Each pupil will grieve in their own way, but some important factors will affect the grieving process.

• Relationship with the person who died
• Circumstances of the death
• The individual; personality and background
• The environment

It is important to:

• acknowledge the death
• plan with the family/carers how the pupils will be supported
• be guided by the pupil’s reaction
• avoid preconceptions about a ‘hierarchy’ of grief, for example thinking that the death of a parent may seem more significant than the death of a grandparent.