The adults in a family are often struggling with their own grief, and they may have neither the emotional or physical capacity to support their bereaved children even if they would like to. For this reason, the support may need to come from somewhere other than home. Schools that have set up bereavement groups tell us pupils who attend:

• Build their own coping strategies and naturally start to support one another
• Feel less isolated through meeting others in similar circumstances, normalising their experience
• Have an opportunity to express emotions in a safe place smoothing out "roller coaster" responses
• Can find it easier to talk to an adult who is not emotionally involved
• Are easier to manage in class and are less likely to become school refusers
• Appreciate an alternative to counselling which for some children is not appropriate