SCHOOLS across South East Cornwall are helping to transform how children and families talk about grief, as a pioneering programme encourages open conversations about death, dying and bereavement in classrooms and communities.

The initiative, delivered by St Luke’s Hospice Plymouth, is reshaping pastoral care through its Compassionate Schools Programme, which supports education settings to approach loss with openness, confidence and care rather than silence.

The aim is to equip pupils, staff and parents with the language and understanding needed to support one another through some of life’s most difficult moments.

At the heart of the programme is a simple, yet significant cultural shift, making it acceptable to talk about grief in schools. Staff are being trained to support children more effectively, while pupils are given age-appropriate space to explore feelings around loss and change. Families, too, are being drawn into more open and supportive dialogue.

In Saltash, several schools are already demonstrating the impact of the approach.

Bishop Cornish CofE VA Primary School became a regional pioneer in January when it was recognised as the first primary school in Cornwall to achieve Compassionate School status. The award reflects the school’s commitment to embedding compassionate practice across its community, ensuring children are supported not only academically but emotionally during times of loss.

Deputy headteacher Vicky Oakes said: “It is all about enabling children to thrive and that’s what this programme is doing at times that as adults we find difficult to deal with.

“It has really enhanced our provision for looking after children and families and the relationship we have with our community. We cannot take the hurt and sadness away because that is part of healing, but we can help to make the journey easier.”

The benefits are being felt directly by families as well. One parent of a Year 4 child described the bereavement support provided by the school as “incredibly nurturing” and said it had been invaluable during a very difficult period.

The programme has also been successfully adapted for specialist settings. Fountain Head House School became the first special educational needs school to achieve Compassionate School recognition, tailoring the approach to meet the needs of pupils with additional learning requirements.

Deputy headteacher Kate Buck added: “Staff and pupils alike now feel able to discuss the topic without hesitation, helping to remove any stigma that previously surrounded these conversations.”

The approach builds on earlier adoption by Saltash Community School, which was the first school in Cornwall to gain Compassionate School status in 2023, helping pave the way for wider regional engagement.

Since its launch in 2017, more than 30 schools and education settings across Plymouth and surrounding areas have taken part in the programme, with interest continuing to grow. Two further East Cornwall primary schools are set to join the next training cohort in April 2026.

St Luke’s community development worker Judy Horne said: “What we are seeing is schools creating safe spaces for conversations that really matter. It is helping children, families and staff feel less alone when facing loss.”