At Little Thetford C of E Primary School, two of our school values are harmony and tolerance; we believe that children learn best when they are in harmony with themselves as well as being respectful of each other. If a child feels safe and comfortable, they will be happy and ready to learn.
One of the ways we support children with their emotional wellbeing is through our qualified ELSA – our Emotional Literacy Support Assistant, Ms Kirsty Blair.
Ms Blair has been trained by Educational Psychologists to plan and deliver programmes of support to pupils who are experiencing temporary or longer term additional emotional needs. The majority of her work is delivered on an individual basis but sometimes Ms Blair will work with small groups if that is more appropriate.
Ms Blair’s ELSA sessions take place in our mezzanine which provides a calm, safe space for our children. There, she aims to provide reflective time for the children where they are able to share their thoughts and feelings and develop problem solving skills for the future.
For children with complex or long term needs, Ms Blair may discuss with parents the possibility of referring their child further professional support, perhaps through either CAMHs or the school nursing team.