Grief never has and never will care about age. It doesn’t matter if you’re six or sixty, losing someone you love can be one of the hardest experiences you will face. For many of us, our first experience of grief came when we were still children, perhaps the loss of a grandparent, a pet, or even someone closer but few of us felt equipped to process those emotions. Instead, grief was often something we were left to figure out on our own.
That’s why the introduction of grief education into the school curriculum in England feels like such an important and long-overdue step. It acknowledges that loss is a universal part of life and ensures children will have the tools and support they need to cope with it in a healthy way. As a memorial jewellery company that often supports families in their own journeys with grief, we’re truly encouraged to see this change happening.
Why Grief Education Matters
After years of campaigning from bereavement organisations such as the Childhood Bereavement Network and Child Bereavement UK, the Department for Education has now included grief and loss within its statutory Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSE) guidance.
This means teachers will be supported in opening up conversations about grief in the classroom. That’s vital when you consider that 1 in 29 children will experience the death of a parent or sibling – that’s roughly one child in every classroom. For these children, grief education can provide a safe space to share feelings, ask questions and learn that they are not alone.
But it isn’t just for those who are already grieving. Teaching children about grief helps all young people build resilience, empathy and understanding for those around them dealing with loss. It normalises conversations around death and breaks down the old taboos that often leave grief unspoken about.
What Children Will Learn
With the new RSHE guidance, schools will begin introducing bereavement in a way that feels age appropriate and reassuring. The idea isn’t to overwhelm children, but to give them the words and guidance they need when faced with loss.
They’ll start to learn that grief is a normal part of life and that the feelings that come with it, like sadness, anger, confusion or even relief, are all completely valid. They’ll also be shown that everyone grieves in their own way, and there isn’t a right or wrong way to feel.
Just as importantly, children will know that it’s okay to ask for help, and that there are trusted people in school and at home who they can turn to. And by having these conversations early, pupils can also learn to be more understanding and empathetic when a friend is going through something similar.
A Positive Step Forward
The addition of grief education to the school curriculum really does feel like a milestone. Of course, no lesson can take away the pain of losing someone you love, but what it can do is make sure children don’t feel so isolated in their grief. It gives them permission to talk, to share, and to know they’re not alone.
At the same time, this change is just the beginning. With around 46,000 children and young people bereaved of a parent or sibling every year, there is still a huge need for resources, compassion and support across schools and communities.
As a small business dedicated to helping families keep their loved ones close through memorial jewellery, from ashes jewellery to handwriting, fingerprint, and photo keepsakes, we know how important remembrance and emotional support can be. That’s why we are genuinely heartened to see schools taking these first steps in giving children the guidance they deserve.
