ELSA Teaching Assistant (Level 3)
Fairstead Community Primary and Nursery School, King's Lynn, Norfolk, PE30 4RR13 days remaining to apply
Start date details
September 2026
Closing date
18 June 2026 at 1am
Date listed
5 June 2026
Job details
Job role
- Teaching assistant
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Working pattern
- Part time
Contract type
- Permanent
Full-time equivalent salary
- Scale D, £13.47 to £13.69 per hour
ELSA Teaching Assistant (Level 3) job summary
Tel: 01553 774666
Email: office@fairstead.norfolk.sch.uk
Website: www.fairsteadprimaryschool.co.uk
Headteacher: Daniel Farthing
- Salary: Scale D, £13.47 to £13.69 per hour
- Permanent
- Part Time
- 34.25 hours per week
- Term Time + 1 week
- Start date: September 2026
‘Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.’ – Dr. Seuss
Help children develop the confidence, resilience and emotional skills they need to thrive.
At Fairstead Community Primary and Nursery School, we believe that emotional wellbeing is fundamental to learning. As the needs of children continue to evolve, we are committed to strengthening our inclusive practice and ensuring every child feels safe, valued and understood.
We are seeking a compassionate, skilled and reflective Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA) to join our highly regarded Inclusion Team. This is an exciting opportunity to make a lasting difference to the lives of children by supporting their emotional development and wellbeing.
If you are passionate about helping children understand and manage their emotions, build positive relationships and overcome barriers to learning, we would love to hear from you.
About the role
As an ELSA, you will work under the guidance of the SENDCO and wider Inclusion Team to provide targeted emotional support for children experiencing social, emotional or behavioural difficulties.
You will support children to develop:
- Emotional awareness and understanding
- Self-esteem and confidence
- Positive relationships and social skills
- Resilience and coping strategies
- Emotional regulation skills
- Readiness for learning and engagement in school life
The role will involve:
- Delivering planned ELSA interventions on a one-to-one and small group basis
- Supporting children experiencing anxiety, friendship difficulties, bereavement, loss or change
- Helping pupils develop emotional vocabulary and self-regulation strategies
- Monitoring progress and evaluating the impact of interventions
- Working closely with families, teachers and external professionals where appropriate
- Contributing to a nurturing, inclusive and emotionally supportive school environment
This is a highly rewarding role requiring empathy, patience, professionalism and a genuine commitment to children's wellbeing.
Our Inclusion Team
You will be joining a knowledgeable, experienced and supportive team that is a real strength of our school.
Our Inclusion Team supports children with a wide range of needs, including:
- Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH)
- Speech, Language and Communication Needs
- Autism and Neurodiversity
- Cognition and Learning Needs
- Complex Needs Provision
- Emotional Literacy Support
- Safeguarding and Attendance
- SEND Coordination
We work collaboratively, share expertise and support one another to ensure the best possible outcomes for children.
Why Join Fairstead?
A strong commitment to emotional wellbeing
We recognise the importance of supporting children's emotional health and invest significantly in developing our provision.
A nurturing and inclusive culture
Relationships are at the heart of everything we do. We believe children thrive when they feel safe, understood and valued.
High-quality professional development
We are committed to continuous learning and offer ongoing training in emotional wellbeing, attachment, trauma-informed practice and SEND.
A supportive and reflective team
We encourage professional dialogue, reflection and collaboration, enabling everyone to develop and improve their practice.
We are looking for someone who:
- Holds a recognised ELSA qualification or is willing to undertake ELSA training which we will provide
- Has experience of supporting children's emotional wellbeing
- Builds positive, trusting relationships with children and families
- Demonstrates empathy, patience and emotional intelligence
- Understands the impact of emotional needs on learning and behaviour
- Can deliver structured interventions and accurately monitor progress
- Is organised, reflective and committed to professional development
Our School Culture
We are a forward-thinking, community-focused school built on the values of Possibility, Community and Independence.
We believe:
- Every child deserves to feel successful and valued
- Positive relationships create the conditions for learning
- Staff development improves outcomes for children
- Reflection and collaboration lead to better practice
- Inclusion should be at the heart of everything we do
We are ambitious for all children, particularly those who face the greatest challenges.
We offer:
- A structured induction programme
- A highly skilled and supportive Inclusion Team
- ELSA and emotional wellbeing training including supervision
- Opportunities for professional growth and development
- A strong commitment to staff wellbeing
- The opportunity to make a genuine difference to children's lives every day
Visits to the school are encouraged. If you would like to visit the school, you will be assured a warm welcome. Please contact Kerry Tucker, School Business Manager, who will be more than happy to arrange your visit.
How to apply
A Job Description & Person Specification are available from ‘Attachments’.
To download an application form, please click the ‘Apply for job’ button.
Completed application forms should be returned either by email to admin@fairstead.norfolk.sch.uk or by post to Kerry Tucker, Fairstead Community Primary and Nursery School, William Booth Road, Kings Lynn, Norfolk, PE30 4RR.
We are an equal opportunities employer. If you require any additional support to enable you to make an application please contact Kerry Tucker, School Business Manager: by email to admin@fairstead.norfolk.sch.uk or phone: 01553 774666.
We are unable to accept CVs in place of application forms.
Closing date: 18 June 2026
Interview date: TBC
Fairstead Community Primary and Nursery School is committed to safeguarding the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment.
Enhanced DBS disclosure is required for appointment to this post.
This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act and you will be required to undergo an Enhanced DBS check or Enhanced DBS check with barred list. If you have information to declare it may be protected under the Exceptions Orders and you may not be required to declare it. You will be asked to make a criminal conviction declaration if you are shortlisted for the post. Guidance about whether a conviction or caution should be disclosed can be found on the Ministry of Justice website.
Further information about the job
Commitment to safeguarding
Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment.
Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance.
Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant):
childcare disqualification
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
medical
online and social media
prohibition from teaching
right to work
satisfactory references
suitability to work with children
You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.
Applying for the job
This school accepts applications through their own website, where you may also find more information about this job.
CVs will not be accepted for this application.
View advert on external website (opens in new tab)About Fairstead Community Primary and Nursery School
- School type
- Local authority maintained schools, Does not apply, ages 3 to 11
- Education phase
- Primary school
- School size
- 433 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 3 to 11
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- Fairstead Community Primary and Nursery School website
School location
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