Our school has signed up to take part in a new scheme being rolled out in Staffordshire that supports children’s emotional needs – it is called ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant).

This support is already delivered in school in other ways, but we are always keen to take on board new approaches, particularly as we deal with the post-pandemic challenges facing many children and families.

TA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant) intervention was originally developed within Southampton, then Hampshire, by Sheila Burton, Educational Psychologist. It was designed to build the capacity of schools to support the emotional needs of their pupils from within their own resources.

This is achieved by training teaching assistants to develop and deliver individualised support programmes to meet the emotional needs of children and teenagers in their care. It recognises that children learn better and are happier in school if their emotional needs are also addressed. This intervention is now widely implemented by educational psychologists across Britain.

Lottie Hearn, Deputy Headteacher, said: “We are delighted to be working with Staffordshire County Council on this scheme and will roll this out via our Student Support services, but also dovetail it in with training for all teachers and TAs as well. Our students’ mental health is crucial to their success and happiness in life and we work to provide the support and coping strategies for them to flourish as they move into adult life.”

For more information about ELSA click here.