• Would you like to increase your school’s capacity to support learners with their emotional wellbeing, mental health and social skills? 
• Would you like to intervene at an earlier stage? 
• Would you like to maximise the impact of your existing passionate and hardworking support staff?

 Your school needs an ELSA!

What is an ELSA?

Emotional Literacy Support Assistants – school support staff (e.g. LSAs, learning mentors, librarians) who have been trained by educational psychologists to deliver targeted individual and small group sessions to support young people aged 4-19 with their social, emotional and mental health. Increasing a pupil’s emotional literacy is linked to improved academic performance and behaviour in class and is linked with positive outcomes for their futures (see https://www.elsanetwork.org/elsa-network/evaluation-reports/ for research and evaluation evidence of ELSA impact).

What does training involve?

Initial training – 5 full days of educational psychologist led training held at the Sir John Lillie Primary School from 9am-3.30pm on the following dates:

Tuesday 8^th November 2022

Monday 28^th November 2022

Tuesday 10^th January 2023

Tuesday 31^st January 2023

Tuesday 21^st February 2023

(Please also keep Tuesday 28^th February available as a ‘rain check’ day in case of unforeseeable cancellations)

In addition, a virtual information and planning webinar for all ELSAs and their line managers will take place in the Spring term (date tbc) to support with planning the practicalities of the ELSA role and ensuring it works effectively. 

Our training has been awarded the ELSA Network Quality Mark  has been consistently highly rated by schools – 100% of LBFH schools surveyed strongly agreed or agreed that, “having an ELSA has had a positive impact on the emotional wellbeing of children at our school.”

Topics covered include building resilience, self-esteem, managing emotions including anger, emotion coaching, social skills, loss and bereavement, Social Stories, autism, comic strip conversations, running groups, LEGO groups, active listening and reflective conversations.  ELSAs are also trained to set targets and evaluate the impact of their work. There may be ‘top up’ sessions offered virtually later in the academic year. 

Who should we send on ELSA training?

Support staff who are passionate, motivated, organised, proactive, compassionate, caring and naturally good listeners.

What the school needs to do?

Schools must be willing to provide the ELSA with a protected time and space to plan and do ELSA sessions (e.g. a minimum of one afternoon a week) and release the ELSA for supervision for an afternoon each half term whilst they are doing ELSA work. We also recommend that schools provide a small budget for ELSAs to purchase games and materials, depending on what the school already has. Please only sign up to ELSA training if your school is able to agree to these terms.

How much does ELSA training cost?

Initial training AND supervision for the rest of the academic year is £375 per ELSA for Hammersmith and Fulham state-maintained schools (this price is subsidised and substantially lower than neighbouring boroughs), and £675 for independent or ‘out of borough’ schools.  This is excellent value for 5+ training days and also includes supervision groups for the remainder of the academic year (please note from September 2023, supervision will be chargeable, FYI this is currently £150 per year per ELSA).  Investing in ELSA training is an excellent way for schools to upskill their existing staff and to use their existing resources effectively.

How do we book?

Please choose which member of support staff you would like to train. Currently, each school can send up to two ELSAs, others may be placed on the waiting list.  Please complete this booking form (https://forms.office.com/r/YJhB3Ljdzi) as soon as possible and by Tuesday 1st November 2022- places will be allocated on a first come first served basis.