Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA)

Grade D, SP5: £24,790 pa pro-rata; approximately £21,014 pa.
37 hours per week, term time only, plus one Inset day, paid as additional hours.
Closing date: Wednesday 14 May 2025. 

We are seeking an experienced and dedicated ELSA to join our team in providing support for children to work within our vibrant and dedicated Inclusion department.The Inclusion department offers support to students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) as well as students with other social and emotional and learning needs. The department also helps those students for whom engagement with learning is a barrier. Enthusiasm, patience and a willingness to work with students of all ages is necessary.

The successful candidate will undertake the following key roles:

• Plan and deliver individualised programmes of support for students, either on a 1-2-1, or in a small group to develop their emotional literacy, including:
  • Awareness of own and other people’s emotions.
  • Development of an increased range of emotional vocabulary.
  • Management of stress, grief, anxiety, anger and conflict.
  • Development of social interaction and friendship skills.
  • Promotion of a realistic self-concept and good self-esteem.
  • Coping with significant life changes including loss and bereavement.
• Plan and deliver programmes of support to small groups of children to develop resilience skills.
• Liaise with teachers and other staff about the needs and progress of children receiving support.
• Share knowledge and ideas from training/supervision sessions with other school staff as appropriate.
• Liaise with parents in line with school policy.
• Support students whose learning is facilitated within the Inclusion department and potentially aid in their reintegration to their classes as appropriate.
• Assist with the development and implementation of individualised learning plans (ILPs).
• Help to create a positive and inclusive learning environment in the Inclusion Department.
• Support the school in developing innovative strategies to engage our students.
• Monitor and document student progress.
• Work with other teaching assistants and staff to create, plan, run and evaluate Intervention Programmes for specific students who need support with their learning and/or well-being.
• Support student well-being and emotional growth as part of a whole school focus on mental health.
• Work closely with the Inclusion leadership team to secure better outcomes for students who need extra levels of support.

If you do not have an ELSA qualification and experience, but you are committed to learning and really want to make a difference for children, then this could absolutely be right for you. We would want your commitment to undertaking the ELSA training within the next year. Salary grading dependent on qualification.

This role has been identified as public facing in accordance with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016, and therefore the ability to converse at ease with pupils/members of the public and provide advice/instruction in accurate spoken English is essential for the post.

For an application form and information pack please email recruitment@littleheath.org.uk. 

Closing date for the receipt of completed applications is Wednesday 14 May 2025.

Little Heath School
Little Heath Road, Tilehurst Reading, Berkshire RG31 5TY
Headteacher: Mr D J Ramsden

Little Heath School is committed to safeguarding children and promoting the welfare of children and young people; we expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Little Heath School will ensure that all recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment. All shortlisted candidates will be asked to complete a criminal records self-disclosure form and successful candidates will be subject to Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks along with other relevant employment checks.