of someone else, this information must be shared with the Designated Safeguarding Lead so that appropriate action can be taken.
This ensures that children remain safe and receive the help they need.
Working in Partnership with Families
At Forsbrook CE Primary School, we believe that children thrive when home and school work together.
Parents and carers know their children best and play a vital role in supporting their emotional wellbeing. We value open, honest and respectful communication throughout the ELSA process and aim to work closely with families to provide consistent support.
Where appropriate, we will share strategies, resources and ideas that can also be used at home to help children practise the emotional skills they are developing in school.
By working together, we can help children feel secure, confident and supported both at home and at school.
If you have any questions about ELSA or would like to discuss your child’s emotional wellbeing, please speak to a member of our school team. We are always happy to help.
Supporting the Whole Child
Our ELSA provision forms one part of our wider commitment to nurturing the whole child.
As a Church of England school, our Christian vision shapes every aspect of school life. We believe every child is unique, valued and capable of achieving their God-given potential. Through our caring and inclusive environment, we strive to ensure that all children feel a sense of belonging, develop positive relationships and grow in confidence.
Our Christian values of Love, Joy, Peace, Hope, Friendship, Compassion, Respect and Courage are reflected throughout our ELSA provision. These values help children to understand themselves, care for others, develop resilience and approach life’s challenges with confidence and hope.
By supporting children’s emotional wellbeing alongside their academic learning, we help them become confident learners, caring friends and responsible members of our school community.
When children feel emotionally secure, they are better able to engage in learning, develop healthy relationships, embrace new opportunities and flourish both now and in the future.
Accessibility
We are committed to ensuring that all children and families can access the support they need.
If you require this information in an alternative format, need assistance understanding any aspect of our ELSA provision, or have specific accessibility requirements, please contact the school office.
We will always do our best to make our information and support accessible to everyone within our school community.
