The NAFD’s campaign to add proactive teaching about loss and bereavement in schools, led by NAFD President John Adams, took another huge step forward in March when the Government responded to the now 11,000-signature strong petition confirming that the Department for Education will “will assess whether content on bereavement is needed” when it reviews statutory Religious, Social and Health Education (RHSE) guidance.
In its response, the DfE also acknowledges that “experiencing bereavement at a young age can have a significant impact on a child and that schools have a role to play to help children deal with the emotional impact of such a loss and identifies the important role school can play in supporting children who are grieving. It goes on to say: “they are well placed to observe children day-to-day and identify those whose behaviour suggests that they may be going through a difficult time.”
The Department for Education (DfE) is undertaking the first review of the RSHE statutory guidance this year. As part of the review process, the DfE has confirmed that it will undertake a public consultation – which will allow supporters of the campaign a further opportunity to contribute their views to the Government. The next steps for the campaign will be to meet with ministers, including Schools Minister Nick Gibb MP, to discuss the forthcoming consultation proposals as well as maintaining pressure through the media and petition.
The response also highlighted that a £1,200 grant is available to all state schools and colleges in England to train a senior mental health lead who can put in place an effective approach to mental health and wellbeing and support staff training. Schools across the UK are urged to take advantage of this resource if they have not done so already.
NAFD President John Adams said: “This is a very important step forward and I would like to thank everybody who has signed or shared the petition – or supported the campaign in the press or on social media. We still have a long way to go, but this is a very real commitment by the DfE to consider the overwhelming evidence that talking to children, in age appropriate ways, about death and dying before they experience a loss provide them with vital tools and resources to cope with bereavement and can engender compassion, understanding and empathy in the classroom, ensuring pupils who do suffer the loss of someone they love to feel supported and know how to ask for help.
“For me this is very simple: the RHSE curriculum ensures children are taught about how life begins, why don’t we equip them with the necessary skills and understanding to comprehend what happens and how we might feel if it ends?”
Media coverage of the campaign continues, with John scheduled to appear on ITV News in the coming weeks, undertaking a number of press interviews and speaking regularly at events around the UK.
Read the response in full here: Add content on death, dying and bereavement to the national curriculum – Petitions (parliament.uk)