EA highlights support for bereaved pupils
Children's Grief Awareness Week begins on 16 November
Every child grieves differently, and the Education Authority (EA) has long supported schools to help bereaved children and young people feel understood.
As Children's Grief Awareness Week begins on 16 November, the EA is highlighting the training, guidance and resources available to schools across Northern Ireland.
Children's Grief Awareness Week runs from 16th to 22nd November. It aims to raise awareness of how grief affects children and young people. This year's theme, "Keeping Connected", encourages meaningful connections and support for anyone experiencing loss.
Support available through the EA includes : Training and advice for all schools: The EA supports all schools with professional learning, guidance, resources and advice, helping staff respond confidently and compassionately to pupils experiencing grief and loss; The Being Well Doing Well programme: Through this programme, the EA guides schools to develop policies and practice that improve support for pupils and staff who have experienced bereavement and loss; Palliative Care and Bereavement in Schools Roadmap: Most recently, the EA helped to develop the roadmap through the Northern Trust Compassionate Schools Working Group. It brings together practical guidance, resources and signposting for schools.
Children and young people experience grief in different ways. Bereavement can affect their emotional wellbeing, relationships, learning, attendance and engagement at school. The right support at the right time can make a real difference.
Sheila Gamble, Head of Service at the EA, said: "Children's Grief Awareness Week is an important opportunity to recognise the effect bereavement can have on children and young people, and to reflect on how we can support them.
"Every child's experience of grief is unique. Some young people may want to talk about their loss, while others may show their feelings through changes in behaviour, attendance, or engagement. Our aim is to help schools create an environment where children feel listened to, understood and supported.
"We were pleased to contribute to the development of the Palliative Care and Bereavement in Schools Roadmap alongside colleagues from health and the voluntary and community sector. Partnership working is essential in ensuring schools can access appropriate guidance and support when responding to bereavement."
Meanwhile, Bromcom, a digital school management system (SMS), is being rolled out to special schools across Northern Ireland, with Castle Tower School in Ballymena already seeing the benefits. It brings pupil information together in one place, helping staff manage attendance, medical and pastoral information and day-to-day administration.
Castle Tower supports more than 400 pupils aged 3 to 19. The specialist school needs quick access to pupil information and effective communication to meet its learners’ diverse needs.
Since implementation, Bromcom has become an integral part of daily school life, supporting staff in managing key information and processes more efficiently.
The new Bromcom SMS is intuitive and easy to use, enabling staff to access the information they need to support children and young people effectively.”
The Bromcom implementation programme continues to make progress, with the majority of primary schools now live on the system. Rollout remains on schedule, with implementation across all education sectors planned for completion by March 2027.
For further insight into the school's Bromcom journey, watch the latest EdIS Spotlight, featuring Principal Alick Ford and SMS Lead Aodin D'Arcy, as they reflect on the transition process, the support received and the benefits already being realised across the school.