PUPILS in Monmouthshire’s schools with temporary or long-term emotional needs will receive support from staff in more of the county’s schools, thanks to recent training.

Eighteen staff became qualified as emotional literacy support assistants (ELSAs) after a five-week educational training course. They received certificates of achievement from chair of the council Cllr Maureen Powell at a ceremony in Magor on Tuesday, March 20.

The course was carried out by Monmouthshire’s Educational Psychology Service (EPS). Dr Morwenna Wagstaff of the EPS said: “The course enables staff to develop skills to help pupils in the county’s schools with temporary or longer term emotional needs.

“The programme forms part of the council’s commitment to work with schools to ensure the inclusion, achievement and well-being of all pupils, including those whose learning is affected by emotional difficulties.  It was developed to build the capacity of schools to support the emotional needs of pupils from within their own resources.

“ELSAs are trained to plan and deliver individual or group program­mes of support.  They might work with pupils who present as anxious, shy, sad or angry as well as supporting them to develop social and friendship skills or improved self-esteem.”

The training has been carried out for the past two years and has involved staff from 28 of Monmouthshire’s 35 schools.

Cllr Powell added: “It was a great honour to present certificates to the latest members of our staff to achieve the ELSA award. 

“Having completed their training they will be able to help those children with emotional difficulties who are at an educational disadvantage to overcome their problems, improve their emotional wellbeing and to achieve in their schooling.”

For more information about the ELSA project log onto www.elsanetwork.org/