Schools are about to be asked to teach some of the most challenging content they have ever taught in the classroom.

As curriculum changes come into force, teachers and school staff will be expected to talk openly about suicide with children and young people. For many staff, this feels daunting, not because they don’t care, but because they care deeply and want to get it right.

What schools are worried about

Staff commonly tell us they are worried about:

  • saying the wrong thing
  • introducing ideas they don’t feel equipped to hold
  • triggering distress or “learned behaviour” in pupils
  • what happens if a disclosure follows

These concerns are real, valid and widely shared. Ignoring them doesn’t make them disappear; it leaves staff feeling exposed and unsupported.

Our position

At Olly’s Future, our position is clear:

Schools need support before these conversations are built into the curriculum, not after something goes wrong.

Through our training, we work with schools to prepare adults first, so that when suicide and self-harm are addressed in the classroom, staff feel confident, supported and clear about what to do.

Our training is suitable for teachers, support staff, safeguarding leads and senior leaders, and can be delivered as whole-staff CPD or targeted sessions.

We don’t expect teachers to become experts or clinicians. Our role is to help schools feel ready, not perfect.

How we help schools prepare

We support schools through practical, staff-focused training that builds confidence across the whole school culture, not just in individual classrooms.

Our training helps schools to:

  • build shared understanding and confidence across staff
  • feel clear about what to say, and what not to say
  • understand boundaries and safeguarding pathways
  • create a culture where concerns can be raised and responded to calmly, without panic

By preparing early, schools are able to move from fear to confidence, and from uncertainty to calm, compassionate practice.

What the training looks like in schools

Part 1: Talking About Suicide – 10 Tools (TAS:10)

90 minutes | CPD certified

This session supports school staff to feel confident and prepared to respond when concerns about suicide arise.

Staff learn:

  • practical, non-clinical language for talking about suicide safely
  • how to notice when someone may be struggling
  • how to ask direct but appropriate questions
  • how to listen calmly and respond without panic
  • how to keep someone safe for now and follow safeguarding pathways

The focus is on confidence, clarity and boundaries.

Part 2: CareSpace – 10 Techniques for Wellbeing

90 minutes

A guided, psychologically safe space for staff to reflect, decompress and strengthen their own wellbeing.

Grounded in the Compassion Circles model (widely used across the NHS), CareSpace helps staff to:

  • develop self-care and self-resilience techniques
  • reflect on the emotional impact of supporting others
  • build compassion for themselves and their colleagues
  • strengthen a shared culture of care within the school

CareSpace recognises that supporting pupils starts with supporting the adults around them.

A whole-school approach to confidence and care

Suicide prevention in schools is not about delivering perfect lessons or having all the answers.

It is about creating environments where adults feel prepared, supported and able to respond when difficult conversations arise.

We work alongside schools to support:

  • staff wellbeing and shared responsibility
  • clear communication and escalation pathways
  • confidence that no individual teacher is holding this alone

When staff feel supported, pupils feel safer to speak up, and safeguarding systems work as they should.

Next steps

If your school is preparing for curriculum changes around suicide and self-harm, our training can help staff feel confident, supported and ready.