A guidance pack designed to help teachers support children with cancer has been published by charity CLIC Sargent.
The Cancer and School Life resource contains advice and a lesson plan that can be used by teachers in a school where a pupil has been diagnosed with cancer.
The pack, available for both primary and secondary teachers, also includes a DVD featuring children who have had cancer and their school friends speaking about their experiences.
It has been designed to help teachers communicate confidently with school children about childhood cancer as well as help pupils understand the illness and how they can support their classmate. It contains details of a teaching session, information about childhood cancer and treatment, and guidance on how to deliver the session and answer any questions from pupils which might arise.
The resource comes after research by the charity revealed just how much a diagnosis of cancer can disrupt a child’s education, with children undergoing treatment often growing apart from friends and falling victim to bullying.
• Cancer and School Life is available to order online at www.clicsargent.org.uk/content/teachers