What is Scotty’s Learning?
Scotty’s Learning is home to a growing collection of free online learning modules covering different aspects of grief, loss and bereavement. Many of the modules are designed specifically for adults supporting bereaved military children and young people, such as parents/carers, wider family members, school staff, support workers, and anyone connected to or supporting that child.
There are currently 12 modules available, with further modules in development to educate and empower even more of the bereaved military community. And while the platform has so far been developed with our experience of supporting military families at its heart, there’s something for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of military bereavement.
Supporting Bereaved Military Children
When a child experiences bereavement, the adults around them can play a huge role in helping them understand what has happened, make sense of their feelings and find ways to cope with life after loss.
But, at Scotty’s, we often hear that discussing death and grief with children in a way that is helpful, compassionate and age-appropriate can feel daunting. Knowing what to say, or what not to say, isn’t always easy.
Scotty’s Learning offers free-to-access online learning modules designed to give adults the knowledge, understanding and confidence they need to support bereaved military children and young people.
Whether you’re a parent or carer, grandparent, teacher, support worker, or supporting a bereaved child in some other capacity, Scotty’s Learning offers a range of self-study modules to help you better understand grief and bereavement.
Who is Scotty’s Learning for?
A child’s support network can include all sorts of people, from grandparents, teachers and school pastoral staff to support workers, youth workers and other professionals. Sometimes, an adult might not know much about the circumstances surrounding a child’s bereavement, or may have little experience of supporting someone who has experienced bereavement at such a young age. Scotty’s Learning is designed to help with this.
Supporting a Bereaved Military Child at Home
Modules such as Key Theories of Grief and Children’s Understanding of Death explore some of the fundamental principles of grief and how children can understand and respond to death at different stages of their development.
Of course, as a charity specialising in military-connected bereavement, many of our modules discuss the unique and often complicated nature of military bereavement and how families can better support bereaved military children. Remembering a Parent, for example, considers the importance of Remembrance and finding meaningful ways for children to maintain a connection with a parent who has died.
“This course has helped increase my confidence and reinforce my ability. A key takeaway from this module [Children’s Understanding of Death] was to be open-minded and always consider what is happening for the child, whether that be through their behaviour or what they do or don't do.”
— A Scotty’s Parent
So, whether you’re the parent/carer of a child who has experienced a military bereavement, you’re indirectly supporting a child in your wider family, or you simply want to develop your understanding of childhood bereavement, there’s plenty to explore.
Supporting Bereaved Military Children at School
Children spend a lot of time at school, and this means that schools can be incredibly important in supporting a grieving child. Teachers and other school staff may spend a significant amount of time with a child and can provide stability, understanding and a familiar environment when so much else has changed. But school staff don’t necessarily receive specialist training in bereavement.
Helping Schools to Understand Military Bereavement
Some Scotty’s Learning modules focus specifically on military bereavement and the unique challenges that it can present, such as loss of community, relocation and even media coverage. For any education professional supporting a bereaved military child, understanding these circumstances can make a real difference.
There can also be discussions had in everyday life that adults from outside the military community might not immediately realise could be sensitive or difficult. A lesson about war poetry, for example, might feel very different to a child whose parent died while serving and it’s important that schools can recognise and understand this.
Bereavement in the School Curriculum
This is particularly important now that bereavement is explicitly included in England’s updated statutory Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) guidance, which came into effect on 1st September 2026. The guidance includes teaching that change and loss, including bereavement, can lead to a range of feelings, that grief is a natural response to bereavement and that everyone grieves differently.
That’s why Scotty’s Learning includes dedicated modules for primary and secondary school staff, as well as modules designed for Initial Teacher Training (ITT) providers. These modules can help educators develop their understanding of grief and feel more confident supporting bereaved pupils in an inclusive, compassionate and age-appropriate way.
A Wider Look at Military Bereavement
In addition to our work with bereaved military children, some of our Scotty’s Learning modules cover grief and bereavement more broadly and can be useful to anyone navigating a military-connected bereavement, regardless of age or circumstance, wanting to understand their own grief a little better.
Nasen Assured Status
Our Scotty’s Learning modules are also nasen Assured. The nasen Quality Framework reviews resources against areas including inclusivity, accessibility, content, language, representation and user guidance, with reviews carried out by qualified education specialists.
Scotty’s Learning is Growing
Our work in educating and empowering adults supporting bereaved military children is just the beginning… Scotty’s Learning is continuing to grow.
We’re developing further learning modules to help more people better understand grief and feel confident supporting anyone experiencing military bereavement, regardless of age or circumstance.
Learn More About Military Bereavement Today
Our Scotty’s Learning modules are free to access, so you can browse what’s available and start learning at your own pace.
So, if you’re supporting a bereaved child or young person, work in a school, or simply want to learn more about military bereavement, we’d encourage you to take a look.
Visit www.scottyslearning.com to browse the available modules, find the right learning for you, and start learning today.
Join the Scotty’s Community
If you or someone you know has been affected by military-connected bereavement, Scotty’s Learning is just one small piece of the support available through Scotty’s – the military bereavement charity. You can find out more about our services, join our community for free and explore the wider support available here.
