Menu Expand
A Special Kind of Grief

A Special Kind of Grief

Sarah Helton

(2017)

Additional Information

Abstract

Children with SEND (special educational needs and disabilities), especially those in special schools, often experience grief at a much younger age than others, as some of their peers are more likely to have life-limiting medical conditions. Yet many adults do not know the best way to support a grieving child with SEND. This book provides all the resources that educational professionals need to ensure their community is fully prepared to acknowledge and support pupil bereavement and loss.

Issues covered include bereavement and loss policies and procedures, an appropriate curriculum (including the issues of life, death and loss), how to inform the school community of the death, how to support pupils and staff with the loss, common signs of grieving and how grief affects children at different ages and developmental stages, plus activities and resources to support pupils with their grief. There is also an extensive appendix with template documents for schools to use such as draft letters, policies, procedures, curriculum and lesson ideas.


Sarah Helton is a SEND trainer and consultant with 20+ years of SEND experience in the UK and US.
With a wealth of practical advice and inspiration that can be used in moments when thinking feels impossible, this book shows you how you can promote happiness, health and resilience in children with special needs through the darkest of times. I will certainly be buying it for the special school I work in!
Jill Owen, Head Teacher at Montacute School, Poole
Sarah's guidance on writing a policy, how to support pupils, families and staff and how to report to the wider community is very clear and well-thought out. An essential book for every school.
Kitty Eve, SENCO at Chandag Junior School
A comprehensive "one-stop-shop" on how to support pupils, staff, families and the school community through bereavement, offering simple practical guidance, easily integrated into the school day. Essential reading to instil confidence amongst those caring for children with SEND to address issues of death and bereavement within the school environment.
Dr. Katie Koehler, Child Bereavement UK

Table of Contents

Section Title Page Action Price
A Special Kind of Grief – The Complete Guide for Supporting Bereavement and Loss in Special Schools (and Other SEND Settings) by Sarah Helton 3
Introduction 9
1. Who Is This Book For? 10
2. Why Is There a Need for This Book? 11
3. The Importance of Acknowledging Grief 14
4. The School - An Overview of School Policies and Procedures 16
A Death Occurs 19
5. How to Inform Staff 20
6. How to Tell Pupils 25
7. How to Let Parents, Families and the Wider Community Know 35
Pupils 37
8. How Grief Affects Children at Different Ages and Developmental Stages 38
9. Common Signs of Grieving in Children 43
10. Common Behaviours of Grieving Children 45
11. Ways to Support Grieving Children 48
12. Advice for Supporting Individuals with Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD) 60
13. Talking about Funerals, Cremations and Burials 65
14. All Forms of Grief and Loss 69
15. Traumatic Losses 75
16. When to Refer Children to Other Professionals 77
Staff 79
17. How to Support Staff 80
18. Staff Emotions and the School Day 86
19. Staff Dos and Don’ts 88
Mind, Body and Spirit 93
20. How Emotions and Grief Affect the Body and the Breath 94
21. Holistic Support 97
22. Remembering - Special Assemblies and Memorials 103
The Environment 107
23. How to Manage the School Environment Following the Death of a Member of the School Community 108
24. How to Manage the Classroom Environment Following the Death of a Pupil 110
Families 113
25. How to Support Families 114
Special Days 119
26. Anniversaries 120
27. Having an Annual Event - Friendship Day 122
School Management 125
28. School Bereavement and Loss Policy 126
29. School Bereavement\nand Loss Procedures 129
30. The Curriculum 141
31. Staff Training 145
Appendices 147
Appendix A - Draft Bereavement and Loss Policy 148
Appendix B - Template Letters 153
Appendix C - Information to Send Home Following a Death 157
Appendix D - Lesson Ideas for Activities Following a Bereavement 160
Appendix E - Further Reading 162
Appendix F - Further Information 166
Appendix G - Statistics 169
Index 172
References 171
Blank Page