Mosaic, the Dorset-based charity supporting bereaved children, has welcomed the government’s decision to include grief education in schools – a move the organisation has long championed. The change, they say, will give teachers and pupils a better understanding of the impact of bereavement on young people in Dorset.
The new curriculum content will complement Mosaic’s existing in-school support, which includes Bereavement Cafés for students who have lost someone close. These sessions provide a safe space to remember the person who has died, share feelings, and celebrate their life.
Isabelle, 17, who received Mosaic counselling following her father’s death, said:
“As a bereaved child, I got very little information or help with understanding and coping with my grief from school. Hearing the positive news that grief education has been added to the curriculum, I think young people will have a chance to learn about loss and properly understand it with the help from teachers and other students – hopefully it will help them feel less isolated.
“The help that I got from Mosaic helped me to develop coping strategies and feel less isolated, both when I was younger and in secondary school. It was very valuable, and I’d like to think that in future there will be more discussion about bereavement and grief, and more openness and acceptance.”
Research shows that one child in every classroom will be bereaved before the age of 18. The government has confirmed that grief and loss education will be added to statutory Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSE) guidance for secondary schools.
Mosaic says the change will help teachers initiate important conversations about grief, equipping young people with empathy, resilience and understanding, while fostering greater awareness of how bereavement can affect an individual.
In 2024, Mosaic supported more than 400 children, providing almost 2,000 hours of specialist bereavement counselling alongside activity days. While some statutory funding is available, the charity relies heavily on fundraising and grants from charitable trusts.
For further information, contact Mosaic on 01258 837071 or visit www.mosaicfamilysupport.org
Mosaic – Supporting Young Children
