Emotional Literacy Support Assistants

      Mrs Wells                                          Mrs Barke

We are Mrs. Wells and Mrs. Barke, and we have been working at Holywell for many years. We take pride in the work we do with children, and our experience in supporting children with additional needs, classroom support, and working with the Special Education Needs Co-ordinator has led us to a new role as Emotional Literacy Support Assistants (ELSA).

We believe that emotional literacy is an essential aspect of a child's development, as it helps them understand and cope with their feelings, develop high self-esteem, and have positive interactions with others. Being emotionally literate helps children focus better on their learning, which is why we are committed to supporting children in developing these skills.

As ELSAs, we work with children to recognise emotions, build self-esteem, improve friendship skills, manage anger, and cope with loss and bereavement. Our sessions are held weekly for six weeks and can be individual or in small groups tailored to each child's unique needs. We use a fun approach that includes role-playing, puppets, board games, arts & crafts, and stories to create a safe and non-judgmental space for children to talk about their emotions.

As a parent/carer, you play a vital role in supporting your child's emotional development. We encourage you to inform your child's teacher if you notice any issues that may be affecting your child and contact us if you have any questions. Together, we can help your child develop the emotional literacy skills they need to succeed in school and beyond.