What is an ELSA?

We have two qualified ELSAs at St Bede - Mrs Harris and Mrs Quirk.

• An ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant) is a member of staff who is trained to support children in the development of their emotional literacy skills.
• ELSA sessions aim to support children in the identified area of social and/or emotional difficulty within school, with an aim to reach a targeted outcome. 
• ELSAs are not there to fix children’s problems. Instead, they provide emotional support, establishing a warm, respectful relationship with a pupil. They provide a reflective space where the pupil is able to share honestly their thoughts and feelings.
• The ELSA uses basic counselling skills (including active listening, problem clarification, open questions, thinking aloud, verbal and non-verbal prompts) to guide helping conversations. 

How does the ELSA programme work?

• A designated session during school hours, aiming for 20 - 30 minutes of facilitated discussions and activities.
• ELSA could span approximately 6 - 8 sessions.
• Sessions can be 1 on 1, or in small groups, and are tailored to the child’s individual needs.
• A pupil’s progress will be reviewed by the ELSA, and discussed with their class teacher.

Once the referral form has been received, you will receive a follow-up phone call from one of our ELSAs.

If they think your child would benefit more from an alternative provision, this will be discussed with you.

There is often a waiting list of up to one school term.