ELSA Training & Supervision
What are ELSAs?
ELSAs are Emotional Literacy Support Assistants who work in primary and secondary schools. They are teaching assistants who have received training from educational psychologists to develop and deliver bespoke programmes of support to meet the emotional and social needs of children and teenagers in their care. Once they have completed their initial training, they receive ongoing supervision from Educational Psychologists.
They support children to:
- understand and manage their emotions.
- feel more confident.
- be more resilient and motivated.
- initiating and maintaining friendships.
- develop social skills.
- feel as if they belong.
- cope with grief after bereavement or loss.
Watch our ELSA video
This 4 minute video gives an overview of what being an ELSA involves and the training programme we are offering.
What does ELSA training involve?
Initial Training
- ELSAs will attend an online 45 minute introductory meeting where they are given information about how the course will be delivered.
- ELSAs will then receive 6 units of training. For each unit of training, participants will:
- watch two or three videos where they will be introduced to course content. (Approximately 1 -1.5 hours in total).
- complete some activities by themselves to reflect on the course content and / or do some additional independent learning. (Approximately 1 hour.)
- attend a four hour face-to-face group meeting, led by an educational psychologist, to go over content, to check understanding, to practice key skills and to reflect on challenges and successes.
- Line managers will be invited to part of Unit 1's face to face meeting and it is strongly advised that they attend. This will help them to understand their role and the logistics of introducing ELSA to their school.
Ongoing Supervision after Initial Training
- Once ELSAs have completed their initial training, they will be expected to attend group supervision with an educational psychologist and up to 7 other ELSAs for two hours every half term. Supervision provides emotional support, continued learning and reflection and an opportunity for quality control.
- The ELSA Network considers supervision a vital part of ELSA and ELSAs must attend at least 4 out of 6 supervisions each year to continue to be registered as an ELSA.
What is covered in initial ELSA training?
Unit 1
An introduction to ELSA training for ELSAs and their line managers.
Emotional literacy in schools.
Unit 2
Self-esteem. Security and belonging (friendship).
Unit 3
Self-esteem. Motivation, competence and self-hood.
Unit 4
Managing emotions (including therapeutic stories)
Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA)
Unit 5
Supporting children with bereavement & loss.
Reflective and active listening.
Unit 6
Social skills competency / social understanding for children with autism.
Where and when are you offering ELSA training?
The next ELSA training is likely to start in October 2024. The face-to-face elements of the training will happen in or around Cambridge.
Please get in touch to register your interest.
Odgers Psychology is delivering ELSA training as part of Psychology for Schools, a collaborative of four educational psychologist working in the East of England. These colleagues will be delivering the same ELSA training in Hertfordshire and Essex.
Get in touch about ELSA training
Frequently Asked Questions
When does your next ELSA training start and how long does it take?
How much does ELSA training cost and what is included in the cost?
Do you offer supervision as well as the initial training?
How much does supervision cost?
Do ELSAs have to attend supervision?
Is ELSA for primary or secondary schools?
How much time does an TA have to spend working as an ELSA?
Can I get started as an ELSA before I've finished the training?
I've never heard of ELSAs being trained in this way. Does it work?
Resources & Contract
ELSA information sheet
Do you want to share full details of ELSA training with others?
ELSA contract
View the ELSA contract you will need to sign and submit to gain a place on ELSA training.
Sign up to ELSA training 2023-24
Register your interest in ELSA training by completing the form below.
Once you register an interest, you will be sent the Odgers Psychology ELSA Training Contract 2023-34 and details of how to confirm your place.
