Everyone will experience change and loss throughout their lives, such as a family breakdown or the death of a relative or friend. School communities will have to support children who have faced loss in one of its myriad forms. This resource adopts both a proactive and a reactive approach to loss and change and will enable staff to make an immediate considered response to a loss and change situation, including bereavement.

It is a practical working document with 'tried and tested' practical ideas, including ideas for activities, linked to curriculum areas, and assemblies; poems, letters, writing and artwork; teaching staff, governor, parent/carer training workshop/self awareness session; case studies; and a comprehensive resource list. In addition there is a wealth of background information for teaching staff about aspects of loss, change and bereavement.

The areas covered include:

• Children’s understanding of loss and grief

• Children's questions about death and dying

• Telling sad things and breaking bad news

• School scenarios for various age groups

• Participating in funerals and rituals

• Children’s grief responses

• Children anticipating a parents and grandparents death

• Talking about a parent/carer or grandparent who is dying

• The death of a teacher

• The dying child

• The dying sibling

• Sudden death

• Using confidential record and assessment charts

• Death and dying in faith and secular contexts

• Contact details for religious and secular communities

• Classroom activities

• Children’s sayings, stories and poems

• Assemblies

• Children and trauma

• Divorce

• Suicide

• The children of prisoners

• Young carers

• Refugee children

• Children of parents/carers in the armed forces

• Talking to children about disasters

• Assessments charts

• Managing a critical incident in school

• Bereavement Case study: Westbury Leigh CofE Primary School

• Responding to sad events in school

• Staff self-awareness workshop

• Staff curriculum workshop

• Teachers resources

• National organisations offering support

• Websites for schools

• Picture and story books

Feedback Received:

“Brilliant! It’s so informative!”

Becket Primary School

“Please pass on my thanks to fellow Lions for this quality resource and assure them that it will make a significant contribution to my work with schools on managing loss.”

Associate Advisor, Personal Development and Well Being Team, West Sussex County Council

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Life Changes from a personal & Worle Lions Club perspective

Life Changes Feedback