At East Bergholt Primary School, we are committed to supporting the emotional health and wellbeing of all our pupils and staff. We recognise that primary schools play a vital role in supporting children’s mental health – teaching them the skills they need to understand and manage their emotions, and ensuring that those who need additional support are able to access it.

We understand that everyone faces life’s ups and downs and that at times, anyone may need extra help. We take the view that positive mental health is everybody’s responsibility, and we work together as a school community to foster a supportive and inclusive environment.

Emotional Literacy Support Assistants (ELSAs)

We are proud to have two ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant) staff members at East Bergholt Primary School. ELSAs are specially trained to support children with a range of emotional needs, including anxiety, low self-esteem, bereavement, social skills, and emotional regulation.

Our ELSAs work with children either one-to-one or in small groups to:

• Provide a safe, nurturing space where children feel listened to
• Help children recognise and manage their emotions
• Support the development of social skills and friendships
• Build confidence, self-esteem and emotional resilience
• Support children through life changes such as loss, separation or transition

The support offered by our ELSAs complements our wider approach to wellbeing and ensures that children who need additional emotional support receive it in a caring and consistent way.

How We Promote Positive Mental Health

At East Bergholt Primary School, we promote a mentally healthy environment by:

• Embedding our school values and encouraging a strong sense of belonging
• Promoting pupil voice and creating opportunities for children to be involved in decision-making
• Celebrating both academic and non-academic achievements to boost self-esteem
• Encouraging responsibility and independence to develop a sense of self-worth
• Providing regular opportunities for reflection
• Offering access to appropriate support to meet individual needs
• Helping children to understand and express their emotions
• Supporting children in building emotional resilience to cope with life’s challenges

This section of our website includes a range of links and resources which we hope will be helpful to parents, carers and guardians in supporting children’s wellbeing at home.

Websites to support parents and children