What is Derbyshire Smilers?

At Earl Sterndale, we use Derbyshire Smilers to help children develop the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to look after their mental health and wellbeing.

Smilers is a positive, child-friendly approach that teaches children about emotions, resilience, healthy relationships and strategies for coping with everyday challenges. Through stories, discussions, activities and reflection, children learn that all feelings are normal and that there are different ways to understand, express and manage emotions.

The Smilers approach helps children to:

• recognise and talk about their feelings
• build confidence and self-esteem
• develop resilience and coping strategies
• understand how to keep themselves mentally and physically healthy
• build positive friendships and relationships
• know how and when to ask for help
• develop empathy and respect for others

Smilers is embedded throughout school life, including our PSHE curriculum, collective worship, everyday conversations and wider wellbeing activities. By using a common language and approach across the school, we help children feel safe, supported and able to thrive.

Working together with families, we aim to develop children who are emotionally resilient, confident and ready to make good decisions throughout their lives.