Supporting ELSAs in Southampton
Southampton Psychology Service strongly believes in the important work undertaken by ELSAs in our schools. It is of great value and support to the young people across our city. We also understand that this work can be challenging and isolating at times. Therefore, we have structured our registration process around 3 key professional development areas that we feel will help you to flourish in your role as an ELSA:
Networking - helping you to CONNECT with and learn from others
Supervision - helping you to REFLECT on and learn from experiences.
Training - helping you to GROW your skills and confidence.
Southampton's ELSA Register
The Southampton ELSA register is a list of ELSAs working in the city who we recognise as having met our criteria for demonstrating an ongoing commitment to professional development and for working with children in a manner we consider appropriate to the role of an ELSA. It is up to ELSAs to apply for registration each year once they have satisfied the specific requirements of the register.
The requirements are:
Completion of a 5 or 6 day ELSA Initial Training course (in Southampton or neighbouring LA - Led by EPs).
Evidence that you work in this role for at least half a day per week.
Sufficient ‘ELSA Credits’ accrued across the current academic year, covering our 3 key areas of professional development: Networking (to ‘connect’), Supervision (to ‘reflect’), and, Training (to ‘grow’).
Southampton's ELSA registration system aims to help promote effective support and professional development for our ELSAs.
To qualify for registration in Southampton, ELSAs need to gain 6 ELSA Credits each year,
balanced cross our 3 core areas of continued personal and professional development.
Please click here to use the 2025 ELSA Registration application form
Newly qualified ELSAs - ELSAs who completed their initial training during the current academic year do not need to complete a registration form.
We urge those beginning to undertake work as an ELSA to proactively engage in Supervision and Networking at the earliest opportunity as a key method of deepening their skills and knowledge alongside structured CPD and embedding them in the wider EL community. When training those in areas outside of Southampton, we will signpost to a Lead professional for Emotional Literacy (most often EPs within the LA) to explore ongoing support options for their local area.
Within Southampton, newly trained (or currently trainee) ELSAs are welcome to also sign up to our termly FuEL sessions.
Access to ongoing appropriate professional development and support should be a priority to have in place at the start of the next academic year.
ELSA Credits
ELSA Credits are 'points' that indicate the type and amount of personal development activity you have taken part in. The best balance of CPD would include all 3 aspects, with 2 ELSA credits in each area. ELSA credits can be earned in a variety of ways – our systems are aimed to help you easily collect any evidence of the activities you have undertaken
Nationally, there is a shared agreement that access to regular supervision must be a core aspect of ELSA CPD - there fore we ask that a minimum of 2 ELSA Credits must come from Supervision (Reflect).
Our core CPD package for ELSAs is based around our termly FuEL Events (Fill Up Emotional Literacy), and through our annual Emotional Literacy Conference . Actively engaging in these is the simplest way in which most of our city's ELSAs can gain their credits:
Attend termly FuEL sessions (2 Credits per session)
FuEL Connect (Engaging in interactive ELSA-led Networking session) = 0.5 ELSA Credit
FuEL Reflect (Active Engagement in EP-led Supervision) = 1 ELSA Credit
FuEL Grow (Attendance at FuEL spot-light EP-led Training session) = 0.5 ELSA Credit
Attending our annual EL Conference
1.5 ELSA Credits = This day long event involves aspects of all 3 key areas (Connect, Reflect, Grow).
Attendees should participate fully, including providing feedback on the event.
Our registration system also provides for ELSA Credits through 'Additional EL Related CPD activities'. These may take a variety of formats (as detailed below), with ELSAs completing a 'Reflective Learning Log' regarding each activity (0.5 ELSA Credit per form)
Some examples might include:
*These can be used on up to 3 times per year (i.e., termly) to demonstrate focused thinking and application of 'new learning' to an ELSA's practice. Examples could include:
1) Completing a 'reflective learning log' relating to the FuEL spot-light CPD session, an EL Conference workshop or keynote, or following an external EL related course.
2) Completing a 'reflective learning log' relating to a new EL-related resource brought/borrowed and used in ELSA work.
3) Completing a 'reflective learning log' relating to ideas/approaches gained from discussions with, and/or visits to, another ELSA/Setting.
Here are some examples of other ways in which ELSA Credits can be obtained:
Engage in Additional / Alternative ELSA Supervision
*Whether in-person or remote, as part of a set group or a bespoke, targeted school package, all ELSA supervision must be led by an EP.
1 ELSA Credit = Active Engagement in supervision session (max 1 credit per term)
Take part in Professional Development training sessions applicable to ELSA work
*This can be facilitated by Southampton Psychology Service, or another specialist service/professional, including school based cpd events. (This must be accompanied by a completed reflective learning log).
0.5 ELSA Credit = Accessing a half-day (or two twilight) EL relevant training session/s
0.5 ELSA Credit = Engaging with EL relevant Webinar/Podcasts/Video sessions
1 ELSA Credit = Attending one full-day conference (run by an external team/professional)
Actively engaging in EL Development within your setting and across the city.
0.5 ELSA Credit = Activities where the total time spent is equal to one half-day
1 ELSA Credits = Activities where the total time spent is equal to or more than one full-day
(Examples could include commissioning and co-facilitating a review of your school’s EL provision, developing and/or trialing new EL interventions and or materials, reading and reflecting on a EL related book/article/website, host and/or visit another ELSA setting in the city, taking on additional responsibilities and/or working with the EP team to support fellow ELSAs and promote good EL practice - such as facilitating network meetings, creating content for the ELSA website, planning/running CPD events).
If you have engaged in other project work, training, or work activities directly or indirectly related to your role, reach out to discuss whether it can count towards your ELSA Credits.
Applications must be returned within the requested period (usually during the summer term).
Successful registrants will receive a certificate of registration which will be valid for one year from the following September. For example, an application made in June 2022 would result in a certificate running from September 2022 until the end of August 2023 and would be sent out during the summer break 2022.
If ELSAs have not been able to gained sufficient ELSA Credits (or have not met the other criteria), it will be important for direct and joint commitment to be made by both the ELSA and their setting/line manager to protect time for them to pro-actively engage in suitable activities in the year ahead to regain their registration. Access to EP led supervision (Reflect) should be a key priority in this.
Download the 2025 ELSA Registration application form (Updated Sept 2025)
Read the Registration FAQ here (Updated Summer 2025)