Schools’ support staff complete vital training

The fourth cohort of Emotional Literacy Support Assistants (ELSAs) are celebrating the completion of their training led by North East Lincolnshire’s Community Educational Psychology Service.

ELSAs are based in schools throughout the region as learning support assistants. They help pupils with special interventions to support their wellbeing, to help them to focus, and to overcome challenges at school. They work with children and young people either individually or in small groups and deliver bespoke interventions tailored to needs.

ELSAs undergo six 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

They also cover skills development in social and therapeutic stories, motivational interviewing and active listening, and conversation skills. ELSAs attend ongoing group supervision six times a year to safeguard practice and continually develop their skills.

The newly-trained ELSAs are Helen Foster-Isaacs, Melissa Farrow-Browne, Louise Axcel, Michelle Frosdick, Jo Hilton, Joanna Brecken, Iain Ceclich, Hayley Whitney-Smith, Jill Cornthwaite, Laura Rose and Stephanie Claybourn.

Dr Rebecca Bevan, Educational Psychologist for North East Lincolnshire Council, said: “We are thrilled to welcome the new ELSAs to the team. They provide invaluable support to the young people in our schools.

“The purpose of the training is to support school staff so they can plan and implement bespoke interventions for learners in their schools, whilst accessing supervision from educational psychologists.

“Not all students breeze through school – some require a little support – so it’s important that staff are trained to provide that. We look forward to seeing our new ELSAs making their contributions in schools in our region.”

Cllr Margaret Cracknell, Portfolio Holder for Children and Education, said: “I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the Education Psychology Team for facilitating this training, and wish those who have completed the training well as they go out and work with our young people to make their journey through education an even better experience.”