Traumatic bereavement: supporting children and young people at school or college

About this training

This evidence-based training has been developed by experts from the UK Trauma Council, and is delivered by the Clinical Co-Lead of the Traumatic Bereavement resource portfolio.

The way that a child or young person experiences or understands the death - the meaning they make of it - can result in it being experienced as traumatic. The trauma gets in the way of the typical process of grief and blocks the child or young person's ability to process the loss. This can result in difficulties that can be severe and long lasting. 

Traumatic bereavement may be easily missed or misunderstood, meaning that children’s difficulties are not recognised. It is vital that these children are identified and given appropriate help and support. 

Delivered online, this training will introduce traumatic bereavement, explain how it differs from more typical grief, and explore practical approaches to support children and young people in education settings who may have experienced a traumatic bereavement.

The number of delegates is intentionally limited to ensure that there is time and space for discussions and scope to tailor the content to the specific needs of the group. 

Please do not hesitate to contact the UK Trauma Council if you have any questions about this training.

Aims of the training

• To understand what traumatic bereavement is and how to recognise young children at risk in the early years;

• To develop confidence in having difficult conversations with parents or caregivers of traumatically bereaved children in the early years;

• To enhance skills in supporting traumatically bereaved young children;

• To know how to support your early years setting's response to a traumatic bereavement.

Who is this training for?

This training is for SENCOs, mental health or pastoral leads and for those who have a role in school or colleges directly supporting children and young people’s mental health. This training is also suitable for early years and foundation stage practitioners, frontline education staff working with children 2-6 years.