Thornhill Plus You is currently funding one ELSA in each of the three primary schools. Each school has made a commitment to fund one ELSA each in their school and this has already commenced, so at the moment each school has 2 ELSAs.

The Assistants work with children who have challenging or difficult behaviour and offer them a place to learn and develop without disrupting their class.

With two ELSA’s working in each school, the scheme has proved to be making a difference. The number of pupils excluded for half a day or detained during lunchtimes has been significantly improved. In just one school year 240 exclusions have been reduced to 8.