What schools and further education settings can do

What primary schools can do

Develop social and emotional skills

An important foundation for helping children deal with and bounce back from adversity is the development of social and emotional skills. Developing skills like resilience from a young age will mean that children are better equipped to deal with difficult situations like bereavement and loss.

Communicate with the family

In the event of a bereavement, communicate sensitively with the child’s family so that you know best how to support the child. Understanding the circumstances of the bereavement can be helpful for school staff, but this information should only be shared if the family feel comfortable doing so.

Build and nuture good relationships with pupils

Staff can often be reluctant to initiate what they perceive to be painful conversations due to a fear of making things worse for the child. Good relationships between school staff and children, cultivated on a daily basis in the classroom, can help children articulate and process their feelings after major losses and adjustments.

Ask for help if needed

Children at risk of getting stuck in their grieving will need early extra help either through school nursing/pastoral/counselling support, or through referral to a specialist bereavement service. 

What secondary schools and further education settings can do

Make sure students know about the support they can access

In the event of a bereavement in a secondary school or FE setting, it’s important that the student is aware of what support they can engage with, if and when they want to speak to someone. Provide them with adequate, age-appropriate information – for example, Winston’s Wish is an organisation who support young people who have been bereaved.

Normalise emotions

It’s also important that schools and settings normalise a range of emotional responses to bereavement and loss, and that the bereaved student knows that however they are feeling, it is valid. You can explore emotional regulation and coping strategies with the young person to help them work through their emotions.

Keep checking in

Grief can be complex and the way a young person feels may change over time, even if some time has passed since the bereavement. Make sure to keep checking in with them and communicating with staff that work with them.

Be sensitive about dates

Sensitivities around specific days is also important – anniversaries of the death, Mother’s/Father’s Day, and birthdays, can all be difficult times for a bereaved young person.

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