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Dr. Sarah Helton sat at a desk smiling, wearing a red, gray, and green sweater, standing next to dried decorative flowers in a clear vase on a white wall background.

Dr Sarah Helton - BackPocketTeacher 

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Dr. Sarah Helton is a Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Consultant and Trainer who specialises in bereavement, grief and loss.

Sarah provides training and advice to both special and mainstream schools on how to support bereaved children who have special educational needs and or disabilities (including those who are profoundly disabled, non-speaking or are autistic). She also provides training for staff on how they can look after themselves following professional bereavements.  

Sarah has over 25 years’ experience in the field of education and an outstanding track record in a diverse range of roles (Deputy Head, Assistant Head, Teacher, Local Authority Education Officer and Educational Publisher). She currently works as an Assistant Headteacher of a special school in Dorset, alongside her role as a SEND trainer, consultant and author.

In 2024 Sarah completed a PhD from Kingston University having researched how children with severe or profound learning disabilities communicate grief.

Sarah has written and produced a variety of books and resources as seen below

  • Book cover titled 'A Special Kind of Grief' by Sarah Helton, with a watercolor background in pastel shades of blue, yellow, and orange.

    A Special Kind of Grief

    The complete guide for supporting bereavement and loss in special schools (& other SEND settings) 


  • Cover of a children's book titled 'Remembering Lucy' by Sarah Helton, illustrated by Anna Novy, featuring a sketch of children playing musical instruments in a classroom with a bright yellow background.

    Remembering Lucy

    A children's story book about grief and bereavement in a school.

  • Book cover titled "A Jumble of Knotted Thoughts: A sensory story to support bereavement & grief" by Sarah Helton. The cover features a close-up photo of tangled, gray ropes.

    A Jumble of Knotted Thoughts

    A sensory story to support bereavement and grief.

Sarah has created Good Grief Toys ® a set of 45 wooden pieces (made in the UK by an independent toymaker) that allows children to explore various forms of grief (death, divorce, illness, relocation, school transitions, etc.)

Image of collectible wooden toys called Good Grief Toys featuring characters and scenes such as a sofa with seated figures, a bed with a figure, an ambulance, a police car, and various other figures, with yellow informational text boxes promoting the toys and their availability online.

In association with Widgit she has also developed -Bereavement & Loss Symbol Resources (a set of resources designed for children, young people and their families to help them through the process of bereavement and loss including specific resources dealing with particular aspects of bereavement such as "What is a funeral" and a set of accompanying flashcards)

Collection of illustrations related to grief, emotions, and healing. Includes a condolence jar, a group of people carrying a coffin, a person with a sad expression, a gravestone, an emotional house, and various symbols such as tears, love, and mourning. Also has cards displaying feelings like grief, being affected, and understanding grief.