Bereavement Charter Mark for primary schools
We are currently piloting a Bereavement Charter Mark for Schools, and new schools are welcome to participate in the pilot. This is part of the work of the Scottish Bereavement Charter group.
Adopting the Bereavement Charter Mark for Schools can help your school to become a more supportive place for children and staff who are bereaved.
It is also a good way to create opportunities for your school community to learn more about bereavement and how to show understanding and provide support.
What do you need to do?
New schools are welcome to participate in the pilot of the new Bereavement Charter Mark for Primary Schools. Your school will be awareded the Bereavement Charter mark if it can meet at least four of the following criteria:
1. All staff and parents are informed that the school is applying for the Bereavement Charter Mark and provided with access to information about bereavement support, both for adults and for children.
2. All members of the management team have read the “Being a supportive manager’ section of the Scottish Bereavement Friendly Workplaces Toolkit.
3 Senior Management has developed/adopted a Bereavement Policy and/or bereavement guidance for the school, covering best practice for both staff and student bereavement.
4. All classes will read and undertake an activity (eg a book or lesson) that explores themes relating to death and bereavement.
5. Staff and students have worked together to develop and display a School Bereavement Charter.
6. Staff have received an education session on understanding childhood grief.
Further resources
We’ve brought together some resources to help schools to work towards the bereavement charter mark, which can be accessed here: Further resources for schools.
Apply for the charter mark
If you are interested in taking part in the pilot of the Bereavement Charter Mark for Primary Schools, please get in touch with Donna Hastings: dhastings@stcolumbashospice.org.uk.
To apply for the bereavement charter mark you will need to:
- Complete at least four of the criteria above
- Complete this application form and email it to dhastings@stcolumbashospice.org.uk
After you have received the bereavement charter mark, you will be invited to complete this survey telling us your thoughts and reflections on the charter mark and accompanying resources so that we can use your experiences to inform the future development of the charter mark for schools.
