ELSA

WELCOME!

Hello and welcome to our ELSA page!

What is an ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant)?

An ELSA is a specialist teaching assistant with a wealth of experience in working with children. ELSAs are trained and regularly supervised by the Educational Psychologists from Bracknell Forest LA enabling them to plan and deliver programmes of support to pupils who are experiencing temporary or longer term additional emotional needs. 

An ELSA is a warm and caring person who wants to help your child feel happy in school and reach their potential. Their aim is to remove any barriers to learning that may arise by supporting pupils to regulate their own emotion, whilst also respecting others around them. 

We are lucky enough to have 2 qualified Emotional Literacy Support Assistants at Fox Hill. The majority of ELSA work is delivered on an individual basis, but sometimes small group work is more appropriate, especially in areas of social/friendship skills. Sessions are fun and we use a range of activities such as games, role play with puppets or arts and crafts. 

ELSA sessions take place in one of our ELSA rooms, which provide a calm, safe space for the children to feel supported and nurtured. 

In ELSA we aim to provide support for a wide range of emotional needs including: 

• Loss and bereavement
• Self - esteem
• Social Skills
• Emotions
• Friendship issues
• Relationships
• Anger management
• Behaviour
• Anxiety
• Bullying
• Conflict
• Relaxation techniques

More information about ELSA support can be found at: www.elsa-support.co.uk

We are all experiencing a very odd time at the moment. Children are finding everything extra confusing and strange and they often express these feelings in a different way to adults, they may be: 

• Clingy or need extra cuddles or attention
• Become teary, especially at school drop off
• Be more quiet than usual and want to be on their own
• Develop fears to new things or strangers
• Ask lots of questions
• Act younger than they are
• Have problems sleeping
• Be irritable, grumpy or disruptive

We all deal with things differently and there is no right or wrong way to feel with all the uncertainty 2020/2021 has given us. 

How to react is important. 

The way you react can shape your child's views and feelings. 

• Be sensitive and listen to your child's questions and feelings
• Provide a routine and structure
• Be consistent
• Try to avoid having the news on or talking too much about the current situation in front of children

This will make children feel more safe and secure, when there is too much uncertainty in the world.