What we provide for the education sector

Why support is needed

Experiencing bereavement in childhood is immense and means life will never be the same again. Grief impacts on concentration, learning and achievement (Childhood Bereavement Network 2015). Education providers have an opportunity to support children and young people in their grief; however, many teachers and education professionals are unsure of how to do that. Research shows that 89% of teachers had received no bereavement training during Initial Teacher Training or subsequent professional development (Child Bereavement UK 2018).

An estimated 46,300 dependent children (aged 0-17) are bereaved of a parent each year. That’s 127 children newly bereaved each day.
1 in 29 five to sixteen-year-olds has been bereaved of a parent or sibling - that's a child in every average class.

Bereavement can disadvantage children and young people on many levels:

For all young people experiencing a significant bereavement there is the potential for both short and long-term consequences, particularly where general resources (personal, social and material) are low, or other stressors are high. Ribbens McCarthy 2005
A bereaved child’s grief journey is particularly vulnerable to the help or lack of help provided by significant adults in the child’s life. Wolfelt 2013

Outside of their home, their nursery / school / college / University is often the most important consistent influence on the development of children and young people. There are therefore significant opportunities to promote resilience and wellbeing. Child Bereavement UK’s mission is to ensure the accessibility of high-quality child bereavement support and information for families and professionals.

Research: Click here for information on research report, 'Improving Bereavement Support in Schools, funded by the True Colours Trust

Child Bereavement UK offers education providers:

A national helpline providing confidential support, information and guidance to families and professionals. Our helpline team is available to take calls and respond to emails 9am-5pm Monday-Friday 0800 02 888 40 [email protected]
Live chat via our website is available 9am – 5pm Monday to Friday.
A dedicated section on our website for the education sector – Early Years, Primary, Secondary and Further/Higher Education.
Training for education professionals with the following courses dedicated to those working within the education sector:
Schools – an introduction to grief and bereavement (90 minute webinar). An overview of bereavement for any professional working in school, nursery or educational setting
Having honest conversations about death and grief in schools (90 minute webinar). Explore opportunities to have open discussions about death and grief in schools, with resources and guidance for staff to inform, empower and build confidence
Supporting bereaved pupils and managing grief in schools (3-hour interactive online workshop). Consider the benefits of developing a bereavement aware culture within school and the resources needed to create a ‘bereavement tool kit’.

Or contact us [email protected] to ask about bespoke training for your school.

Online resources for schools - comprehensive, free-to-access resources developed by Child Bereavement UK in collaboration with the London Grid for Learning.
‘Elephant’s Tea Party’ – a free initiative for primary and KS3 pupils which provides lesson plans, activity ideas and hints and tips on how to run a short bereavement awareness programme for pupils to decrease the taboo in talking about death and dying and increase emotional resilience.
Managing bereavement: A guide for schools - A complete downloadable guide to bereavement for schools/educational settings
School liaison support for specific children who are accessing support from Child Bereavement UK in Buckinghamshire, London, Milton Keynes, Cheshire, East Wirral, Manchester, Cumbria, Bradford, Middlesbrough, Glasgow and across Scotland.
Child Bereavement UK has a dedicated Education Support and Development Team.

Latest

Moving house when you are bereaved

It’s well known that moving house can be a very stressful time, whatever the circumstances. Moving house when you’re grieving or have been bereaved, however, can come with particular challenges.
I’ve got my own place

You can join our amazing team of fundraisers by taking part in any type of challenge.
Run the 2025 London Marathon

Run for Child Bereavement UK with your ballot place or apply for one of our charity places.
Adidas Manchester Marathon

Register your interest in our charity places

Online resources for schools

Our Toolkit is a comprehensive, free-to-access set of online resources for school staff developed in collaboration with London Grid for Learning
Explaining death and dying to children

Guidance for teachers and parents on talking to children about death and dying,
Developing a bereavement policy or charter

A school with a bereavement policy is prepared and has plans in place to deal with death, grief and bereavement.
Early years

Information for childminders and adults working in a nursery, preschool, playgroup, day-care, childcare, kindergarten, foundation stage or reception.
Primary schools

Information for teachers, teaching assistants, learning support assistants, headteachers, education welfare officers and other adults working in schools
Secondary schools

Information for teachers, teaching assistants, headteachers, education welfare officers and other adults working in secondary schools.
Further/Higher Education

Information for tutors, lecturers and those working in student welfare at higher education institutes, further education colleges and at university.
Guidance in Welsh for schools supporting bereaved pupils

Information for teachers, teaching assistants, learning support assistants, headteachers, education welfare officers and other adults working in schools in Wales.

Supporting bereaved children and young people

Children and young people grieve just as much as adults but they can show it in different ways. Find out how you can help them and more about child grieving.
Children's understanding of death at different ages

Guidance on children's understanding of death at different ages and stages of development.
Grieving for a child of any age

The agony of losing a child of any age is unparalleled. There is no age or point in time that makes it any easier. No parent expects to face the death of their child and no grandparent expects to lose their grandchild.
When a grandparent dies

The death of a grandparent is often a child or young person’s first encounter with the death of someone important. Parents have a great deal to manage when their own parent or carer dies. There is the grief associated with their own loss, but also the reactions and responses of their children to the death of a grandparent.
Child Bereavement UK training

Child Bereavement UK designs and delivers training for professionals in health and social care, education, the emergency services and the voluntary and corporate sectors, equipping them to provide the best possible care to bereaved families.
Contact us

Contact details for our Helpline, departments and services.
When your baby dies

When a baby lives only a short time or dies before birth due to miscarriage, stillbirth or a painful decision to end the pregnancy, people may assume that the loss is not important. This is simply not the case.
Explaining death and dying to children

Guidance for teachers and parents on talking to children about death and dying,
UK death & bereavement statistics

A parent of children under 18 dies every 20 minutes in the UK; around 26,900 a year.
For adults bereaved as children

How being bereaved as a child can affect your life as an adult and where you can find support.