Govt considers adding bereavement education to national curriculum

The NAFD’s campaign to add proactive teaching about loss and bereavement in schools has taken “another huge step forward” this month, with the government set to consider adding bereavement to the national curriculum.

The government responded to the NAFD’s 11,000-signature strong petition confirming that the Department for Education (DfE) will “assess whether content on bereavement is needed” when it reviews statutory Religious, Social and Health Education (RHSE) guidance.

In its response, the department also acknowledged 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 added: “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 DfE is now undertaking its first review of the RSHE statutory guidance this year. As part of the review, 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 consultation proposals as well as maintaining pressure through the media and petition.

Media coverage of the campaign will continue, with NAFD president John Adams scheduled to appear on ITV News in the coming weeks, undertaking a number of press interviews and speaking regularly at events around the UK.

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.”

He added: “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?”