VLE

Home School Link Worker and Emotional Literacy Support

At Busbridge Junior School we offer the support of a Home School Link Worker (HSLW) - Miss Emma Tampsett. Her role is to work preventatively with families, children and the school to provide early intervention, signposting, support and guidance in times of change and/or stress.

Miss Tampsett can be contacted via the school office or at hslw@busbridge-junior.surrey.sch.uk.

Some of her HSLW responsibilities include:

- encouraging communication between the school and home

- helping parents with parenting skills through individual guidance, support and advice on how to

develop and maintain positive behaviour.

- listening and offering support on problems and issues.

- giving the child a forum to talk about concerns in a confidential and non-judgemental environment,

providing emotional support and strenghthening self-esteem.

- helping the families, the child and the school access appropriate information.

- helping to improve family relationships, being available for families especially in crisis

situations and helping those families who need short term assistance.

- carrying out Home Visits to support families and children providing outreach support.

- helping families and children access other services referring where appropriate.

- working closely with other agencies ensuring that follow-up work is done and all concerned are

well informed.

At Busbridge CofE Junior School we have an Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA) – Mrs Maggie Ingham. Her role is to offer 25 minute sessions, once a week, usually over a period of six weeks targeting emotional support to help develop new skills or coping strategies that enable the pupil to experience greater success. These will involve drawing, talking, playing games, stories or role play. Depending on the support required, this could be one to one or in a small group. It is recognised that when we feel good we learn better and improved emotional literacy reduces unnecessary stress.

If you feel that your child would benefit from this support please contact Mrs Barker, Deputy Head & SENCO or your child’s teacher.

The ELSA’s role is to support a child’s emotional development in the following ways:

To understand, communicate and use strategies to manage and regulate emotions
- Anxiety
- Anger

Develop social skills
- Making and keeping friends, dealing with conflict
- Understanding and expressing emotions and respecting others

Improving self-esteem including self-respect, developing a growth mind set and resilience
Supporting a child through grief, loss or a family crisis by teaching coping and self help strategies