At Dickens Heath Community Primary School, we are committed to supporting the mental health and well-being of our pupils and staff.  We aim to be supportive, caring and respectful and encourage our pupils to be open so that they can have their voice heard. 

We recognise that everyone experiences different life challenges, and that each of us may need help to cope with them sometimes. 

We understand that anyone and everyone may need additional emotional support.  At Dickens Heath, positive mental health is everybody’s responsibility – we all have a role to play.

Please refer to our Positive Mental Health and Wellbeing Policy and the Jigsaws PSHE guidance letter for parents to see how we offer support for children and families and how our PSHE curriculum actively promotes positive mental health and wellbeing and develops strategies, vocabulary and knowledge progressively across school.

To actively promote positive mental health and wellbeing we focus on the NHS 5 ways to wellbeing through an approach called the SMILE approach.

The guiding principles of SMILE are:

The NHS Five ways to wellbeing are adapted as outlined below:

Please refer to our SMILE overview for further detail of our approach.  This sits as a component of our Personal Development curriculum for all children.

If you have any concerns about how your child is coping or need any other support from the school, please let us know by contacting the school office at office@dickens-heath.solihull.sch.uk and a member of staff will get back to you.

Below are some links that you may find helpful to support your child's wellbeing and promote positive mental health.

Young Minds - Activities to help support emotional well-being

https://youngminds.org.uk/starting-a-conversation-with-your-child/activities-and-conversation-starters-during-the-coronavirus-pandemic/

Calm Zone – Resources to help promote calm feelings and relaxation

https://www.childline.org.uk/toolbox/calm-zone/

Social Media and Internet Safety

• Online Safety Tips for Children
• Social Media and Mental Health
• Thinkuknow Primary Parents Helpsheet
  Mental Health

• Good Mental Well-being During Isolation
• Supporting Children's Mental Health
• Supporting Children's Mental Health
  https://www.kooth.com/
   
  https://www.annafreud.org/on-my-mind/self-care/
   
  https://youngminds.org.uk/
   
  https://www.minded.org.uk/
   
  https://www.nspcc.org.uk/
   
  https://www.childline.org.uk/
   
  https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/
   
  https://www.samaritans.org/
   
  https://www.giveusashout.org
  Local Mental Health Support
   
  https://www.forwardthinkingbirmingham.org.uk/
   
  https://www.bsmhft.nhs.uk/our-services/children-young-people-services/
  Bereavement
  https://www.winstonswish.org/
   
  https://www.childbereavementuk.org/supporting-bereaved-children-and-young-people
  Educational Psychology Solihull

• CEPS Family Support Flyer