An exploration of the factors that facilitate and hinder schools’ engagement in providing bereavement support: A systematic literature review

Schools are well placed to provide bereavement support for pupils, yet teachers do not always feel equipped or confident to provide support and children and young people do not always feel well supported. This article investigates the factors that facilitate or hinder schools' engagement in supporting bereaved children through a systematic literature analysis from the years of 2018-2025, providing an overview of the most current literature. Papers were analyzed thematically within the categories of: support available, factors that facilitate support and factors that block support. All barriers had a parallel facilitating factor; the evidence base therefore was identified to show how the factors that block schools engaging in bereavement support can also be mediated. The review reflects on how the educational psychology profession may have a role in supporting schools to provide support through supervision, emotional containment and training.