Emotional Literacy Support Assistant

**Salary**: Grade 5 Points 5-12 £24,790 pro rata, (Actual Salary £11,550)
Contract type: Permanent
Working pattern: Part-time

Closing date: 02 November 2025 at midnight
Interview date: 07 November 2025

Location: Hastings

Hours: Part-time, term time only 19.5 hours per week

Start date: November 2025

About the role:
We have an exciting opportunity for a fully trained part time Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA) to join our great staff team at Ark Blacklands Primary Academy, working across year groups from EYFS to Year 3 (and sometimes years 4-6) to develop children’s emotional literacy and support them to be successful.

This is a key post in our school which is centred around supporting children to understand and regulate their own emotions whilst also respecting the feelings of those around them.

We are looking for an experienced ELSA, to ensure the best support for our pupils.

Our ELSA will help children to develop the social and emotional skills they need to flourish in school, working in small groups or 1:1 situations. The ELSA will also be required to work with colleagues in school, parents, outside agencies and may also be called upon at short notice to support specific children if other members of staff are not available. The role will also involve working with our Pastoral Lead, Assistant Head for Inclusion and Senior Mental Health Lead. The team is also supported by two professional counsellors from Me and My Mind and Place2Be.

Our ELSA also will also run a lunchtime club to specifically support children who find lunchtimes difficult.
- be ELSA trained or currently working to complete training in 2025
- be highly committed, enthusiastic, flexible and skilled and passionate about supporting children’s learning
- have high expectations of children and themselves; be able to show initiative and work independently and as part of a team and embrace our Academy’s values
- be able to plan and deliver individual and group support programmes with resources to meet the social, emotional and mental health needs of our children
- have good time management and organisational skills keeping confidential, accurate and succinct records of involvement
- have excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work with parents and staff to support children’s emotional needs
- communicate well with children gaining their confidence and trust, by being approachable and willing to listen
- have a warm personality and the ability to stay calm under pressure
- be emotionally literate themselves, with a high degree of empathy and discretion and commitment to Inclusion.

View the full job description and person specification here: Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA) in Hastings - Ark Careers.

About our school:
Together, we achieve

There are 630 very good reasons to join our school

Ark Blacklands Primary Academy is a large, 3-form entry primary school with a new intake each year of 3 forms, with 90 pupils in each year group, from reception through to year 6. Our staff make a tremendous effort to get to know each pupil and provide them with the very best care.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a friendly, caring team of professionals, who are committed to providing the very best for every child in our school, and we will offer you plenty of opportunities for professional development with the very best training and support at every stage of your career.

We offer:

- Comprehensive CPD - we offer twice as many training days as standard.
- Access to health packages, discounts at major retailers, travel loans and other benefits, through the Ark Rewards scheme.

Ark is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people in its academies. In order to meet this responsibility, its academies follow a rigorous selection process to discourage and screen out unsuitable applicants.

Ark requires all employees to undertake an enhanced DBS check. You are required, before appointment, to disclose any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975. Non-disclosure may lead to termination of employment. However, disclosure of a criminal background will not necessarily debar you from employment - this will depend upon the nature of the offence(s) and when they occurred. To read more about Ark’s safer recruitment process, please click this link.

Additional Information

Your starting salary will be pro rata if the above position is part-time or term-time only.