Emotional Literacy Support - ELSA
At The John Bamford Primary School, we are committed to supporting every aspect of a child's development — not just academic progress, but emotional wellbeing too. We currently have four trained Emotional Literacy Support Assistants (ELSA) as part of our staff team.
What is an ELSA?
An ELSA is a teaching assistant who has received specialist training from educational psychologists to support children’s emotional and social development. ELSAs are not therapists, but they offer a warm, consistent, and safe space for children to explore and understand their feelings.
What our children say about ELSA
How does ELSA support work?
Our ELSA provides support through individual or small group sessions, usually once a week. Sessions are carefully planned to meet each individual child's needs and may include:
- Understanding and managing emotions
- Building self-confidence and self-esteem
- Friendship skills and social interaction
- Coping with loss, bereavement, or family changes
- Managing anger and frustration
- Reducing anxiety and worries
Sessions are engaging and child-led, using activities such as games, storytelling, drawing, and conversation to help children express themselves.
Who can access ELSA support?
Children are referred for ELSA support by their class teacher. We always seek parental consent before beginning any sessions. ELSA programmes typically run for 6–12 weeks, with regular reviews to monitor progress and adjust support as needed.
Why is ELSA important?
Children learn best when they feel safe, happy, and understood. Our ELSA helps children develop the emotional resilience and social skills they need to thrive both in and out of the classroom.
By providing this early intervention, we aim to build confidence, support mental wellbeing, and ensure all our pupils are ready to engage positively with school life.
Working with families
We believe the best outcomes happen when school and home work together. If your child is receiving ELSA support, we may contact you to share progress or suggest strategies you can use at home. If you have concerns about your child’s emotional wellbeing, please speak to their class teacher or contact the school office to find out more.
Contact us
If you would like more information about our ELSA provision, please get in touch with Mrs. Hamnett, Mrs. Lowe or Mrs. Bevan-Phillips via the school office or email us at office@johnbamford.staffs.sch.uk
Some useful resources for you to use at home:
