Ian Gilbert was the keynote speaker at the conference, 'Discussing Death and Loss in the Classroom', on the Sussex campus

Last week, the School of Education and Social Work was delighted to welcome over 100 delegates to the 'Tackling the Taboos: Discussing Death and Loss in the Classroom' conference on the Sussex campus.

Organised by Assistant Professor Emerita, Alka Townend, in conjunction with Demelza and NHS Sussex, attendees and contributors represented a range of sectors, including teachers from partnership schools and grief charities such as Winston's Wish and Child Bereavement UK.

Alka opened the conference by setting the scene on childhood bereavement within the context of new RSHE policy guidance which requires schools to include death and loss in their curricula.

Keynote speaker, Ian Gilbert - author of several books, including Essential Motivation in the Classroom and Why Do I Need a Teacher When I’ve Got Google?, as well as the award-winning Thunks books – went on to share poignant parental insights illustrating how schools can provide invaluable assistance to bereaved children.

Our heartfelt thanks to all speakers and contributors for their willingness to share personal stories and provide practical workshops to equip educators with the tools and confidence to support bereaved children in the classroom.

Pupil wellbeing is an integral element of Initial Teacher Education at Sussex, including bereavement training. Mental health awareness, safeguarding, and inclusive practice modules are also incorporated into trainee teachers’ studies to ensure that Sussex trained teachers are thoroughly equipped to nurture the holistic development and resilience of every child in their care.

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