Schools are not only places where knowledge is transmitted. They are communities of life, where children, young people, and educators experience both moments of joy and significant life challenges, including illness, loss, death, and grief.
The Compassionate Schools Network is an international network that promotes the development of school communities where care, compassion, and human connection are central values of the educational culture. Its aim is to support schools in developing approaches that recognise experiences of loss and grief as part of human life and in creating safe environments where everyone feels heard, understood, and supported.
As part of this initiative, the guide “Compassionate Schools: A How-to Guide” was developed as a practical resource for educators and school communities wishing to cultivate a culture of compassion, care, and support around loss, grief, and significant life transitions.
The guide is freely available here:
https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/91771/
I have the privilege of being part of the Compassionate Schools Network, contributing to the international dialogue on the Pedagogy of Loss and Grief and on the role education can play in creating more caring, compassionate, and human-centred communities.
