The BOUNCE Approach® for ELSAs
Beyond Emotional Literacy
When emotional literacy alone doesn't seem to be enough
Every ELSA knows these children.
The child who says “I don’t know” – every single time, no matter how gently you ask.
The child who attends every session but never seems to move forward.
The child whose confidence builds and then collapses the moment they leave the room.
The child who can tell you exactly what a good friend does – and still eats alone every day.
The child who wants to come to school. And whose body won’t let them.
The child who leaves you wondering: what am I missing?
You are not missing skill. You are not missing care. You may be missing a framework that helps you understand what is happening underneath – and what some children need before emotional literacy can truly take root.
That is what the BOUNCE Approach® is for.
Our Approach
Not sure? Find your BOUNCE starting point first.
Every child is different. The six BOUNCE pillars help you look beyond behaviour and explore the areas that may be influencing a child’s wellbeing, regulation, relationships, learning, and development.
Select any pillar below to discover what else you can add to your toolkit.
🧠 Body & Nervous System Grounding, regulation & somatic awareness. Show more →
- Grounding Techniques
- Exploring Mindful Awareness Interventions
- Reducing Anxiety through Gut Health
- Somatic Exercises
- Running SEMH Sensory Circuits
- Interoception in the Classroom
🤝 Openness to Connection Trust, attachment & co-regulation. Show more →
👂 Understanding Sensory Sensory processing & awareness. Show more →
💭 Navigating Emotions Emotional expression & regulation. Show more →
- Drawing Feelings Intervention
- Drumming for Regulation
- Emotional Regulation and Bounce
- Executive Functions and Poor Behaviours
- Managing Demand Avoidance
- Creative and Expressive Arts
- Lego Feelings Intervention
- Different Behaviour Between Home and School
- Running a Play-doh Feeling Session
- Exploring NVR in the Home
- Emotionally-Based School Avoidance
- Reducing Anxiety in Children
- Negative Behaviour and Emotional Intelligence
💬 Connection & Communication Communication skills & connection. Show more →
⭐ Esteem & Identity Self-esteem, identity & belonging. Show more →
- A Parts Approach
- Supporting ADHD — The BOUNCE Way
- Being Neurodivergent Affirming
- Supporting Autistic Students in the Classroom
- Supporting Neurodivergent Children at Christmas
- Running a Tree of Life Intervention
- Expanding the Window of Tolerance
- Understanding and Supporting a Child with Tourette Syndrome
- Supporting Students with Executive Function Difficulties
Imagine having all of this in one place.
More than 50 CPD-certified courses, interventions, assessments, activities, templates, tools and downloads – organised through the six BOUNCE pillars and available whenever you need them.
Less searching. More confidence. Better support for the children who need it most.
Your BOUNCE Journey as an ELSA
When you receive a referral, you move through a five-step journey. At each stage, the Learning Portal gives you everything you need: assessment tools, editable support plans, downloadable resource libraries, creative therapy ideas, tracking tools, and practitioner training. This guide shows you exactly what you’ll have at every step.
1
Understand
“I’ve received a referral – where do I start?”
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- Complete the Snapshot assessment — a 2-minute observation tool that helps you see beyond behaviour to understand what the child’s nervous system may actually need
- The Snapshot asks structured questions about the child’s relationships, sensory world, emotions, communication styles, and sense of self
- Immediately identify which of the six BOUNCE pillars is the priority: Body & Nervous System, Openness to Connection, Understanding Sensory Differences, Navigating Emotions, Communication Differences, or Esteem & Identity
An online Snapshot tool, a clear baseline score, and instant knowledge of where to begin.
2
Identify
“Now I know the pillar – what resources exist?”
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- Access an editable Word support plan template and customise it for this child
- Browse a library with 50+ courses and ready-to-use printables
- Find creative therapy resources covering art, music, movement, and sensory play
- Download visual supports and worksheets with hyperlinks to printable resources
- Use your BOUNCE practitioner knowledge to differentiate to each child
- Access Snapshots and tracking tools to monitor progress
Editable support plans, 50+ courses, resources and activities, creative therapies, visual supports, tracking tools—all hyperlinked and ready to use.
3
Prepare
“How do I plan 6–10 weeks of structured work?”
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- Download session plans linked to creative and impact driven social and emotional interventions
- Follow a week-by-week sequence or explore creative child-led interventions such as sand trays, drumming and expressive arts
- Select which interventions you’ll use and what you’ll observe and track
- Link sessions and activities back to the Snapshot baseline to measure change
- Create a written, structured plan you can share with other staff and SENDCos
Editable 6+ weeks intervention plans for many different interventions, LEGO-style emotional literacy lesson plans, BOUNCE PSHE Learning Journeys covering a whole year of sessions, access to printable resources, and an progress Snapshot tracker.
4
Support
“What training do I need?”
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- Complete Welcome to BOUNCE online training — video-based, self-paced — explaining nervous system foundations and how the six pillars connect
- Access specific courses explaining the theory behind what you’re about to deliver, practical considerations, how to differentiate based on the needs of the child
- Use downloadable session plans including activity steps, observation prompts, and pdf resources
- Follow activity delivery guides with options to adapt based on the child’s response
- Monitor change through 2-minute Snapshot tool to impact evidence
50+ training videos, pillar-specific learning modules, downloadable session plans and hyperlinks to pdfs to use straight away, activity guides, and observation prompts.
5
Demonstrate Impact
“How do I show what changed?”
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- Repeat the original Snapshot at the end of your 6–10 week block or at a scheduled review point
- Complete the Progress Tracker entering entry and exit data to show change
- Create a one-page summary that shows parents, teachers, and the SENCo exactly what shifted
- Have both the numbers (Snapshot comparison) and the narrative (observations and examples) to communicate results
- Use clear, measurable progress to evidence support for EHCPs, reviews, and inspections
A Snapshot repeat assessment, a progress report, guidance on recording observations, and a structured way to communicate results.
From a 5-year-old learning to regulate to an 18-year-old building their identity, every session you deliver can be adapted to the child in front of you.