Old Mill aims to support every child and their family both academically and through relevant pastoral support.
Within school we have a trained ELSA who supports referred children to maximise their future chances in life.
We can also make referrals to:
School Nursing Team (see below)
Early Help (see below)
CAMHS (mental health support)
Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA)
What is ELSA?
There will always be children and young people in schools facing life challenges that detract from their ability to engage with learning. Some will require greater support to increase their emotional literacy than others. ELSA is an initiative developed and supported by educational psychologists. It recognises that children learn better and are happier in school if their emotional needs are also addressed.
We are fortunate to have a qualified Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA) at Old Mill Primary School. Hazel Hibberd has been trained by Educational Psychologists to plan and deliver programmes of support to pupils who are experiencing temporary or longer term additional emotional needs. The majority of ELSA work is delivered through group work, but sometimes individual sessions are more appropriate. Sessions are fun using a range of activities such as: games, role-play with puppets or arts and craft. ELSA sessions take place in our newly refurbished 'ELSA room' which provides a calm, safe space for the child to feel supported and nurtured.
In ELSA we aim to provide support for a wide range of emotional needs:
Recognising emotions
Self-esteem
Social skills
Friendship skills
Anger management
Loss and bereavement
How does ELSA work?
Children are usually referred for ELSA support by their Class Teacher, Senior Leaders or the SENDCo. Every half term, referrals are reviewed to identify and prioritise which children require a weekly programme for the next 6-8 weeks. With the programme aims in mind we then plan support sessions to facilitate the pupil in developing new skills and coping strategies that allow them to manage social and emotional demands more effectively.
Supporting - not fixing
Remember, ELSAs are not there to fix children's problems. What we can do is provide emotional support.
We aim to establish a warm, respectful relationship with a pupil and to provide a reflective space where they are able to share honestly their thoughts and feelings.
It needs to be appreciated that change cannot necessarily be achieved rapidly and is dependent upon the context and complexity of the presenting issues. For children with complex or long-term needs it is unrealistic to expect ELSA intervention to resolve all their difficulties, however support will be designed to target specific aspects of a child's need. Training and development of ELSAs is an ongoing process and wisdom is required to recognise when issues are beyond the level of expertise that could reasonably be expected of an ELSA. The Educational Psychologist that works with our school would be able to offer advice on suitability or nature of ELSA involvement in complex cases.
School Nurse
Old Mill has a dedicated School Nursing Team, who can support children and their families through school.
The School Nursing Service is a central and accessible point of contact for children, young people and their families, working with both health and non-health professionals, to promote and support their identified physical, emotional and social needs. It delivers year round nurse-led health provision by incorporating an age appropriate public health service spanning the age group of 4 + years to 19 years. The School Nursing Team is represented by Specialist Community Public Health Nurses (SCPHN), School Nurses and School Nurse Assistants.
The School Nurse Team will promote the holistic health of the school-aged population. This may include:-
Smoking Cessation
Relaxation
Support for parents and carers’ in behaviour management on a ‘one-to-one’ or group basis.
Sexual Health advice/support
Enuresis (healthy bowel and healthy bladder) support/advice/clinics
Drugs and Alcohol advice/support
Promotes and supports the immunisation programmes in schools
Advice and support on health issues to children and young people with on-going or specific health needs.
Health assessment/surveillance
Being part of the National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP)
Old Mill can make referrals to the Early Help team for the following:
Family Support for short-term parenting and behaviour support
Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners to help with children age 8 years and over who are anxious or depressed but aren’t involved with the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS)
Pathway Co-ordinators where cases are complex, children have been excluded from school and there are many services already involved that need co-ordination
Group support including support for managing anger, Special Educational Need and Disability, keeping safe and feeling safe
Supporting Leicestershire Families who provide intensive family support for families who have a range of needs which impact on family functioning including:
- a range of health and or mental health concerns
- anti-social behaviour or criminal activity
- unemployment or housing difficulties
- education difficulties including children at risk of exclusion
- domestic abuse
Children’s Centres who offer a range of services to families of children aged 0 - 5 years including parenting groups, speech and language, baby massage etc. They focus on vulnerable families, with the main provision being the 0 - 2 year pathway which supports families from pregnancy to their 2 year old checks
Youth Offending Service who offer preventative services to young people aged 8 - 15 years who are at risk of offending.
Paper copies of information on the school website can be obtained upon request.