Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA)

Join Our Team at Polaris Education - Redstone Hall School!

Position: Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA)
Contract: Full Time, Term Time Only
Salary: £21,257.48 - £23,232.69
Location: Ipswich
Start Date: ASAP

Why Choose Us?

At Redstone Hall School, we’re not just about education; we’re about creating a nurturing environment where every child feels valued and empowered. Our school, located in Ipswich, caters to up to 30 pupils aged 5 to 18 with complex needs. We pride ourselves on fostering emotional wellbeing alongside academic growth, ensuring our students thrive in all aspects of their lives.

As part of the Polaris Community, we have been dedicated to improving the lives of young people for over 30 years. With a track record of 100% of our education services rated as Good or Outstanding by Ofsted, you’ll be joining a team that truly makes a difference!

Your Role and Responsibilities

As an ELSA, you will play a crucial role in supporting our students' emotional and academic journeys. Your responsibilities will include:

• Enhancing wellbeing, readiness for learning, resilience, and behaviour management.
• Collaborating with the education team to remove barriers to learning.
• Promoting positive learning behaviours among our young people.
• Leading classes during planning, preparation, and assessment (PPA) time.
• Delivering engaging enrichment activities.
• Supporting pupils with their academic and emotional needs during lessons.
• Responding to immediate concerns and clarifying situations.
• Creating and collating information related to lessons and interventions.
• Assisting in preparing information for meetings about pupils.
• Acting as an advocate for the ethos of Redstone Hall School.
• Leading pastoral interventions and reviewing progress.
• Developing pupil voice and liaising with the Senior Leadership Team.
• Building relationships with parents and carers.
• Leading ELSA sessions and completing local authority training.

What We’re Looking For

To thrive in this role, you should have:

• A strong educational background, with at least GCSE grade 4/C or equivalent in English Language and Mathematics.
• Experience in a similar role, such as a Higher Level Teaching Assistant or Cover Supervisor.
• Experience working with pupils with SEMH and/or autism in an educational setting.
• Effective behaviour management techniques.
• A commitment to professional development and a willingness to learn.

What We Offer You

We believe in supporting our staff just as much as our students. Here’s what you can expect:

• A workplace that prioritizes emotional health and wellbeing.
• Opportunities for professional development and skill acquisition.
• The chance to make a significant impact on the lives of vulnerable children.
• A friendly, inclusive team passionate about improving pupil outcomes.

As part of our commitment to safeguarding, the successful candidate will be required to complete an enhanced DBS check, which will be covered by Redstone Hall School.

We are an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from all qualified candidates. Join us in our mission to promote the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults!