WELCOME!
Welcome to our school ELSA page! I am Mrs Francis your school ELSA, I am based in the CWTCH.
ELSA Support Covid-19
You might be worried about Coronavirus and how it is affecting your life. This is a difficult and stressful time for us all but there are lots of things you can try that could help your support your mental health and wellbeing.
I wanted to share some fantastic resources with you for supporting children and parents or guardians at this difficult time. For more support, ideas and activities please go to my ELSA Class on the schools Google Drive. Here is the code to access my class: v5fmqsg
Social Stories about Coronavirus
School is closed for now! You can access the websites below for information about Coronavirus to guide you.
https://www.elsa-support.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/School-is-closing.pdf
What is Coronavirus?
https://www.elsa-support.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Story-about-Coronavirus.pdf
We are at home
https://www.elsa-support.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/We-are-at-home-right-now.pdf
Social Distancing
https://www.elsa-support.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Social-contact-story.pdf
What is going on?
https://www.flipsnack.com/CSKidsBooks/what-s-going-on.html
Mind Up
https://mindup.org.uk/families/
Childline Support
https://www.childline.org.uk/toolbox/calm-zone/
Young Minds
https://youngminds.org.uk/blog/what-to-do-if-you-re-anxious-about-coronavirus/
Mental Health
https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/publications/talking-to-your-children-scary-world-news
Mindfulness
Brain Break
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bk_qU7l-fcU
Useful apps such as Worry Time and Smiling Mind are free to download and appropriate for Primary ages, parents, teachers and all adults!
Adult Support
https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/coronavirus-and-your-wellbeing/#collapseb74fb
Disorder Specific Resources
Anxiety
https://www.anxietyuk.org.uk/blog/health-and-other-forms-of-anxiety-and-coronavirus/
https://www.anxietyuk.org.uk/blog/covid-19-and-anxiety-part2/
OCD
https://www.ocduk.org/ocd-and-coronavirus-survival-tips/
If you would like to contact me for support either for yourself or for a pupil please email
Many thanks Sian Francis ELSA
ELSA
Since the beginning of this academic year we have been very busy in our ELSA sessions.
These sessions are underpinned by the Emotional Literacy target areas: Anger, Anxiety, Emotions, Friendship & Relationships, Growth Mindset, Self-Esteem and Social Skills.
Other ELSA support has been delivered to children either 1:1 or in small groups to work on friendship issues, worries, concerns and bereavement and I have been working with year 6 children for enhanced transition
What is ELSA?
There will always be children and young people in schools facing life challenges that detract from their ability to engage with learning. Some will require greater support to increase their emotional literacy than others. ELSA is an initiative developed and supported by educational psychologists. It recognises that children learn better and are happier in school if their emotional needs are also addressed.
We are lucky enough to have one qualified Emotional Literacy Support Assistant at Blackwood Comprehensive School. Mrs Francis 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 ELSA work is 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, we use a range of activities such as: games, role-play with puppets or arts and craft. ELSA sessions take place in our very own ‘CWTCH’ which provides a calm, safe space for the child/ children 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
Management of anger
Loss and bereavement
How does ELSA work?
Children are usually referred for ELSA support by their parents/carers, class teacher, Senior Leaders or the ALNCo. 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.
Supporting – not fixing
Remember, ELSAs are not there to fix children’s problems. What we can do is provide emotional support.
We aim to establish a warm, respectful relationship with a pupil and to provide a reflective space where they can share honestly their thoughts and feelings.
It needs to be appreciated that change cannot necessarily be achieved rapidly and is dependent upon the context and complexity of the presenting issues. For children with complex or long-term needs it is unrealistic to expect ELSA intervention to resolve all their difficulties, however support will be designed to target specific aspects of a child’s need.
If you feel that your child needs ELSA support, please contact Mrs Francis at the school.
