Rachel Howarth is our (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant) on the Intervention team at Delamere School
ELSA is an intervention that is used with specific pupils The aim is to provide support for a wide range of emotional needs; taking into account any additional needs pupils already have. These include:
Through consistent, tailored intervention we hope to provide long term strategies for pupils and families to use in order to maintain and support the positive Mental Health and Well-Being of pupils within our school community.
Through a consistent, tailored intervention we provide long term strategies for pupils and families to use in order to maintain and support the positive Mental Health and Well-Being of pupils within our school community.
Children who are identified as someone who will benefit from ELSA intervention will take part in targeted sessions with either Aimee or Rachel, which will focus on supporting them within their emotional need.
The sessions may be carried out on a one-to-one basis, or as a small group session.
The ELSA assistants work closely with the Social, Emotional, and Mental Health Lead in order to conduct a pre- and post-assessment when receiving ELSA. This is used as a way of measuring the impact of the intervention and used as a way of identifying the need for any further support.
At Delamere school we have a clear Emotional Pathway referral Process. Children can be referred onto this process through school staff that work with them, including the Family Liaison Officer. Following a referral, a collaborative decision will be made as to the kind of intervention that would be more beneficial to the child. This may or may not include targeted ELSA sessions.
We also recognise that sometimes children can respond to situations, or behave differently at home than they do at school. As part of our commitment to supporting both children and their families in their emotional wellbeing and mental health in all aspects of their life, there is also a referral process for families.
This means that as a parent or carer, you can also refer your child onto the emotional wellbeing pathway at any time by completing the referral form below.
Delamere Parent / Carer Emotional Wellbeing Referral Form
Once needs are identified, specific sessions are planned in relation to the needs of the child with the aim of teaching them new skills and coping strategies that allow them to manage social and emotional situation more effectively.
The majority of ELSA sessions are delivered on an individual basis, but sometimes small group work is more appropriate, especially in the areas of social and friendship skills. Sessions are fun, and we use a range of activities such as: games, puppets, art and more structured/targeted work which may be emotion specific. ELSA sessions take place in a calm, safe room for the child to feel relaxed and nurtured as well as offering a personalised approach to support.
The overarching aim of any ELSA session is to build emotional resilience in children, enabling them to better cope with life’s challenges and succeed in school.
