EMOTIONAL LITERACY SUPPORT ASSISTANTS: SCHOOL BASED
Southampton Training Course.

As part of our Emotional Literacy programme in Southampton we have employed 5 learning support assistants within the Psychology Service - ELSAs - to work with children in the Primary Sector supporting their emotional development (see Sheila Burton 2002). This initiative has been so well received within the primary schools that they have decided to employ their own ELSAs. We have therefore devised a training programme specifically designed for school based ELSAs. This training has been put together by a multi-professional team including 2 Senior Psychologists, a SEN Inspector, a Headteacher, and 2 of our LEA ELSAs.

It is a 4 day course which aims to:

• develop an understanding of the ELSA role;
• deepen the understanding of the contribution of emotion to behaviour;
• learn how to support children emotionally;
• further skills in teaching emotional literacy to individuals and small groups;
• become further acquainted with a variety of resources.

An important facet of the training is that there is a school mentor who can support the development of the LSA in school and also provide some supervision.
The first course was delivered this Spring and included LSAs from 20 schools. It was extremely well received with evaluative comments including:

“Inspiring, exciting-best course I’ve ever attended!”

“Excellent. Really enjoyed the 4 days we had. I am so glad to have the teachings and also the friendship we have built with other ELSAs.”

“As a result of the impact of the 5 dimensions of Emotional Literacy, I felt able to observe a child and recognise his lack of motivation.”

We attribute part of the success of this course to the multi-professional nature of the team devising the course. The school link with the mentors has also proved invaluable.
As a result of this course an ELSA support group is to be set up within the City.

(See Southampton ELSA guidelines for more general info.)

Added July 2004