At Benwick Primary School we are committed to promoting the health and well-being of our pupils, staff and the wider school community. We actively encourage children and staff to grow as kind, compassionate people who are confident and resilient, working to their potential and who are physically and mentally healthy. We do this by recognising and celebrating difference; treating everyone equitably and with the same respect and care with which we would wish to be treated ourselves. We listen, aim to know everyone as well as we can and look after each other. As expectations our high, we also deliver tough messages that are not always easy to hear or to accept but a very necessary part of growing and developing into being the very best we can be. We extend this way of being to our parents and our local community believing that there is strength in working in partnership and ensuring everyone is informed and engaged in the process of trying to make healthier life choices both now and in the future.
ELSA
Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA)
What is ELSA?
ELSA is there for children and young people in school that are facing challenges in their life. Some will require greater support to increase their emotional literacy than others. ELSA recognises that children learn better and are happier in school if their emotional needs are also addressed.
We are lucky enough to have a qualified Emotional Literacy Support Assistant here at ; Mrs Kelso has been trained to plan and deliver programmes of support to pupils who are experiencing temporary or longer term emotional needs.
The majority of ELSA work is delivered on an individual basis, but occasionally, some group work is more appropriate, especially in areas of social and friendship skills.
Sessions are fun! A range of activities are used such as: games, role-play, feelings stones, cards, books, arts and crafts etc.
How does it work?
Children are usually referred for ELSA support by their class teacher. Mrs Kelso will then assess the pupil and if additional support is needed then a letter will be sent home to parents/carers asking for consent. Mrs Kelso will then plan support sessions to facilitate the pupil in developing new skills and coping strategies that allow them to manage social and emotional demands more effectively. These sessions will then be reviewed as and when necessary.
In ELSA we aim to provide support for a range of emotional needs:
Recognising emotions
Self-esteem
Social skills
Friendship skills
Anger management
Loss and bereavement
Family illness or separation