Pastoral Support & ELSA

We prioritise the emotional wellbeing of all children. We pride ourselves on the emotional and pastoral care we provide for children and the strong links we establish with their families.

We believe strongly that if we meet children’s emotional needs and support children as individuals, then they will be ‘ready to learn’ and will be able to be the best they can be. The individual pastoral support we provide has a clear impact on children’s behaviour and learning.

Our Pastoral Support Worker works directly with individuals and small groups, providing support with friendships, self-esteem and understanding emotions. Happy playtimes lead to successful lesson times.

We offer nurture groups at lunchtimes and staff members will observe children at playtimes to ensure they are socialising well.

Alongside the Pastoral Support Worker, our Thrive Practitioner and Service Children’s Champion support children with their emotional and social development.

It is essential for the school to work in partnership with parents. Parents share their concerns with our Pastoral Support Worker, who is often available at the start and end of the school day. Teachers are also usually available to speak to directly at these times.

The Pastoral Support worker can be telephoned confidentially or emailed directly on pastoral.support@stmaryshad.co.uk

Mrs Mills the Service Children's Champion can be emailed on service.champion@stmaryshad.co.uk

An ELSA in a school is an Emotional Literacy Support Assistant. There is a recognised training course aimed specifically at Teaching Assistants or other specialist school roles. ELSAs are specialists with a wealth of experience of working with  children and young people. ELSAs are trained and regularly supervised by Educational Psychologists.

What areas does an ELSA help with?

• Loss and bereavement
• Emotional Literacy
• Self-esteem
• Social Skills
• Friendship issues
• Relationships
• Managing strong feelings
• Anxiety and worries
• Bullying
• Conflict
• Emotional Regulation
• Growth Mindset
• Social and therapeutic stories
• Problem solving