Emotional Literacy Support Assistants are specialist teaching assistants with a wealth of experience working with children.

An ELSA is a warm and caring person who wants to help your child feel happy in school and reach their potential educationally. Their aim is to build your child’s emotional development, help them to cope with life’s challenges and to encourage them to find solutions to any problems they may have. An ELSA has been trained to plan and deliver support programmes to those experiencing temporary or long-term emotional needs.

ELSAs can help with a range of emotional needs including:

• Loss and bereavement
• Anger management
• Emotional literacy
• Self-esteem
• Social skills
• Friendship skills
• Relationships
• Managing strong feelings
• Anxiety
• Bullying
• Growth mindset
• Family illness or separation

Children are usually referred for ELSA support by their teacher. We will then assess the pupil and plan a unique intervention strategy to support the child’s emotional and social needs. Sessions will help children to develop new skills and coping strategies that will allow them to manage social and emotional demands more effectively. ELSA support can be provided in individual or group sessions and will vary in time depending on the age of your child.

At the bottom of this page, we have included some information and activities to help and support your child with self-esteem, empathy, managing feelings/emotions, expressing themselves and dealing with worries. Please feel free to download and print these to use at home, or contact the school office to request paper copies.

Please contact us via email if you believe your child may need some support in school. 

Further support is available via the links below: 

CCC Parenting and Family Support: https://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/residents/children-and-families/parenting-and-family-support

NHS Childrens Health Sevices: https://www.cambspborochildrenshealth.nhs.uk/