A Special Kind of Grief: The Complete Guide for Supporting Bereavement and Loss in Special Schools (and Other SEND Settings)

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.

Table of Contents:
Acknowledgements; Notes; PART ONE Introduction; 1. Who is this book for?; 2. Why is there a need for this book?; 3. The importance of acknowledging grief; 4. The school; 5. An overview of school policies and procedures; PART TWO A death occurs; 6. How to inform staff; 7. How to tell pupils; 8. How to let parents, families and the wider community know; PART THREE Pupils; 9. How grief affects children at different ages and developmental stages; 10. Common signs of grieving in children; 11. Common behaviours of grieving children; 12. Ways to support grieving children; 13. Advice for supporting children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD); 14. Talking about funerals, cremations and burials; 15. All forms of grief and loss; 16. Traumatic losses; 17. When to refer children to other professionals; PART FOUR Staff; 18. How to support staff; 19. Staff emotions and the school day; 20. Staff dos and don'ts; PART FIVE Mind, Body & Spirit; 21. How emotions affect the body and the breath; 22. Holistic support; 23. Special assemblies and memorials; 24. Remembering; PART FIVE The environment; 25. How to manage the school environment following a death of a member of the school community; 26. How to manage the classroom environment following the death of a pupil; PART SIX Families; 27. How to support families; PART SEVEN Special days; 28. Anniversaries; 29. Holding an annual event - Friendship Day; PART EIGHT School management; 30. School bereavement and loss policy; 31. School bereavement and loss procedures; 32. The curriculum; 33. Staff training; Appendices; Statistics; References; Index

About the Author :
Sarah Helton is a SEND trainer and consultant with 20+ years of SEND experience in the UK and US.

Review :
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. 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! 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.