Emotional Literacy Support Assistant

Are you a calm and supportive ELSA seeking a new role? Apply now!

Contract Type: Full-Time, Temporary
Location: Portsmouth
Pay: GBP80 to GBP100 dependent on experience
Start Date: September 25 to June 2026

What s the role?
As an Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA), you ll be a calm, supportive presence for children who are finding things tough emotionally. You ll work one-to-one or in small groups, helping pupils understand and manage their feelings, build confidence, and develop positive relationships.

About the school?
A school in Portsmouth on its journey to excellence. With a strong sense of community, the school provides a nurturing and inspiring environment where every child is encouraged to explore new opportunities and achieve extraordinary things.

Who are Supply Desk?
We re an education recruitment consultancy that builds long-term, personal relationships with schools across England and Wales and aim to match their staffing needs with the best available candidates. We re committed to our mission of placing the right teacher, in the right school, for every job.

Why use Supply Desk?

• Competitive daily rates of pay
• A supportive team of experienced consultants to guide you throughout your placements
• Flexible working hours tailored to your needs
• Refer a Friend rewards programme, offering up to GBP150 collectively for each successful referral
• 24/7 Unlimited access to CPD courses, expanding and enhancing your career journey

Job Description?

• Supporting pupils with emotional needs such as anxiety, low self-esteem, anger, or friendship difficulties
• Running planned ELSA sessions (one-to-one and small group) tailored to pupils individual needs
• Helping children develop coping strategies and emotional awareness
• Building warm, trusting relationships so pupils feel safe, listened to, and valued
• Working closely with the SENDCo, pastoral staff, and class teachers to monitor progress and plan support
• Keeping simple, clear records of sessions and outcomes
• Helping create a school environment that supports emotional wellbeing and resilience

Who are you?

• Truly care about children s wellbeing and want to make a positive difference in their lives
• Kind, nurturing, and a good communicator
• Can stay calm and supportive, even when things get challenging
• Have a good understanding of children s emotional development
• Work well as part of a team and are happy to collaborate with staff and parents
• Are organised, reliable, and reflective in your approach
• Completed (or be working towards) ELSA training accredited by an Educational Psychologist
• Experience working with children or young people in a school or similar setting
• An understanding of safeguarding and confidentiality
• A relevant qualification in education, child development, or wellbeing (desirable but not essential)

Apply now and start the next stage of your exciting journey! If you have any questions, call our Southampton branch on (phone number removed) and we ll be happy to help - or submit your CV using the apply button.

Supply Desk is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All successful applicants will be required to complete an enhanced DBS (formerly CRB) check which must be maintained throughout the period of employment and meet Safer Recruitment standards.

(AGY)