This grant will fund Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA) training for all six of Sheldon School’s pastoral leads, strengthening their early intervention work in supporting students’ emotional and mental health needs.
Sheldon School aims to provide high-quality education, enrichment, and pastoral care that improves the life chances of all students. Strong, supportive relationships are at the heart of the school’s ethos, ensuring students feel safe and cared for.
Mental health needs among young people are increasing, with a growing number of students requiring early help for emotional wellbeing. Currently, there is a four-month waiting list for ELSA support in the school, and some students are being seen informally without a structured programme.
This funding will enable students to access trained ELSA support more quickly, helping them to regulate their emotions, make positive choices, and improve their mental health. This support complements the school’s existing mental health referral pathway, which includes working with Wiltshire’s Mental Health Support Team and the school counsellor.
Evidence shows that early intervention can prevent mental health concerns from escalating. The project will also ensure that students receive help from trusted staff they know, increasing the impact of the support. The school will measure the effectiveness of the support through pre- and post-programme questionnaires, capturing improvements in students’ emotional wellbeing and educational outcomes.
