What is Elsa?

Emotional Literacy Support Assistant

ELSAs are emotional literacy support assistants who have had special training from educational psychologists to support the emotional development of children and young people in school. ELSAs have regular professional supervision from educational psychologists to help them in their work. ELSAs help children and young people learn to understand their emotions and respect the feelings of those around them. They provide the time and space for pupils to think about their personal circumstances and how they manage them.

The ELSA isn’t there to ‘fix’ the child. For pupils with complex or long-term needs, it’s unrealistic to expect ELSA support to resolve all their difficulties. Change is a long-term process that needs everyone’s help. ELSA work should be fun – that’s what makes the difference. It isn’t a reward for bad behaviour. By building a positive relationship with challenging children the ELSA can help them think about and reduce their troublesome behaviour. It will take time, but will be worth it in the end.

There are 3 different sessions we can offer the young people at St Francis:

1)  ELSA - aims to provide a nurturing environment where children can develop the emotional literacy skills they need to navigate life’s challenges. By addressing emotional, social, and behavioural difficulties early on, ELSA helps children understand and manage their emotions, build resilience, and improve their interpersonal skills. This proactive approach ensures that children are equipped with the tools they need to cope with stress and adversity, reducing the likelihood of mental health problems in later life. By fostering a supportive and understanding atmosphere, ELSA empowers children to thrive both emotionally and socially, laying a strong foundation for their future well-being. ELSA can be offered as a group or 121 intervention.

What does an Elsa session look like?

Hello and Welcome

The ELSA will welcome the child and helps them to feel at ease, safe and comfortable.

Feelings Check-In

The ELSA invites the child to express how they are feeling. This is a crucial starting point, allowing the child to identify and articulate their emotions. They might feel excitement, anxiety, or anything in between.

Warm-Up Activity

Next, a gentle warm-up activity sets the tone for the session. This could involve a playful game, storytelling, or a creative exercise designed to engage the child and establish rapport. It helps create a safe and comfortable atmosphere where the child feels encouraged to participate.

Main Activity – Target and Prior Learning

The heart of the session focuses on addressing the child’s specific SMART target, building on from their previous learning. This activity is tailored to the child’s needs. It might be to improve self-confidence, manage, or develop social skills. The ELSA integrates prior learning to reinforce strategies and concepts, ensuring continuity and progress.

Calming or Mindfulness Activity

To promote emotional regulation and relaxation, the ELSA incorporates a calming or mindfulness activity. This could involve deep breathing exercises, guided imagery, or sensory activities aimed at helping the child ground themselves and manage any heightened emotions.

Review of the Session

The end of the session is where the ELSA and child review what has been discussed and practised. Revisiting key insights and strategies covered during the session. Reinforcing understanding and encouraging the child to apply these learnings in their daily life. This reflection also provides an opportunity for feedback and discussion, ensuring that the child feels supported and empowered.

Goodbye

The ELSA may end the session in a positive way by offering a drink of juice and a biscuit.

An ELSA session is a dedicated space where emotional growth flourishes through empathy, skill-building, and positive reinforcement.

2)  Drawing & Talking – Drawing and Talking Therapy is the number one alternative to CBT and direct talking therapies, that can often be confronting or limiting in the processing of pain or trauma. As an attachment-based therapeutic intervention, Drawing and Talking Therapy is designed to complement CAMHS and other specialist therapies.

Drawing and Talking allows individuals to discover and communicate emotions through a non-directed technique, setting it apart from existing solution-focused and cognitive-based therapies and interventions.

This is a non- directed, therapeutic, play- based, relational approach. It focuses on providing a safe, nurturing and contained space where the young person can explore and process their feelings. There will be three stages during the course of the sessions initial, conflict and resolution stage. Sessions last 30 minutes on the same day, time and place each week, during a 12-week intervention. The practitioner asks a number of non-intrusive questions about their drawings, and over time a symbolic resolution is found to conflicts and trauma begins to heal.

Work is one-to-one to create secure attachments.

Work with an individual is carried out safely and non-intrusively, with respect for their pace and their state of being. This intervention helps to build healthy attachments and helps to process trauma. After completion of the Drawing and Talking therapy, individuals are more able to control their behaviour and most importantly have higher self-esteem, allowing them to thrive in the world around them.

The alternative to Drawing & Talking is also using sandplay.

3)  Lego Therapy - LEGO® Therapy is a collaborative, play based social skills intervention. LEGO® Therapy sessions aim to promote the development of appropriate social, communication and play skills, as well as utilise children’s strengths to help them develop their areas of difficulty. LEGO® Therapy aims to provide opportunities to develop the following social skills:

This is a group intervention which is ideal for those that have previously had ELSA or to improve on social skills.

Benefits of all the above.

• Safe Environment – Provides a safe and supportive environment where children can express their feelings without judgment.
• Personalised Support – Offers tailored support that addresses the specific needs of each child.
• Skill Development – Helps children develop essential emotional and social skills that are crucial for their overall development.
• Improved Well-Being – Enhances the overall emotional well-being of children, contributing to their happiness and success in school.
• Empowerment – Empowers children by giving them the tools and strategies they need to handle life’s challenges effectively.
• Increased Resilience – Helps children build resilience by understanding and managing their emotions, which is crucial for coping with stress and adversity.