A primary school in Nottingham is taking a bold and compassionate step to prepare its pupils for one of life’s most difficult experiences—loss.
Bluecoat Primary Academy, part of the Archway Learning Trust, has launched a new pilot program designed to help students understand and cope with bereavement and grief. With support from regional funeral provider A.W. Lymn, the school has introduced classroom lessons aimed at building emotional resilience and fostering open conversations around death.
The initiative, titled “Healing Hearts: Navigating Bereavement, Grief and Loss”, is currently being rolled out to students in Key Stage 2 and 3. The goal is to empower young people with tools to manage grief in healthy, constructive ways—both now and in the future.
“We want this to serve as an example for other schools to follow,” said Benjamin Jackson, head of Bluecoat Primary Academy. “Death is something every child will encounter in some form during their lives. It’s important we prepare them to face it with understanding and strength.”
Rebecca Laird, a Year 5 teacher involved in the program, explained that grief is often a challenging subject for families to discuss. Many adults, she said, are unsure how to address it with children—especially if they themselves have unresolved feelings about past losses.
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“Grief can feel like a taboo topic,” she noted. “As educators, we can’t shy away from tough conversations. Children deserve guidance through these emotional moments, not silence.”
The lessons focus on emotional literacy, providing age-appropriate guidance on how to recognize, express, and process feelings related to loss. Importantly, the program is not intended to frighten children or delve into graphic discussions of death. Instead, it centers on emotional wellbeing and fostering open dialogue.
To ensure a supportive environment, each session includes a trained mental health mentor who is available for any pupils needing extra care during or after the lessons.
“We’re teaching them that grief is a natural part of life,” Laird added. “We want them to leave school not only academically ready, but emotionally equipped as well.”
Ahead of the program’s rollout, the school consulted with families and received strong approval from parents and guardians. Jackson said the positive feedback reflected a growing awareness among families about the importance of mental health education.
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Sian Hampton, CEO of the Archway Learning Trust, said the pilot is part of a broader push to raise emotionally intelligent and resilient students.
“We’re proud to be at the forefront of a shift in education—one that sees emotional development as just as important as academic achievement,” she said.
The effort is also being praised by those outside the classroom. Matthew Lymn Rose, managing director of A.W. Lymn, said it has been “an honour” to collaborate on what he described as a forward-thinking initiative.
“Helping children understand death and loss is a vital life skill,” he said. “Working with passionate educators to bring this into schools has been a privilege.”
As the pilot progresses, the Trust hopes to extend the lessons across all of its schools—and inspire others to introduce similar programs nationwide.
