ELSA Training: Requirements Before Booking

Please read this information before booking an ELSA training place.

ELSA training is not simply a six-day training course. It is the beginning of an ongoing, supervised role within school. For an ELSA to practise safely and effectively, the school must be able to provide the time, support and opportunities needed to put the training into practice.

By booking an ELSA training place, the school confirms that it understands and can meet the requirements below.

1. The ELSA must be able to attend the full programme

The initial ELSA programme consists of six full training days.

Attendance at all six days is required. The ELSA will also be expected to complete short activities between training days and apply their learning in school.

If a training day is missed, the ELSA will need to attend the missed day during a subsequent training block. A certificate cannot be issued until all six training days and the required programme activities, including four supervision sessions, have been completed.

Schools should therefore ensure that the ELSA can be released from their usual duties to attend all training days before booking.

2. The ELSA needs to be able to practise in school

The training is designed to be applied directly within the school setting.

The school must provide the ELSA with:

• opportunities to work with children and young people during and following the training;
• protected time to plan, prepare and deliver ELSA interventions;
• an appropriate and private space for ELSA sessions;
• access to appropriate resources and materials; and
• sufficient consistency in their ELSA role so that interventions can be delivered effectively.

ELSA time should not routinely be used for other school duties, such as classroom cover, where this would prevent planned ELSA sessions from taking place.

3. The ELSA needs appropriate school-based support

Each ELSA should have a nominated member of staff who provides day-to-day management and support. This will usually be the SENCo or another appropriate member of staff.

The line manager should understand the purpose, scope and limitations of the ELSA role and support the ELSA with appropriate referrals, caseloads, planning and review.

The school remains responsible for its usual safeguarding procedures and for ensuring that children and young people receive specialist support where this is required.

4. Supervision is a requirement, not an optional extra

Professional supervision with an Educational Psychologist is an essential part of being an ELSA.

During the initial programme

Four supervision sessions are included in the initial ELSA training booking.

All four sessions must be attended, alongside the six training days and required programme activities, before an ELSA certificate can be issued.

After certification

Once certified, ELSAs must continue to receive six supervision sessions each year in order to maintain their ELSA status and continue practising as an ELSA.

Supervision provides an opportunity to reflect on casework, develop practice, consider psychological perspectives, problem-solve and receive ongoing professional development.

If an ELSA stops attending the required supervision, they will no longer meet the requirements for continuing to practise as an ELSA and may be removed from the Lighthouse Psychology Training ELSA register.

5. ELSA work must remain within the role

ELSAs should provide planned, psychologically informed emotional literacy support within the scope of their training.

ELSA is not a mental health professional or therapeutic qualification. ELSAs should not be expected to provide specialist mental health intervention, counselling or psychotherapy, and ELSA support does not replace specialist services.

Schools remain responsible for identifying when a child or young person requires support beyond the scope of the ELSA role and for following appropriate safeguarding and referral procedures.

6. Maintaining ELSA status

To receive an ELSA certificate through Lighthouse Psychology Training, the ELSA must:

• attend all six training days;
• complete the required training activities;
• have opportunities to practise their learning in school; and
• attend the four supervision sessions included in the initial programme.

Following certification, six supervision sessions per year are required to maintain ELSA status.

If an ELSA takes a break from practising, the school or ELSA should contact Lighthouse Psychology Training so that their status can be appropriately recorded.

7. Participant expectations

To support a respectful, confidential and effective learning environment, participants are expected to:

• Join sessions on time and return promptly after breaks.
• Participate from a quiet and private environment where possible.
• Keep cameras on during training and microphones muted when not speaking.
• Participate actively in discussions and breakout activities.
• Maintain confidentiality when discussing children, young people, families or schools.
• Not record, screenshot or share any part of the training or supervision without prior permission from Lighthouse Psychology Training.

Before you book

Please make sure you can answer yes to all of the following:

☐ The ELSA can attend all six full training days.

☐ The ELSA can complete the required activities between training days.

☐ The school can provide opportunities for the ELSA to practise with children and young people.

☐ The ELSA will have protected time for planning and delivering interventions.

☐ The school can provide an appropriate space and resources.

☐ A member of staff is available to provide day-to-day management and support.

☐ The ELSA can attend the four supervision sessions included in the initial programme.

☐ The school understands that six supervision sessions per year are required after certification.

☐ The school understands that ELSA does not replace specialist mental health or therapeutic support.

If you are unsure whether your school can meet these requirements, please contact us before booking.

We pride ourselves on delivering training content and supervision supported by evidence, research and scientific principles.