Lessons in Loss - Primary Curriculum
Supporting the Statutory RSE Curriculum for Death, Dying, Bereavement and Loss
Teaching about death and bereavement is now a statutory part of RSE — yet many schools feel unsure where to begin. Our Primary Curriculum provides a complete, ready‑to‑use framework that helps you meet requirements while supporting children with compassion and clarity.
Every school will need to support children experiencing grief, loss or significant change. Creating a supportive environment means ensuring that children feel safe, listened to and confident that there are trusted adults around them who will understand and help.
Our Early Years curriculum introduces children to grief, loss and change gently through experiences they can understand and relate to. Across the year, children explore themes including losing something special, missing someone, new beginnings, changes in families, friendships, feelings, memories and other experiences of loss and change.
In the Autumn term, for example, children begin with familiar experiences such as losing a treasured object, missing someone special and coping with new situations. Through carefully written stories, discussion, play, creative activities and practical learning, children are encouraged to recognise feelings, develop empathy and begin to discover simple ways to find comfort and ask for help. Every lesson is designed specifically for young children, with age-appropriate language, engaging resources and opportunities to learn through talk, play and exploration.
Our Key Stage 1 curriculum builds on the foundations developed in Early Years, helping children explore grief, loss and change with greater understanding and confidence.
Across the year, children explore themes including friendships, family changes, separation, illness, bereavement, memories, emotions and ways of coping when life feels difficult or different.
In the Autumn term, children begin with relatable experiences such as tricky friendship moments, changes within families and the things or people that are important to them. Carefully written stories provide a safe starting point for discussion, helping children explore different perspectives and recognise how loss and change can affect themselves and others.
Through discussion, creative activities, reflection and practical learning, children continue to develop emotional language, empathy and an understanding of where they can find support when they need it.
Our Key Stage 2 curriculum builds on earlier learning to develop a deeper understanding of grief, bereavement, loss and change as children grow in maturity and independence. Across Lower and Upper Key Stage 2, children explore increasingly complex experiences, including bereavement, changing relationships, illness, difficult emotions, memories, worries, transitions and the ways grief can affect behaviour, concentration and everyday life.
Children begin to explore what grief means, how it can look and feel different for everyone, and how people can care for themselves and support others through difficult experiences. As they progress through Key Stage 2, learning develops to include more complex themes such as feeling different, changing responsibilities at home, managing powerful emotions and understanding that grief can change over time.
When schools create a culture where feelings can be talked about openly, questions are welcomed and children know where to turn for support, they are better placed to respond when difficult experiences arise.
Relationships are central to this. Children need adults who notice when something has changed, take time to listen and understand that grief can look different for every child. Changes in behaviour, concentration, confidence or friendships can all be ways that children communicate what they are experiencing.
Supporting staff is equally important. A shared understanding of grief, consistent age-appropriate language and clear approaches across the whole school help ensure that children receive the same compassionate response from the adults around them.
A planned approach to grief education can strengthen this further. By making conversations about grief, loss and change part of everyday learning, children develop emotional language, empathy and an understanding that asking for help is okay.
Strong partnerships with parents and carers also help create consistency between home and school, allowing information to be shared and children to receive the reassurance and support they need. Creating a supportive school is not about doing one big thing. It is about building a culture where children know they matter, feel heard and trust that the adults around them will be there when they need them.