ELSA Policy

At Lighthouse Psychology Training, we are committed to providing a supportive, engaging and high-quality learning experience for every ELSA.

To help everyone get the most out of our training, we ask all participants to familiarise themselves with the expectations below before the course begins. These guidelines help create a positive learning environment where participants feel safe to share experiences, reflect on practice and develop their skills with confidence.

Attendance

The ELSA training programme is designed as a six-day course, with each session building upon the knowledge and skills developed in previous training days. Full attendance is therefore expected throughout the entirety of the training.

We kindly ask participants to:

• Attend all six training days.
• Arrive promptly and remain for the full duration of each session.
• Inform the Lighthouse Psychology Training team as soon as possible if unforeseen circumstances prevent attendance.
• Ensure training time is protected and avoid scheduling meetings or other commitments during training where possible.

Please note that regular absence or leaving sessions early may affect successful completion of the course.

Participation

ELSA training is highly interactive and includes discussions, breakout activities, case studies and opportunities to reflect on practice.

ELSA trainees are therefore encouraged to:

• Actively contribute to discussions and activities.
• Share ideas and experiences in a respectful and supportive manner.
• Engage with breakout room tasks and collaborative learning opportunities.
• Keep cameras on during online sessions where possible to promote connection and engagement.

There is no expectation to have all the answers, the training is a safe space to learn together.

Confidentiality

Throughout the programme, participants may discuss examples from their professional practice to support learning.

To protect children, families and colleagues, we ask all of the ELSA trainees to:

• Maintain confidentiality at all times.
• Ensure that any case examples shared are fully anonymised.
• Respect the confidentiality of information shared by fellow participants during training.

Creating a psychologically safe learning environment is fundamental to our training ethos.

Professional Conduct

We ask all participants to contribute to a positive and inclusive learning environment by:

• Treating others with kindness, professionalism and respect.
• Valuing different perspectives and experiences.
• Supporting one another throughout the course.
• Being open to reflection, discussion and new ways of thinking.

Online Learning

There is an expectation that all ELSA trainees treat this training as if it were in person and therefore are expected to:

• Join sessions a few minutes early to allow time for any technical checks.
• Participate from a quiet environment where possible.
• Keep microphones muted when not speaking.
• Not recording any part of the training unless permission has been provided by Lighthouse Psychology Training.

Wellbeing

Some training sessions explore emotionally sensitive topics, including attachment, trauma, bereavement and loss.

We encourage participants to:

• Look after their own wellbeing throughout the course.
• Take breaks where needed.
• Speak to a member of the training team if they require additional support.

Before You Attend

Before attending your first training day, we recommend that you:

• Discuss the training dates with your school to ensure protected time for learning.
• Familiarise yourself with the course schedule.
• Test your technology if attending online.
• Come prepared to reflect, participate and enjoy the learning experience.

We are delighted to welcome you to the Lighthouse Psychology Training ELSA community and look forward to supporting you throughout your ELSA journey!

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