Last updated: April 2026

Review date: April 2027

(This policy links to Critical Incident and Emergency Planning, Understanding and Supporting Children’s Behaviour Attendance, Code of Conduct and our Paint Pots Staff Handbook)

This bereavement policy supports us to provide effective support to staff, children and parents/carers before and after bereavement. It covers both expected and unexpected deaths. Empathic understanding in the familiar and secure surroundings of nursery/preschool may be all the bereavement support some children and staff require. However, we also need to be prepared to call on more specialist support where there is a sudden and unexpected death, or where the impact of a bereavement is complex.

The objectives of this policy are to:

• Enhance effective communication at a difficult time
• Clarify the pathway of support between Paint Pots, family, community and services
• Make best use of the support available in nursery, local authority, support workers, families, counsellors, and the wider community.

Rationale

Many young children or young adults, will be bereaved of a grandparent, relative, friend or other significant person. Within the Paint Pots group there will almost always be some staff and/or children who are struggling with bereavement – or sometimes the entire group might be impacted by the death of a member of staff or child.

The type of bereavement, will determine at what level intervention is needed. For example, the death of a parent due to an unexpected illness may require acknowledgement by staff towards the affected child and other family members. However, the death of a child in the setting, will demand that something is done for the whole setting. Accidents or disasters involving several children or staff members will always require more extensive follow up from and within the whole Paint Pots group.

Death of a child or sibling, parent or carer

Child who attends the nursery:

The manager and/or child’s key person must be the person to communicate with the family and any conversations must be confidential and in a place away from the child and others.

We will provide support by:

• Keeping routines and structure normal whenever possible. Providing activities and opportunities that enable the child to be themselves.
• Helping the child to verbalise feelings and fears and identify their feelings and reactions.
• Being honest and telling a child if you do not have an answer. Children need facts that are age appropriate.
• If appropriate and the child has asked a relevant question, explain in specific, concrete language - not euphemisms; explain what has happened giving specific explanations about physical reality of death if age appropriate. Ensure parents are made aware of the conversations and what has been said.
• Letting the child choose the timing to talk and being available and not distracted when they need you.