Bereavement and loss guidance

This guidance is for education staff to support pupils and families in the sad event of a bereavement or loss. It should be read alongside the Education & Children’s Service guidance on Traumatic Incidents. It provides information on:

• Common reactions to loss and change
• Developmental understandings of death and loss
• Communicating with children and families
• Useful websites and resources
• Signposting to further reading

Bereavement and Loss Guidance – Word document available to download

Information for parents, carers and young people
Most people experience grief when they lose something or someone important to them. Fife council Educational Psychology Service has information bellow on bereavement and loss for parents, carers and young people, including bereavement during Covid19.

This leaflet contains information for Parents and Carers on Bereavement and loss. Offering guidance and support for you and your child.

Bereavement and Loss – Information for Parents and Carers

This leaflet contains information for Children and Young People on Bereavement and loss. Offering advice and links on who you can talk to.

Bereavement and Loss – Information for Young people

Sadly, some children and families will experience bereavement during the Covid19 pandemic, either directly related to Covid19 or due to an unrelated cause.

We are being asked to support reducing the spread of coronavirus through social distancing and this has an impact on how children may access their support networks and on some of the usual processes for saying goodbye. The pandemic may also make children and young people feel more anxious about their own wellbeing and the wellbeing of those close to them. Below are some resources that may help:

This leaflet contains information for Parents and Carers on Bereavement and loss. Offering guidance and support when someone you know dies during the Coronavirus Pandemic.

Bereavement and Loss During Covid 19 – Information for Parents and Carers

This leaflet contains information for Children and Young People on Bereavement and loss. Offering guidance and support when someone you know dies during the Coronavirus Pandemic.

Bereavement and Loss During Covid 19 – Information for Young People

School Uniform

We place great importance on the wearing of school uniform to encourage high standards of the work and behaviour.

The uniform is grey, navy or black and we sell school sweatshirts, polo shirts, fleeces and coats.

Please order from the following website: www.alansantryschoolwear.co.uk

• Fleece jackets £10.75
• Sweatshirts from £9.95
• Polo shirts £5.95
• Gym bags £5.95
• Reversible winter coats £17.95
• School Ties £6 (purchase from school office)

We ask all parents to adhere to our uniform policy.

Remote Learning Additional Websites

The information on this page is designed to supplement the formal learning set by each teacher. The links below are suggested activities and do not need to be completed or returned but would enhance the home learning experience.

As always should you need any support or advice then please contact your child’s teacher via the Seesaw app.

Suggested Websites:

Access to free resource packs – Literacy 

Access to free online escape room games – STEM 

Reading activities for all ages – Literacy 

Scott Morrow maths tutorial videos for all ages– Numeracy and Maths

Reading comprehension for all ages – Literacy 

Online maths game for all ages – Numeracy and Maths 

Reading games and stories for First Level – Literacy

P.E. Lessons for all (Mum and Dad too!) – HWB 

Free illustration lessons with Rob Biddulph (author) – Expressive Arts

Free Julia Donaldson resource packs for early and first level – Literacy 

Scots music lessons using body percussion – Expressive Arts

Early level literacy and numeracy challenges – L&E / N&M

First level literacy and numeracy challenges – L&E / N&M 

Second level literacy and numeracy challenges – L&E / N&M

Free online math manipulatives (cubes, rods, number line etc) – N&M

Standard timetable template to structure school day at home – HWB

Free daily resource sheets for Early level – L&E / N&M

Online French lessons for First and Second Levels – Languages

INFORMATION FOR PARENTS/CARERS

What kind of school closures are there?

• Emergency – where the building cannot open as there is no hot water, the heating is not working or power failure.
• Planned – Where the school building is closed for elections, industrial action or when utility companies are doing planned maintenance work to gas, water or electric services in the area and all services are to be shut off. Schools are notified in advance of these closures and Headteachers will notify Parents/Carers of these closures.
• Severe Weather – Headteachers will make the decision locally to close where severe weather prevents the school from opening.

How will I find out if my child’s school is closed?

• The most efficient way is via the school through their Groupcall text message and email service.  Please make sure that your school has up to date contact details from you.
• Headteachers will make the decision as early as possible on the night before or day of the closure and will contact you once this is confirmed. Messages from Groupcall, will be automatically sent to your mobile phone and/or email account.
• Schools may also use other methods of contacting Parents/Carers, such as school bag mail.
• Please note that text alerts and email issued via mobile network providers, may be delayed where there is high volume on mobile networks or the internet. Therefore, you should also make use of the other communication channels referred to on this page.

When will I receive further email or text alerts?

• You will only receive text alerts when the status of a school changes. The first text/email will be sent when the school closes and a further text/email will be sent only once the school reopens. If a school remains closed over more than one day, there will be no further automatic alerts until the school reopens.

My child has recently moved school?

• If your child has moved to a new school or from a primary school to a high school, you should ensure that the new school has your consent to use your email and mobile number details to send you messages relating to school closures.

SEVERE WEATHER

What can Parents/Carers expect in cases of severe weather?

• The Education Service aims to maintain service delivery during severe weather and to minimise disruption to pupils and Parents/Carers.
• Where necessary, Headteachers will close their school as early as possible on the first morning of severe weather, to allow text/email alerts to be issued as quickly as possible.
• On very rare occasions, there may be the need to implement a blanket closure that may affect parts or all of Fife.  Updates will be provided through the communication channels below.
• Janitorial staff will prioritise the clearing of one pathway per school as an access route for all building users. This may not be your usual route into the school and it may not be the quickest route through the building.
• Where there is heavy snowfall in Fife, resources will be deployed to the worst hit areas and therefore the clearing of playgrounds and car parks will not be a priority until all schools are open.
• It may not be possible to have all School Crossing Patrol Officers on duty during the worst of the weather. You should make arrangements to ensure the safety of your child to and from school.

What are the main channels of communication during severe weather?

• By Seesaw, text or email – make sure that you provide your mobile number and email address details to the school office so that we can contact you by Groupcall
• Online– All the news and information you’ll need is online. Visit www.fife.gov.uk and click on ‘News Centre’ for up to date information.  Also, check the website of your own school.
• Follow–us on facebook.com/fifecouncil and twitter.com/fifecouncil.
• Listen to Kingdom FM, Forth One and Tay FM.

How can my child continue with their studies when the school is closed?

• Teachers will communicate learning arrangements via Seesaw to both pupils and parents.
• We have robust systems in place to ensure minimum disruption to learning should weather cause a school closure.

Please stay safe and warm: make sure that you allow extra time for any journeys made during severe weather and that you and pupils are dressed appropriately for the conditions and are wearing suitable footwear with grips.

School Holidays, Term, and Closure Dates can be found here.

Parent Council meets regularly and updates of next meeting will be shared via GroupCall.  All parents/carers are welcome to join.

Most recent Parent Council Minutes can be found on the school app.