Emotional Literacy Support Assistants (ELSA) programme

The Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA) programme, led by Kent Educational Psychology Service (KEPS), trains and supports school staff to deliver targeted emotional literacy support to pupils. Whilst it is not a substitute for specialist mental health services, having an ELSA in your school significantly increases capacity to meet the needs of pupils experiencing social, emotional, and mental health needs.

Feedback from schools currently taking part in ELSA:

"We have found our ELSA sessions that are being offered to our children both effective and enjoyable for them, with positive feedback from both parents and children being received. We are pleased to be investing allocated time to this as we are seeing the results for the small number of children involved with the programme."

"ELSA is highly regarded by our school and families."

"(Our ELSA) has been an amazing addition to our school. She is forward thinking and the children, parents and staff love her."

Intervention delivery:

  • Interventions typically last six to 12 weeks, with weekly 30 to 60 minute sessions.
  • Sessions include check-ins, targeted activities and reflection.
  • Programmes must be planned, goal-oriented and reviewed regularly.

School commitments:

  • Allocate sufficient time and a dedicated space for ELSA work.
  • Select suitable staff for the ELSA training.
  • Ensure ELSAs attend all training and ongoing half-termly supervision with an Educational Psychologist.
  • Provide planning time, a small resource budget and line management support.
  • Avoid using ELSAs for cover duties that disrupt sessions.
  • Support ELSAs in monitoring and evaluating their impact.

Training and supervision:

  • KEPS provides a six-day training course at a cost of £300 and ongoing supervision once training is completed (two hours per short term). Supervision is free of charge to schools.
  • ELSAs must attend ongoing supervision sessions post-training to receive certification and remain on the official register.

Course overview:

Day 1

Introduction to emotional literacy and the ELSA programme

Introduction to key psychological theories underpinning ELSA

Day 2

Attachment, belonging, and friendship

Day 3

Resilience and self-concept

Day 4

Managing emotions

Day 5

Bereavement and loss

Day 6

Getting started as an ELSA

Planning for the future as an ELSA

Due to the high demand for these training places, which are limited by our current capacity as a service, this year we will be aiming to prioritise places for schools on the basis of need. We hope that this will lead to a fairer distribution of this limited resource.

We will take into consideration:

  • Whether the school has a current ELSA in place
  • Number of pupils with EHCPs or on SEN support
  • Number of pupils qualifying for Pupil Premium.

Please note that the Expression of Interest form will close on Friday 25 July 2025. We will be contacting shortlisted schools in the first term of the new academic year 2025-26.

For any more information email elsa@kent.gov.uk.