Support for Schools

For many professionals, a bereavement in school can feel difficult to manage.

Staff often feel uncomfortable with bereavement and may worry that they don’t have the skills necessary to support bereaved children and their families and colleagues who are bereaved. They may even worry that they could make the situation worse.  School can be one of the most stable places in a child’s life and how bereavement is managed there can make a huge difference to their lives.

With information and resources, Penhaligon’s Friends can equip those that work in schools to help children cope with their feelings while holding on to the memory of the person who has died.

Penhaligon’s Friends support schools, early years settings and colleges across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

We recognise how difficult it can feel to manage a bereavement within your school community and we welcome schools contacting us if you would like help and advice following a death.

It may be that guidance, reassurance, and the listening ear of one of our team will be helpful over the phone and in some circumstances, it may be more helpful for us to visit you and your staff to discuss the situation you are facing. If you have had an incident in school where a pupil or member of staff has died we can advise on how to manage the situation and can provide some support and guidance to those affected, this may be staff, pupils, or families. If appropriate, we can also help with circle times, PSHE lessons or assemblies.

When a school is faced with bereavement it is useful for school to have a policy to fall back on detailing how school will manage the situation.

We can provide guidance and advice on policies and procedures to ensure they are in line with statutory safeguarding duties.

Support from Penhaligon’s Friends is always provided free of charge, however, anything you can do to raise money for us as a school is always appreciated.