When treatment fails

Sometimes, even though a pupil is not going to get better, they or their parents might want them to continue going to school. Doing ‘normal’ things at this time can help the pupil and their siblings and parents cope with the situation.
 
When a pupil dies it can have a profound affect on the other children in the school. For many, this will be the first time someone they know has died and understandably they are likely to feel upset, confused, angry and scared about their own mortality.

Teachers will also be affected. Their own experiences and how close they were to the pupil will affect their response.

These are the things your school needs to do:

• Accommodate the needs and wishes of the pupil and their family through careful planning and communication
• Enable the pupil to attend school on a part-time or social basis, if this is desired by the pupil and their family
• Ensure, with the pupil’s or parents’ permission, that contact is maintained through brief visits where possible, cards and letters, texts, emails or social networking sites 
• Identify a member of staff to keep in touch with the family and to be responsible for coordinating information and support
• Understand and support school children and teachers who are grieving. Support strategies include: continuing with routine as much as possible, organising ways staff and pupils can take part in practical expressions of grief (eg attending the funeral, having a special assembly in the school)
• Answer questions from pupils
• Make contact with professionals who will be able to support the school and offer advice and counselling
• Consider setting up support for staff as well as pupils. This can be done by telephone or email as well as in person.

Updated April 2012, next planned review April 2014