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Posted 05 August, 2026

Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA)

Polaris Community
Ipswich, ENGLAND, United Kingdom Full Time
Reference: 14824f0f-9a1b-4393-8201-f37b6d08e5e7

Join Our Team at Polaris Education - Redstone Hall School, Ipswich!

Position: Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA)

Contract: Full Time, Term Time Only
Salary: Β£21,257.48 - Β£23,232.69
Location: Ipswich
Start Date: ASAP

Why Choose Us?

  • 🌟 Company Pension
  • 🌟 Life Assurance
  • 🌟 Employee Discount Scheme

About Redstone Hall School

Welcome to Redstone Hall School, a vibrant new establishment in Ipswich, designed to accommodate up to 30 pupils aged 5 to 18 with complex needs. Here, we create a safe and supportive environment where every child feels valued, respected, and empowered. Our holistic approach ensures that academic progress goes hand-in-hand with emotional wellbeing and personal growth.

As part of the Polaris Community, we have been dedicated to transforming the lives of young people for over 30 years. We take pride in our track record, with 100% of our education services rated as Good or Outstanding by Ofsted.

Your Role and Responsibilities

As an ELSA, you will play a crucial role in enhancing the wellbeing and learning readiness of our students. Your responsibilities will include:

  • 🌱 Supporting improvements in wellbeing, resilience, and behaviour management.
  • 🀝 Collaborating with the education team to remove barriers to learning.
  • πŸ“š Promoting positive learning behaviours among students.
  • πŸ“ Leading classes during planning, preparation, and assessment (PPA) time.
  • πŸŽ‰ Delivering engaging enrichment activities.
  • πŸ’¬ Assisting pupils with academic understanding and emotional needs during lessons.
  • 🚨 Responding to immediate concerns and clarifying situations.
  • πŸ“Š Creating and collating information related to lessons and interventions.
  • πŸ“… Preparing information for meetings concerning pupils.
  • πŸ’– Advocating for the ethos of Redstone Hall School.
  • πŸ” Leading pastoral interventions and reviewing student progress.
  • πŸ—£οΈ Developing pupil voice and liaising with the Senior Leadership Team.
  • πŸ‘¨β€πŸ‘©β€πŸ‘§ Building relationships with parents and carers.
  • πŸ“– Leading ELSA sessions and completing local authority training.

What We’re Looking For

To thrive in this role, you should have:

  • πŸ“š A strong educational background, with at least GCSE grade 4/C or equivalent in English Language and Mathematics.
  • πŸ‘©β€πŸ« Previous experience as a Higher Level Teaching Assistant or Cover Supervisor.
  • 🌈 Experience working with pupils with SEMH and/or autism in an educational setting.
  • πŸ› οΈ Effective behaviour management techniques.
  • πŸ“ˆ A commitment to professional development and a willingness to learn.

What We Offer You

  • πŸ’– A workplace that prioritizes the emotional health and wellbeing of everyone, including you!
  • πŸ“š Opportunities for professional development and skill acquisition.
  • 🌟 The chance to make a meaningful impact on the lives of vulnerable children.
  • πŸ€— A friendly and inclusive team passionate about improving pupil outcomes.

As part of our commitment to safeguarding, the successful candidate will need 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 safeguard and promote the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults!

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