Five Ways to Wellbeing
These sit at the very heart of what we do here at Blackwood Comprehensive School. Our school works with a number of outside agencies as well as a large well-being team based in the school.
We are incredibly proud of the work our well-being team does with our young people, from our Family and Community Engagement Officer, large pastoral team, wellbeing leads, school-based counselors, police liaison officer, and external support services.
What is ELSA
There will always be children and young people in schools facing life challenges that detract from their ability to engage with learning. Some will require greater support to increase their emotional literacy than others. ELSA is an initiative developed and supported by educational psychologists. It recognises that children learn better and are happier in school if their emotional needs are also addressed.
We are lucky enough to have one qualified Emotional Literacy Support Assistant at Blackwood Comprehensive School. Mrs Francis has been trained by Educational Psychologists to plan and deliver programmes of support to pupils who are experiencing temporary or longer term additional emotional needs. The majority of ELSA work is delivered on an individual basis, but sometimes small group work is more appropriate, especially in the areas of social and friendship skills. Sessions are fun, we use a range of activities such as: games, role-play with puppets or arts and craft. ELSA sessions take place in our very own ‘CWTCH’ which provides a calm, safe space for the child/ children to feel supported and nurtured.
In ELSA we aim to provide support for a wide range of emotional needs:
Recognising emotions, Self-esteem, Social skills, Friendship skills, Management of anger, Loss and bereavement
Mrs Griffiths
Assistant Headteacher Wellbeing & Equity
I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to Blackwood Comprehensive School and introduce the key members of our Wellbeing Team.
I am responsible for wellbeing within the school and ensuring all pupils feel safe, happy, and supported in school so that they are able to Aspire, Attend and Achieve which will allow them to be ambitious, capable learners that are confident, healthy, creative contributors who are ethically informed citizens of Wales and the World.
I am also responsible for Attendance and ensuring that all pupils understand the impact of excellent attendance upon attainment and emotional wellbeing. I lead a team of staff that will offer support in this area to ensure pupils are attending regularly and that any identified barriers to learning are identified and responded to.
A further responsibility is for ensuring the correct approaches to learning are displayed by all pupils and that the expectations of our school vision and ethos are understood.
Lastly, I am the Designated Safeguarding Person for the school with my overriding priority being to ensure all pupils feel safe in school and are fully aware of who and also how they can receive support.
My work involves close working relationships with pupils, families, outside agencies, and visitors to the school to ensure that through positive relationships we can work together, raise aspirations, realise potential, and secure the future through a safe, secure, and nurturing learning environment where everyone is valued equally, regardless of difference and disadvantage
