For schools

Welcome to our SCHOOLS Section. 

Death and bereavement are a fact of life and a natural and inevitable part of everyone's day-to-day existance.


Up to 70% of schools have a bereaved pupil on their role at any given time. One study found that 92% of young people will experience a "significant" bereavement before the age of 16 years. With the right help and support, most of these children will not need professional help. What they do need is the understanding of familiar and trusted adults.  Schools are well placed to provide this.

Current educational guidance rightly recognises the need for schools to address children's emotional health and wellbeing through sound pastoral support. Our training will help you deliver PSHE, Citizenship, SEAL and other subject areas where there are opportunities for pupils to develop coping skills, empathy with grieving peers and emotional literacy.

There is also an educational need to be met. Children and young people need and want to know what we do when someone dies. Equipped with knowledge about rituals, the codes of behaviour and cultural variations, they will be much better able to cope when someone they know does die and your school will benifit from an open and supportive culture.

Staff in schools already have many demands on their energies and time but death and bereavement can not be ignored. It needs to be acknowledged to ensure the well-being of all pupils, not just the bereaved. This fits closely with the Every Child Matters agenda and Healthy Schools Programmes. There are various ways that we may be able to help.

Support for Schools

The Support and Information Line:  01494 446648 can be used by any teacher or staff member who comes into contact with bereaved pupils and their families. It also offers a confidential listening service and can be given out by school staff to families affected by the death of a child, or who are caring for a bereaved child.  

Our Schools Training and Support Coordinator on 01494 446648 can offer ideas, guidance and information.

Training Click on the link at the right hand side of this page to access further details of our comprehensive schools  training programme.

Teachers Forum Click on the link at the right hand side of this page to make contact with colleagues to share thoughts, ideas and concerns. Tell us what else would be helpful to have on this website, we would love to know your views.

Schools Information Pack Below you will find a selection of factsheets from our schools information pack. They can be downloaded free of charge, or click here [0] to order the complete pack, cost £10.00 plus p&p.


Source URL:
http://www.childbereavement.org.uk/for_schools