Gentleshaw Primary Academy

At our school, we are committed to supporting the emotional well-being of all children. Some children may need additional support to help them understand and manage their feelings, build confidence, or cope with changes and challenges in their lives.

ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant) is a recognised intervention designed to help children develop emotional awareness, resilience, and social skills. ELSA sessions provide a safe, supportive space where children can explore their feelings and learn strategies to manage them.

Meet Our ELSA

Mrs Kendall is our qualified Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA). She works with children across the school to provide targeted emotional support and receives regular supervision from an Educational Psychologist to ensure best practice and ongoing professional development.

What Can ELSA Help With?

ELSA support may be appropriate for children experiencing difficulties such as:

· Low self-esteem or confidence
· Friendship and social difficulties
· Managing emotions such as anger, sadness, worry, or frustration
· Anxiety or excessive worries
· Bereavement and loss
· Family changes, such as separation or divorce
· Emotional regulation difficulties
· Developing social and communication skills
· Building resilience and coping strategies
· Supporting children through change and transition

ELSA is most effective when supporting mild to moderate emotional needs. Children experiencing more complex or severe mental health difficulties may require specialist support from external services.

How Does ELSA Work?

Children are usually referred for ELSA support through discussions between Mrs Ashan, Mrs Armiger and Mrs Kendall.

Once identified, children normally receive:

One session per week
A programme lasting approximately 8–10 weeks
Individual or small-group sessions, depending on their needs
Activities tailored to their specific targets and emotional needs

Sessions may include stories, games, discussions, role-play, creative activities, relaxation techniques, and problem-solving tasks.

Supporting, Not Fixing

ELSA is not a counselling service, and it is important to understand that ELSA is about supporting children, not fixing problems for them.

The aim is to help children:

Understand their feelings
Develop positive coping strategies
Build confidence and resilience
Find ways to manage difficulties more effectively

Many of the challenges children face cannot simply be removed or solved. Instead, ELSA helps children develop the skills and emotional tools they need to cope with those challenges successfully.

Working Together

Parents and carers play an important role in supporting their child's emotional well-being. Where appropriate, we will share strategies that can be reinforced at home to help children make the most of their ELSA sessions.

If you would like more information about ELSA or feel your child may benefit from support, please speak to your child's class teacher in the first instance.