ELSA Events
Please keep an eye on this page for more information about upcoming ELSA events.
Training
Please email psychology&therapeuticservices@suffolk.gov.uk to go on our waiting list for ELSA training. We will be in touch as soon as dates are set. Once confirmed, you will need to book your place through Suffolk CPD.
The course fee of £600 covers the 6 days of training and the first 2 supervision sessions which will take place in the Summer term 2025.
The school will need to purchase 6 supervision sessions per ELSA in September 2025 for the Autumn term 2025 and Spring and Summer terms 2026 (currently 6 X £45 per ELSA).
In addition, ELSAs will need a copy of the book “Emotional Wellbeing: an introductory handbook for schools” (2nd edition) by Gill Shotton and Sheila Burton. ELSAs should ideally have one each or there should be at least one per school.
Please email psychology&therapeuticservices@suffolk.gov.uk to check availability. Once confirmed, you will need to book your place through Suffolk CPD.
Schools that are currently on our waiting list please check your mailbox for an email offering you a place on this cohort.
Trauma Aware ELSA Training
The Psychology and Therapeutic Service are excited to be able to offer the fifth Trauma Awareness training for ELSAs in Suffolk. The cost is £180 for the 2 days of training (you need to be able to attend both days).
This programme aims to increase knowledge and confidence for ELSAs who want to work utilising trauma-aware approaches. The programme aims to:
- Increase knowledge around trauma and resilience and how we can support these within educational settings.
- Highlight the importance of relational support in trauma aware practice and consider ways to offer this support. This includes PACE and Emotion Coaching approaches.
- Introduce a trauma aware model that uses sequencing to consider how to support all our children and young people.
- Discuss environmental adversity, gang involvement, and community trauma and how we can buffer against this within the school community.
- Critically review our education systems and consider how trauma-inducing or trauma-reducing our processes can be.
The programme is for existing ELSAs wishing to enhance their skills and approaches in this area. It will run across two days and ELSAs will receive a Trauma Aware ELSA certification upon completion and lanyard.
The training will take place at The Mix, 127 Ipswich Street, Stowmarket, IP14 1BB on Mondays 16th and 23 March 2026 (9.30am to 3.30pm). You need to attend both days of training.
There is a pay and display car park opposite. The car park on Ipswich Street is £2.50 for the day (payable by cash, card or using the MiPermit app). Please share cars if you can.
There is a café on site to buy drinks, snacks and lunch or bring your own. Biscuits will be available. Please bring your own water/drinks bottle.
Places are limited to 35 ELSAs and can be booked on Suffolk CPD Online shortly (search by date on the Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing tab).
ELSA Conference
Our annual ELSA conferences were last held on 19 October 2023 and 20 November 2024 with a range of fantastic keynote speakers covering a breadth of topics relevant to the ELSA role. Please see some of the presentations below.