Supporting SEND Children Through Bereavement

At The Mendip School we believe that bereavement and loss are an inevitable part of living and growing. We provide opportunities within our school for children to develop their own appropriate range of emotional, spiritual and intellectual responses to manage these experiences alongside their needs. We believe that the ethos of the school based on openness and mutual support, alongside our strategies and approaches, provides a framework in which these experiences can be supported. Bereavement affects everyone in different ways and for different periods. Whatever the level of understanding, the need of the child and their communication needs, we have a duty to help support anyone when they could be feeling at their most vulnerable, in the way that best meets their needs. By adopting a planned and considered approach the school can support the emotional well-being of the child, family and staff.

Our approach is rooted in an in‑depth understanding of complex SEND profiles and is delivered in line with the SEND Code of Practice (2015), Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) and the expectations of the Ofsted Education Inspection Framework. We provide highly personalised, trauma‑informed support to ensure every pupil feels safe, understood, and supported following a bereavement.

Understanding Bereavement

Many of our pupils experience significant difficulties with communication, emotional regulation, cognition, sensory processing, and social understanding. These needs can affect how bereavement is understood, expressed, and revisited over time.

Pupils may:

Struggle to understand the permanence of death
Communicate distress through behaviour or changes in presentation rather than words
Experience delayed or recurring grief responses
Be particularly affected by changes in routine, familiar staff, or emotional environments

In line with the SEND Code of Practice, we take a holistic and flexible approach, recognising that grief may re‑emerge at different stages of development and requires ongoing, responsive support.

Our Approach to Support

Support for bereaved pupils is embedded within our specialist provision and delivered through a person‑centred approach. Provision may include:

Highly individualised support strategies based on the pupil’s SEND profile, communication needs, and emotional presentation
Use of total communication approaches, including visual supports, symbols, objects of reference, social stories, and sensory‑based strategies
Access to familiar, low‑arousal environments and safe spaces to support emotional regulation
Regular, predictable contact with trusted adults who know the pupil well
Careful adjustment of routines and expectations to reduce anxiety and distress
Targeted support around significant dates, anniversaries, or transitions, planned proactively
For children to have the opportunity to tell their story, express their feelings, share their memories and develop coping strategies through support by sensitive staff.

Where appropriate, bereavement support is integrated into a pupil’s EHCP outcomes, or care plan. Our approach is detailed in our Bereavement Policy

Trauma‑Informed and Safeguarding Practice

In accordance with Keeping Children Safe in Education, all staff remain alert to changes in behaviour, communication, attendance, or emotional regulation that may indicate a pupil is struggling following a bereavement.

We recognise that distress may present in complex or non‑verbal ways. Concerns are shared promptly with the safeguarding team, SENCo, and senior leaders to ensure a coordinated and proportionate response.

Support is delivered within a trauma‑informed framework, prioritising emotional safety, consistency, and trust.

Working in Partnership With Families

Strong partnerships with parents and carers are central to effective practice in a special school. We work closely with families to share information, agree consistent approaches, and respect cultural, religious, and family perspectives on death and loss.

Families are encouraged to inform the school of any bereavement affecting their child so that personalised support and reasonable adjustments can be implemented as early as possible.

Multi‑Agency and Specialist Support

Where appropriate, and with parental consent, we work collaboratively with external professionals to ensure pupils receive coordinated, specialist support. This may include:

ELSA/Thrive support in school
Educational psychologists
Local authority SEND services
Specialist bereavement services and charities
Speech and language therapists
Occupational therapists
Mental health professionals or CAMHS

This multi‑agency approach reflects statutory expectations for early help and ensures provision is matched to the complexity of need.

Monitoring, Review, and Impact

The impact of bereavement support is monitored closely through observation, staff discussion, family feedback, and professional review. Support is adapted over time to reflect the pupil’s developmental stage, emotional needs, and changing circumstances.

This aligns with Ofsted’s focus on how effectively schools support pupils’ personal development, wellbeing, and readiness for learning.