Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA) Training

The ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant) intervention was designed to build the capacity of schools to support the emotional needs of their pupils from within their own resources. This is achieved by training learning support assistants to develop and deliver individualised support programmes to meet the emotional needs of children and teenagers in their settings. 

Is ELSA the right approach for your school?

Most schools we work with are experiencing an increasing rise in children's and young people’s needs, coupled with decreasing school funds and, therefore, the need to provide more support with fewer resources. The ELSA training is designed to build capacity in your school to develop individual and group intervention programmes to develop the emotional literacy of children and young people.

What makes our ELSA training unique?

  • We are an accredited ELSA training provider.
  • Training content updated with the latest research and evidence.
  • Course delivery is re-designed in line with psychology of learning, ensuring LSAs receive the best learning experience possible.
  • Four free supervision sessions included upon the completion of the course.
  • Includes a training session for senior leadership to support the systemic implementation of ELSA within the school or trust.
  • A range of additional materials and resources, including a bespoke ELSA handbook.

ELSA online training

The programme includes six days of online training, which covers a range of areas, such as emotional literacy, attachment and belonging, resilience and self-esteem, emotional regulation, grief and loss, and positive psychology approaches. 

ELSA is an evidence-based intervention, as research continues to demonstrate the impact of the ELSA programme, highlighting positive outcomes for pupils in improving their emotional wellbeing, attainment, attendance and adaptive behaviours.

Our ELSA training is accredited by ELSA Network and is designed in line with the latest research and best practice. Our online ELSA course is delivered by experienced and specialist educational psychologists - Dr Alicja Jedrzejewska, Dr Louisa Reynolds, and Dr Shahid Khan. The ELSA course is suitable for staff working in primary, secondary, specialist and mainstream schools.

The six days of online ELSA training cover:

  • Day 1: Introduction to Emotional Literacy (trainees and SLT members attending).

  • Day 2: Attachment and Belonging.

  • Day 3: Resilience and Self-Esteem.

  • Day 4: Emotional Regulation.

  • Day 5: Grief and Loss.

  • Day 6: Positive Psychology.

In addition, each ELSA trainee will also receive:

  • 4 supervision sessions with an Educational Psychologist following the completion of the course;

  • Copy of PowerPoint slides after each session;

  • Bespoke handbook including additional information and activities for each session

  • Free resources to accompany the learnt materials;

  • Access to the private ELSA Community area on our website, which contains additional resources and top tips;

  • Exclusive use of the ELSA Network logo for your school website and any ELSA materials.

Training designed for impact…

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