Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA)

Temporary contract

Part-Time 24.25 hours per week, term-time only

Main purpose of the job:

To work under the instruction/guidance of the SENDCo, to provide support for children with identified social emotional and behaviour difficulties. The ELSA practitioner will ensure that the pupils can integrate as fully as possible with nurture based activities.

Duties and Responsibilities to include:

• Support children with particular needs in a 1-1 role, in small groups or within their classroom.
• Running specific programmes and activities to assist pupils’ individual learning social and emotional needs.
• Supervise and provide particular support to pupils, including those with special needs, ensuring their safety and access to learning activities.
• To aid access to the full range of learning experiences both inside and outside the classroom and provide modified materials as required e.g. worksheets, games, visual prompt cards, etc.
• Assist with the development and implementation of Individual Education/Behaviour Plans and Personal Care programmes.
• Establish constructive relationships with pupils and interact with them according to individual needs.
• Promote the inclusion and acceptance of all pupils.
• Encourage pupils to interact with others and engage in activities led by the teacher.
• Set challenging and demanding expectations and promote self-esteem and independence.
• Provide feedback to pupils in relation to progress and achievement under guidance of the teacher.
• Use initiative to ensure pupils are on task, challenged and are making good progress.
• Provide emotional support for particularly vulnerable pupils.
• Be flexible in supporting a range of children across the KS2 age phase.
• Create and maintain a purposeful, orderly and supportive environment.
• Use strategies, in liaison with class teachers, to support pupils to achieve learning goals.
• Assist staff with the planning of wellbeing and nurture activities.
• Monitor pupils’ responses to wellbeing and nurture activities and accurately record the achievement/progress as directed.
• Provide detailed and regular feedback to teachers on pupil’s achievement, progress, problems etc.
• Promote good pupil behaviour, dealing promptly with conflict and incidents in line with established policy and encouraging pupils to take responsibility for their own behaviour.
• Establish constructive relationships with parents.
• Be aware of and comply with policies and procedures relating to child protection, health, safety and security, confidentiality and data protection, reporting all concerns to an appropriate person.
• Be aware of and support difference and ensure all pupils have equal access to opportunities to learn and develop.
• To foster links between the Academy and home.
• To maintain confidentiality and sensitivity to the pupils’ needs but have regard to the safeguarding procedures of the school.
• Contribute to the overall ethos/work/aims of the school.
• Support the Senior mental health lead and undertake ongoing professional development as deemed appropriate.
• Appreciate and support the role of other professionals.
• Attend and participate in relevant meetings as required.
• Participate in training and other learning activities and performance development as required.
• Assist with the supervision of pupils out of lesson times, including before and after school and at lunchtime if required.
• Accompany teaching staff and pupils on visits, trips, residential visits and out of school activities as required and take responsibility for a group under the supervision of the teacher.