Emotional literacy support assistant (ELSA) training

Training

We are excited to be able to offer Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA) training to Suffolk schools. The nationwide ELSA programme was designed to build the capacity of schools to support the emotional needs of their pupils, from within their own settings and with their own resources. It recognises that children learn better when they are happier in school, and if their emotional needs are also addressed.

Through training and supervision, the school will have their own ELSAs who are skilled to support young people through their own interventions. The training covers emotional literacy and awareness, self-esteem, active listening and communication skills, understanding and managing anger, social skills, friendship skills and therapeutic stories.

ELSAs are usually teaching assistants or learning support assistants. They need to have high levels of empathy and also be interested in building supportive relationships with children and young people experiencing emotional difficulties.

ELSAs receive six days of training. All training days are from 9:30am to 3:30pm. ELSAs will require time to plan their sessions for children and young people, and the support from their schools to do so. It is preferable to have two ELSAs in a setting, to allow them to support each other in what can be a demanding but rewarding role.

After the training ELSAs commit to regular (approximately half termly) supervision, which is led by educational psychologists (EPs). This will allow for any casework to be discussed and will focus on supporting the ELSAs to develop their own roles within their schools.

For details of the next training available and costs, please contact the Psychology and Therapeutic Services team at Psychology&TherapeuticServices@suffolk.gov.uk.

Benefits:

• Having an ELSA in your school will mean you are able to offer interventions and planned programmes of support to children experiencing emotional, social and behavioural difficulties.
• Because an ELSA is part of your staff, these interventions can be proactive and support the emotional wellbeing of children and young people at a lower level.
• Having an ELSA in your school means that you have a member of staff who is receiving ongoing supervision from educational psychologists, to discuss and support the children they are working with within your setting.
• There has been consistent feedback from schools across the UK that ELSAs have made a significant positive impact on the emotional wellbeing of children and young people.
• The ELSA programme supports staff development, with ELSAs frequently commenting on the impact that training has on them, both personally and professionally.

What ELSAs in Suffolk are saying about their experiences:

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 covers the 6 days of training and the first few ELSA supervisions (the number will depend on how long is left in the academic year).

The school will need to purchase 6 supervision sessions per ELSA each September after that.

In addition, ELSAs will need a copy of the book “Emotional Wellbeing: an introductory handbook for schools” (3rd edition) by Gill Shotton and Sheila Burton. ELSAs should ideally have one each or there should be at least one per school. Please email the address above to check availability. Once confirmed, you will need to book your place through Suffolk CPD.

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 £170 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 23 and 30 November 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 will be held in October 2026 with a range of fantastic keynote speakers covering a breadth of topics relevant to the ELSA role. Please see some of the presentations below.

Our next conference is due to be held in the summer term 2026. Watch this space for details and when you can book on Suffolk CPD online (search by date or title).