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The staffroom

Whether you're a permanent teacher, supply teacher or student teacher, you'll find others in the same situation on our Staffroom forum.

Flip

Original poster

Dealing with death

7 replies

Skiingmaniac · 08/02/2015 18:36

Keeping this vague.....I am a ks2 form teacher and there has been a family tragedy where a sibling has died suddenly. Does anyone have any tips on dealing with telling the rest of the class (to ensure sensitivity when pupil returns)?

OP posts:

conflicted14 · 08/02/2015 18:45

How sad. Perhaps have some PSHE/ Circle Time sessions where you talk sensitively about loss and grief to introduce the topic to children and help them understand. I read once about a school who related death to abstract things, such as the life cycle of a flower to help them understand how something grows, lives and dies. You could focus on discussing feelings so that the children can put themselves in the child's shoes and avoid saying anything to upset them.

TheTroubleWithAngels · 08/02/2015 19:37

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Panzee · 08/02/2015 19:38

Do you have a local Cruse office? We always call them in this sad situation.

rosiecg · 09/02/2015 17:33

I would ask the child/their family about what they want to happen - they may not want everyone knowing until they are ready to tell the people they trust.

Skatingfastonthinice · 09/02/2015 18:02

This charity is good, and they ran some INSET at one of the schools I was in that was very useful.
www.winstonswish.org.uk/

Original poster

Skiingmaniac · 09/02/2015 21:58

Thank you for all of your answers.

OP posts:

steppeinginto2015 · 09/02/2015 22:25

I am parent and governor.
We had a child in our school who was killed in a road accident outside the school last year. Siblings in the school.

We have a TA trained in bereavement support, she spent a lot of time in the first week with the sibling. (she then needed some support herself to debrief)
There were extra people on hand in that class (year 4) for the first few days, there were several children who needed to talk. The head was very hands on and popular, she was with the teacher in the playground on the first morning and remained around and very visible and on hand during the day.

This year a child in reception lost a sibling (long term illness)

Winston's wish has helped us in both situations, they were very good and are giving on going support.

One thing to be aware of, there is a family who lost their mother 2 years ago, the girls were very upset by the accident in particular, as it brought back a lot for them.

Flip