ELSA

At Pendragon Primary School, we understand the importance of supporting with the emotional needs of our pupils.

One way we support our pupil’s emotional literacy is through ELSA.

ELSA’s are Emotional literacy support assistants, who have been trained by Educational Psychologists to plan and deliver targeted programmes of support to pupils who may require some additional support. The ELSA Leads for Pendragon are Mrs Smith and Miss Flack.

ELSA sessions take place during the school day in a quiet room away from the classroom, which provides a calm, safe space for the child to feel supported and nurtured.

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

  • Recognising emotions
  • Self-esteem
  • Social skills
  • Friendship skills
  • Anger management
  • Loss and bereavement

How Does ELSA Work?

Their Class Teacher refers children for ELSA support. Every half term, referrals are reviewed by the Elsa Leads, to identify and prioritise which children require a weekly programme for the next 6-8 weeks. With the programme aims in mind, we then plan support sessions to facilitate the pupil in developing new skills and coping strategies that allow them to manage social and emotional demands more effectively.