Helping You Feel Safe, Supported and Confident
At Petty Pool, we want you to feel safe, valued, supported, and understood throughout your time with us.
We know that every learner is different, which is why our pastoral and wellbeing support is personalised to meet individual needs.
Our Inclusion Team is here to support you with your emotional wellbeing, confidence, communication, and personal development, helping you feel more comfortable, confident, and able to engage in college life.
We provide a nurturing and inclusive environment where you can:
- Build confidence and self-esteem
- Develop positive relationships and friendships
- Feel supported during challenges
- Improve communication and emotional wellbeing
- Grow in independence and resilience
Our inclusion team provides personalised support via therapeutic and pastoral interventions to ensure all learners thrive.
Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA)
Our Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA) programme helps you develop confidence in understanding, expressing, and managing emotions.
Sometimes it can feel difficult to explain worries, emotions, or challenges. ELSA sessions provide a safe and supportive space where you can talk, reflect, and develop strategies to help you feel more confident and supported.
Our Approach
Our ELSA-trained staff use supportive and solution-focused approaches to help you build emotional and social skills at your own pace.
Sessions are designed to feel calm, safe, and nurturing, giving you opportunities to reflect, communicate, and develop strategies that support your wellbeing.
Support is always personalised around your individual needs and goals.
Building Skills for Everyday Life
ELSA sessions help you develop practical emotional and social skills that support everyday life, relationships, and future independence.
You’ll have opportunities to:
- Develop confidence in social situations
- Manage strong feelings and anxiety
- Build positive friendships
- Communicate your needs more clearly
- Feel more confident accessing activities and learning
- Work towards your personal goals and aspirations
These skills can support you both during college and as you prepare for adulthood.
Animal-Assisted Intervention (AAI)
Calm, Supportive and Engaging Experiences
Animal-Assisted Intervention (AAI) can help you feel calm, relaxed, and more comfortable when accessing support.
For some learners, communicating emotions or worries can feel overwhelming. Working alongside an animal can help create a safe and supportive environment where communication and confidence can grow more naturally.
Our Approach
Our intervention staff combine animal-assisted interventions with supportive and solution-focused approaches to help you work towards your personal goals.
Sessions are designed to create positive experiences that help you feel:
- Safe and supported
- Calm and engaged
- More confident in communication and interaction
- Comfortable accessing college life and activities
We focus on helping you develop skills that positively support both your wellbeing and everyday experiences.
Developing Confidence and Independence
AAI sessions can help you build confidence, resilience, communication, and emotional wellbeing skills that support your wider college journey.
Through these sessions, you may develop:
- Greater confidence in new situations
- Improved communication skills
- Emotional awareness and regulation
- Independence and resilience
- Positive engagement with learning and activities
Our aim is to help you feel confident, supported, and able to access opportunities both within college and beyond.
