ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistants) Training

ELSAs are Emotional Literacy Support Assistants working in primary and secondary schools. They are Teaching Assistants who have received specific training from Educational Psychologists from whom they receive on-going supervision following training. Their role is to support children and young people in school to understand and regulate their own emotions, learn to respect themselves and others around them and develop their personal resilience. There has been consistent feedback from schools across the UK that the introduction of ELSAs has made a significant positive impact on the emotional wellbeing of children and young people and their ability to manage better at school — socially, emotionally and academically. 

ELSAs will receive six days of training from the Educational Psychology Service (EPS) to help them to plan, deliver and evaluate bespoke interventions for identified pupils in their schools. Following the initial training, ELSAs meet every short term (6 times a year) for a group supervision session with up to 10 other ELSAs and an Educational Psychologist. 

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