A significant update to government guidance on relationships, sex, and health education (RSHE) is set to reshape how future generations understand and cope with loss. From September 2026, a crucial new directive advises that all children should receive education on dealing with death before completing primary school, a move experts anticipate will have a profoundly positive impact on their developmental years.
This pioneering guidance is designed to offer reassurance to young minds, emphasizing that “grief is a natural response to bereavement” and acknowledging that “everyone grieves differently.” This fundamental understanding aims to normalize the complex emotional journey of loss, providing a compassionate framework for children to process their feelings in a healthy manner.
Simon Wright, chief executive of a Norfolk-based charity, has voiced strong support for these changes, highlighting the critical need for early intervention. He warns that unsupported grief education for children can lead to quite devastating, long-term consequences that profoundly affect their child mental health and overall well-being throughout their lives. This underscores the urgency of integrating bereavement support into the early educational framework.
Further emphasizing the widespread impact, Mr. Wright cited compelling research indicating that one in 29 school-age children experiences the death of a sibling or parent. This statistic alone illustrates the sheer scale of the challenge and the necessity for a structured approach within the school curriculum to address this pervasive issue proactively and empathetically.
Developing a comprehensive understanding of grief for all young people is deemed incredibly important. This educational shift is not solely for those who have directly experienced a death, but also for all children to cultivate empathy and understand their relationships with others who may be grieving, fostering a more compassionate and supportive community.
The integration of emotional well-being lessons into the RSHE framework means children will learn about the varied expressions of grief, how to support friends, and how to identify when they or others might need help. This proactive approach aims to build resilience and equip them with essential life skills for navigating future emotional challenges.
Jay Harrison, who contributes to the bereavement service at Norfolk and Waveney Mind, a mental health charity, also lauded the forthcoming change as overwhelmingly positive. Harrison drew a parallel to adult understanding, noting, “We as adults understand that grief is linear, it’s a journey and we give ourselves time – and sometimes not enough time – to have those periods of emotions.” This adult perspective highlights the need to provide similar foundational understanding to children.
This updated health education guidance signifies a pivotal step towards destigmatizing grief and embedding essential life skills early on. By fostering a deeper understanding of emotional responses to loss, the initiative promises to empower children, cultivate empathy, and ultimately contribute to a more resilient and emotionally intelligent society.
