ELSA
My name is Heather Laurie and I am the ELSA at Kings College. I work Monday to Friday and can be contacted via email: [email protected]
An ELSA is an emotional literacy support assistant who works with students to help them recognise, understand and manage their emotions. A student will usually see the ELSA weekly for six weeks to work on agreed targets. Students are supported with learning and practicing emotional and social skills and the sessions give students the chance to feel valued and listened to. ELSA’s use active listening, problem clarification, open questions and verbal and non-verbal prompts to guide conversations in order to provide emotional support.
If you feel your child would benefit from ELSA support, in the first instance please contact the relevant pastoral lead or SENCO.
Resources I would recommend for supporting your child at home:
- ChildLine – 0800 1111 www.childline.org.uk
- Kooth – www.kooth.com – Online support weekdays 12noon–10pm Weekends and bank holidays 6pm-10pm
- Young Minds Crisis Messenger text YM to 85258 (24/7) – www.youngminds.org.uk
- Mindworks Surrey Home – Mindworks Surrey www.mindworks-surrey.org
