ABSTRACT
The Teaching for Life research showed that many teachers lacked confidence when communicating with a child with a life-limiting or life-threatening condition and their family. The Department for Education (DfE) recognise that open, honest, sensitive and respectful communications between the school and the parents and family of a child with medical conditions are essential to be able to support them as effectively and fully as possible. In addition to the DfE guidance, the need to communicate and engage effectively with all children and their parents, including those with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions, is also embedded within the Teachers' Standards. Teachers, parents and children find it incredibly difficult to communicate with one another about the distressing subject of a sick child who could die because of how our brains work. Teachers need to be mindful not only of verbal communications with parents but also of the importance of positive and supportive written communications with parents.
