Meeting the Mental Health needs of: Children Following Bereavement and Loss

When a pupil is bereaved, most of us worry about saying the wrong thing. So we say nothing, or reach for "time's a healer". Neither helps much.

The words that do help are simpler than you might think. Name what's happened, gently and directly: "I heard your cousin died. I'm so sorry." Avoid phrases like "lost" or "passed away", which can confuse younger children. You'll learn to plan ahead for anniversaries and birthdays, to check in regularly without making every chat about grief, and to notice when a child isn't coping. Grief looks different across cultures and faiths, so there's guidance on talking to the family before you refer.

You'll also find ideas for supporting the wider family, looking after the staff who do this work, and writing a bereavement policy so everyone knows what to do.