Search for Learning and Development Services and Pathways

ELSAs are teaching assistants or learning mentors in schools or colleges who have been trained as Emotional Literacy Support Assistants.  ELSAs help children and young people learn to understand their emotions and respect the feelings of those around them.  ELSAs plan and deliver individual and small group programmes in schools with access to support from educational psychologists through group supervision and individual contact. 

The Educational Psychology team will deliver 6 days of training on aspects of emotional literacy including :

• Emotional awareness
• Self-esteem
• Anger management
• Social and friendship skills
• Social communication difficulties
• Loss, bereavement and family break-up

The course includes a combination of whole group teaching, tutor demonstrations, small group work and practice sessions. 

NEW for ELSA 2021 : On the 6th and final day of training ELSAs will get the opportunity to work in age groups (primary, secondary and college age) in order to further explore resources, how to put together planning, how to measure the effectiveness of the ELSA and how to gain the views of the children and young people they will be working with.