At Burstwick Community Primary School we recognise the value of supporting pupils with their social, emotional and mental health.  We place nurture principles at the heart of this.

Every member of staff is ready to provide emotional support and a listening ear to our pupils.

Our aim is to help develop the protective factors which build resilience to mental health problems and to be a school where:

  • All children are valued.
  • Children have a sense of belonging and feel safe.
  • Children feel able to talk openly with trusted adults about their problems without feeling any stigma.
  • Positive mental health is promoted and valued.
  • Bullying is not tolerated.

Each classroom has a calming space available for pupils.  These spaces, and the resources in them, support pupils in regulating their emotions more easily.

Our Sunshine Room is a quiet, safe space pupil can use when working with our Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA).  It also offers a space for external agencies to support identified children if needed.

Meet our Wellbeing Team

Our Wellbeing Team, meet termly to plan and evaluate provision for our pupils and their families.  This approach puts wellbeing at the centre of our school ethos.

Emotional Literacy Support

The ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant) intervention was originally developed within Southampton, then Hampshire, by Sheila Burton, Educational Psychologist. It was designed to build the capacity of schools to support the emotional needs of their pupils from within their own resources. This is achieved by training teaching assistants to develop and deliver individualised support programmes to meet the emotional needs of children and teenagers in their care. It recognises that children learn better and are happier in school if their emotional needs are also addressed.

ELSA is an initiative developed and supported by educational psychologists, who apply their professional knowledge of children’s social and emotional development to areas of need experienced by pupils. They provide on-going professional supervision to help maintain high quality in the work undertaken by ELSAs, thereby helping to ensure safe practice for ELSAs and pupils alike.  ELSA sessions are time limited and work to support a child with a specific aspect of their wellbeing.

ANYONE can be referred for ELSA support, please contact your child’s class teacher if you feel your child would benefit from this support.

Our current ELSA is Mrs Carrick

Mental Health Response Service – Hull and East Riding

Tel: 01482 301701

Individuals in crisis can access their services 24/7 through the Rapid Response Service on 01482 301701.

To support young people, call CAMHS (Child & Adult Mental Health Services) crisis team 01482 335600.