Sarah Helton

Contact

Email: k2036175@kingston.ac.uk
Location: Kingston Hill
Faculty: Faculty of Health, Science, Social Care and Education
School: School of Education, Midwifery and Social Work
Department: Department of Education
Personal website

Research project: How do children with severe learning disabilities and profound and multiple learning disabilities communicate grief? How do they communicate their questions, concerns and thoughts about grief?

Abstract

Research aims:

To investigate how children with SLD and PLMD express grief
To explore what helps children with SLD and PLMD to communicate their grief

Research objectives:

1. To investigate how bereaved and grieving children with SLD or PMLD communicate their grief to adults who support them at home and school.

2. To investigate how children with SLD or PMLD communicate their questions, concerns, and thoughts about grief.

3. To explore approaches and resources for supporting bereaved and grieving children with SLD or PMLD that have been used by adults supporting them at home and school.

4. To explore the views of adults supporting these children (at home and school) on the merits of different approaches and resources.

Research degree: PhD
Title of project: How do children with severe learning disabilities and profound and multiple learning disabilities communicate grief? How do they communicate their questions, concerns and thoughts about grief?
Research supervisor: Professor Irene Tuffrey-Wijne
Other research supervisor: Professor Jayne Price

Biography

I have worked in the Special Educational Needs/Disabilities (SEND) field for 25 years (Deputy Head, Assistant Head, Teacher, Local Authority Education Officer & Educational Publisher).

I am now an author, trainer & consultant in child bereavement, specialising in the needs of bereaved children with SEND. I carry out this work as BackPocketTeacher www.backpocketteacher.co.uk

I have written/designed the following books & resources -

A Special Kind of Grief - The complete guide for supporting bereavement & loss in special schools (& other SEND settings)
Remembering Lucy - A children's story book about loss & grief in a special school
A Jumble of Knotted Thoughts - A sensory story to support bereavement and grief
Bereavement & Loss Widgit Symbol Resources
We All Grieve (for Winston's Wish)
Good Grief Toys ® A set of 45 multi-functional wooden pieces allowing children to explore all forms of grief

Areas of research interest

Learning Disabilities/LD/Special Educational Needs/SEND
Bereavement, Grief and Loss
Children and young people with learning disabilities
Supporting the voices of individuals with LD/SEND
Inclusive research
Profound and multiple learning disabilities - PMLD
Children with life limiting and life threatening conditions
Augmentative and Alternative Communication
Special education and special schools

Qualifications

BEd Primary Education - Plymouth University
MEd Special Education - Auburn University, USA

Funding or awards received

Full Studentship

Publications

A Special Kind of Grief - The complete guide for supporting bereavement and loss in special schools (& other SEND settings)
Remembering Lucy - A children's story book about loss and grief in a special school
A Jumble of Knotted Thoughts - A sensory story to support bereavement and grief
We All Grieve - A booklet that I wrote for the child bereavement charity Winston's Wish
Good Grief Toys ® A set of 45 multi-functional wooden pieces allowing children to explore all forms of grief

Further details available here - https://backpocketteacher.co.uk

I have written for various journals and articles. You can find links to these articles here - www.backpocketteacher.co.uk/support