Emotional Literacy Support Assistants

Information about Emotional Literacy Support Assistant intervention and list of registered schools.

Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA)

An Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA) is a trained, school based learning support assistant. Their role is to support the emotional wellbeing of pupils. They are trained by a team of Educational Psychologists and receive ongoing group supervision.

Who ELSAs work with

ELSAs work with children and young people either individually or in small groups and deliver bespoke interventions tailored to the presenting situation or need. The role of the ELSA is to develop children and young people’s:

emotional literacy
positive mental health
social skills
emotional wellbeing

The role of an ELSA can vary dependent on age, school stage and situation.

ELSA training

All ELSAs have 6 days of initial training covering:

emotional literacy including building resilience and self-esteem
managing emotions including anger and anxiety
social and friendship skills
loss, bereavement and family break up

As well as skills development in:

social and therapeutic stories
motivational interviewing
active listening, conversation skills

ELSAs attend ongoing group supervision (6 times a year,) to safeguard practice and continually develop their skills.

Schools with an ELSA

These schools in North East Lincolnshire have an ELSA:

East Ravendale Primary Academy
Elliston Primary Academy
Fairfield Academy
Grange Primary School
Healing Academy
Humberston Church of England Primary
Humberston Cloverfields Academy
Humberston Park School
Lisle Marsden Church of England Primary Academy
New Waltham Academy
Old Clee Primary Academy
Oasis Academy Immingham
Oasis Academy Nunsthorpe
Pilgrim Academy
Scartho Infants’ School and Nursery
St Mary’s Catholic Primary School Grimsby
St. Martins Preparatory School
Stallingborough Church of England Primary Academy
Stanford Junior and Infant School
Target NEL
Tetney Primary School
Thrunscoe Primary and Nursery Academy
Waltham Leas Primary Academy
Waltham Gateway Academy

Evidence base

There is an increasing evidence base for the effectiveness of ELSA with outcomes relating to:

staff and student self-efficacy beliefs
emotional literacy development
emotional wellbeing
academic progress
parental engagement

Further information

Further information about ELSA including details of research can be found on the ELSA network website .

For more information or to express an interest in having an ELSA at your school email us at [email protected].

Contact details

If you would like to find out more about the Community Educational Psychology Service or make an enquiry:, email [email protected]. We will respond as soon as possible and guide you to the most appropriate support.