Central Co-op maps sector role in school bereavement lessons

Central Co-op has called for coordinated funeral sector support to underpin the introduction of bereavement education in schools, publishing a whitepaper that outlines priorities for teachers, policymakers and funeral professionals ahead of the 2026 curriculum change.

The report – The Silence is Over: Why Grief Belongs in the Classroom – has been released with funeral director and campaigner John Adams, one year after MPs first debated grief education and months after the Department for Education (DfE) confirmed on 15 July 2025 that lessons will begin in September 2026.

Central Co-op said the next phase must focus on teacher training, cultural and faith sensitivity, and wider collaboration across the funeral profession and education sector to ensure consistent delivery.

Glenn Barsby, head of funeral at Central Co-op, said: “We welcome this decision as a vital step towards building a more compassionate society. Every day, our colleagues support families through bereavement, and we see first-hand the difference that open and honest conversations can make.”

Central Co-op has produced several resources for professionals and families, including Language in Funerals and A Guide to Talking to Children About Death and Grief, both published in 2024. It also runs monthly grief groups, seasonal remembrance events and partnerships with organisations such as Child Bereavement UK, the Lily May Foundation and Samaritans.

Andy Peake, chief operating officer – funeral, property and people at Central Co-op, said: “It was a privilege to be in parliament alongside John and colleagues from across the funeral profession, witnessing such a compassionate and thoughtful debate.

“This isn’t a political issue – it’s a human one. Every child deserves to have the language, understanding and reassurance to cope with bereavement.”

The whitepaper also sets out how sector partnerships, cross-party engagement and shared experience from funeral professionals contributed to the policy shift. It presents a blueprint for embedding bereavement education in schools while supporting teachers, parents and communities.

John Adams, funeral director and former president of the National Association of Funeral Directors, added: “This is the moment where compassion becomes policy. When I lost my mum at 12, I had no support in school – nobody knew what to say.”

The whitepaper includes practical guidance, evidence and contributions from Central Co-op colleagues on how open discussion of death can help build resilience across schools and communities.