SMILERS

Mental Health and Wellbeing for All

At Castleton CofE Primary School, we aim to promote positive mental health and wellbeing for our whole school community—children, staff, parents and carers. We recognise how important mental health and emotional wellbeing are to our lives, in just the same way as physical health.

We understand that children’s mental health is a crucial factor in their overall wellbeing and can significantly affect their learning and achievement. All children experience ups and downs during their school journey, and some may face significant life events that impact how they feel and learn.

 SMILERS is a whole-school mental health and wellbeing initiative developed by Derbyshire County Council. The programme uses a simple acronym to help both children and adults build positive daily habits that support emotional resilience and overall mental health.

SMILERS provides a shared language and approach across the school community, encouraging everyone to reflect on practical ways to look after their wellbeing and support others.

Positive mental health is a vital part of a child’s overall development. It has a strong and interconnected relationship with physical health and plays a key role in children’s ability to succeed in school, form positive relationships, and thrive within society. Mental and physical wellbeing together influence how we think, feel, and behave each day.

Supporting mental health is important at every stage of life—from early childhood through to adolescence and beyond. By developing emotional wellbeing early, we help children build resilience, confidence, and the skills they need to manage challenges and cope with change throughout their lives.

The SMILERS Acronym

The programme encourages daily habits based on the following seven key areas:

• Stay Connected – Building healthy relationships with family, friends, and even pets.
• Move – Staying physically active to boost mood, energy, and overall wellbeing.
• Interest – Exploring hobbies and learning new things to develop curiosity and enjoyment.
• Look – Using your senses to stay mindful, notice the world around you, and be present in the moment.
• Eat Well – Maintaining a balanced diet to support both physical and mental health.
• Rest – Getting regular, good-quality sleep to support wellbeing and learning.
• Support – Helping others and showing kindness to build positive connections and a sense of belonging.

Further information can be found by following the link below:

https://derbyandderbyshireemotionalhealthandwellbeing.uk/professionals/whole-school-approach/smilers

https://schoolsnet.derbyshire.gov.uk/site-elements/documents/childrens-support-services/smilers/smilers-resources/smilers-and-screen-time.pdf

https://schoolsnet.derbyshire.gov.uk/site-elements/documents/childrens-support-services/smilers/smilers-resources/smilers-the-power-of-music.pdf

Helpful webpages:

https://www.nhs.uk/every-mind-matters/supporting-others/childrens-mental-health/

https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/child-health-development/promoting-mental-health-wellbeing#skip-to-content

https://www.childline.org.uk/toolbox/buddy-zone-under12service/?in_type=under12servicehttps://www.childline.org.uk/toolbox/art-box/