ELSA practitioner

At ELSA we believe that to enable our pupils to learn effectively, they need to feel safe in their environment and be both socially and emotionally ready to learn. We understand the importance of holistic development and offer nurturing and enriching experiences to enable the development of the whole child. We recognise that some of our pupils are not always
emotionally ready to learn when they come to ELSA and require an increased level of support for them to access the wider curriculum.

At ELSA we provide a modified curriculum in an environment based on the six principles of nurture .


We aim to:

• Encourage the development of positive social relationships with both peers and adults.
• Provide opportunities to understand emotions and develop pupil’s self-worth, confidence, motivation, trust, self-esteem and adaptability.
• Provide a safe, calm and nurturing environment, alongside a programme of activities structured to the emotional, social and intellectual needs of each pupil, while keeping them in close contact with their base class.
• Support pupils to understand their behaviour and that behaviours generally have a consequence and to develop strategies to self-regulate emotions and anxieties.
• Support the development of a whole-school nurturing ethos focused on inclusion to reduce fixed term and permanent exclusion.

Responsibilities of the post:

The ELSA practitioners main role is to provide support for children with identified social and emotional and behaviour difficulties. The ELSA practitioner will ensure that the pupils can
integrate as fully as possible in the nurture based activities undertaken by the other children in the ELSA provision.


Duties will include running specific programmes and activities to assist the pupils’ individual learning social and emotional needs based on the nurture principles. The ELSA practitioner will be responsible for implementing these activities and to review progress with the STLS case worker, pupil’s school and parent/carers.


Supporting Pupils

• To provide learning experiences through the nurture principles.
• To develop knowledge of the particular needs of the child and seek advice from the SENCo, Class Teacher and outside agencies including the STLS case worker.
• 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.
• To make or modify resources as suggested by the nurture ethos.
• To organise and maintain an inclusive learning environment across the whole school environment.
• Provide positive reinforcements, praise and rewards to pupils.
• Facilitate inclusion in small group activities with peers and support interaction between them.
• To attend in service training and meetings relevant to the post in order to keep up to date with developments in working with children with social and emotional needs.


Supporting ELSA and STLS team

• To work as part of the ELSA and STLS team, to ensure that the wellbeing and personal development of the pupil enhances their learning opportunities and life skills.
• To attend planning meetings with ELSA and STLS to develop learning programmes and to assist in the delivery of the individual learning programmes on a daily basis to promote
learning, behaviour and communication skills.
• To provide regular feedback to the ELSA STLS Lead and, where necessary, relevant outside agencies about any pupil’s difficulties and progress.
• To contribute and attend any relevant meetings for the ELSA pupils.


Supporting the School

• To foster links between home and school.
• To participate in relevant professional development as deemed appropriate.
• To understand and apply the school policies on learning and behaviour, and the statutory guidelines relating to disability discrimination and special educational needs.
• To maintain confidentiality and sensitivity to the pupils’ needs but have regard to the safeguarding procedures of the school.
• To carry out duties as directed by the ELSA STLS Lead and the Head Teacher.

For any further information on this role please feel free to contact the ELSA STLS Lead Jill
Ansell.

jansell@five-acre.kent.sch.uk