| Abstract: | John Holland's research with adults bereaved as children found that their experiences on returning to school after a death were not always positive. Further research in Humberside primary and secondary schools, discussed previously in BJSE , found that teachers rated the area of child bereavement highly, but also that there was a 'training gap'. Teachers generally considered that more training in the area of bereavement was needed. An initial response in Hull included 'help' leaflets sent to schools and ad hoc training courses. This led to the development of a structured and self-contained 'loss awareness' training project for schools —'Lost for Words'. In this paper, John Holland reveals that evaluations showed an increased level of trained staff in schools; more use of policies and procedures; and a higher level of individuals in schools having responsibility for the area. Although the views expressed here are his own and not necessarily those of his employer, he concludes that there is now a greater level of awareness of issues relating to loss and bereavement in children and suggests that the 'Lost for Words' project is having a positive impact on practice in schools. |
