Compton Care in Wolverhampton is offering free training for teachers and school staff to help children cope with grief and loss. The sessions explain age-appropriate responses and practical classroom strategies, and aim to create emotionally safe learning environments. The programme coincides with updated government guidance making bereavement a mandatory part of RSHE from September.
Free Training for Teachers: Helping Children Cope With Grief and Loss
The training will cover how teachers can create emotionally safe environments for children [Getty Images]
Compton Care, a Wolverhampton-based palliative and bereavement charity, is offering free training sessions for teachers and school staff to improve support for children experiencing grief and loss.
The charity says the training will explain how bereavement and other types of loss affect children at different ages and developmental stages, and will give practical strategies for creating emotionally safe classrooms.
Compton Care highlights a striking statistic: by the age of 16, up to 78% of children will have experienced the death of a close friend or relative. Understanding these experiences, the charity says, is essential for safeguarding pupils' wellbeing and learning.
Deborah Pennington from Compton Care said: "These experiences can have a profound impact on children's emotional wellbeing, confidence and learning, and without the right support may affect outcomes later in life."
The sessions are timed ahead of updated government guidance that will make learning about bereavement a mandatory part of Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) from September. The programme is designed to help staff respond sensitively and appropriately to bereavement and to other losses children may face, such as parental separation or the loss of routine.
What The Training Covers
Age-Appropriate Responses: How grief typically presents at different developmental stages and how to tailor conversations to a child’s age.
Creating Safe Environments: Practical classroom approaches to make pupils feel supported and understood.
Recognising Signs: How to spot changes in behaviour or learning that may indicate a child is struggling and when to refer to specialist support.
Practical Strategies: Tools for lesson planning, pastoral support and communicating with families about bereavement.
The sessions are free and aimed at primary and secondary school staff in Wolverhampton. Compton Care says the training will include time for questions, discussion of case examples and signposting to local support services.
For schools interested in booking or learning more, Compton Care can provide details of upcoming sessions and how to register.
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