Zones of Regulation

At St Hugh of Lincoln we believe that helping children to understand and manage their emotions is just as important as helping them learn to read and write. The Zones of Regulation is a key part of our whole-school approach to emotional wellbeing.

What Are the Zones of Regulation?

The Zones of Regulation is a framework that helps children recognise and talk about their feelings. It uses four colour-coded zones:

  • Blue Zone – Low energy emotions such as tiredness, sadness, boredom or feeling unwell.
  • Green Zone – A calm, focused and ready-to-learn state.
  • Yellow Zone – A heightened state such as feeling anxious, silly, worried, or excited – still in control, but with elevated energy.
  • Red Zone – Intense emotions like anger, rage, fear or extreme upset – the child may feel out of control.

Children are taught that all zones are normal and part of being human. There is no “bad” zone – every colour represents feelings we all experience at different times. What matters is how we recognise those feelings and choose to respond.

Why Is It Important?

Being able to understand and regulate emotions supports children’s:

  • Mental wellbeing
  • Friendships and social relationships
  • Focus and success in learning
  • Confidence in managing challenges

The Zones of Regulation give children tools to:

  • Recognise their emotions
  • Name how they feel
  • Understand how their feelings affect themselves and others
  • Use strategies to move between zones when needed

How Do We Use the Zones in School?

  • Classroom Displays: Each class has a Zones chart to help children check in with how they’re feeling.
  • Daily Practice: Children learn about the Zones through PSHE lessons, stories, discussions, and role play.
  • Individual Support: Some children may work with a teacher or teaching assistant to explore their emotions more deeply and practise specific calming strategies.

We encourage children to notice and talk about their feelings – not to judge or hide them.

How Can You Support at Home?

You can help your child at home by:

  • Talking about feelings using the Zones colours
  • Asking, “What zone are you in right now?”
  • Helping them find calming strategies that work for them – like breathing, having quiet time, movement, or drawing
  • Reassuring them that every feeling is okay – it’s what we do with our feelings that matters

The more children feel understood, the easier it is for them to develop healthy ways to manage life’s ups and downs.

Helpful Resources for Families

If you have any questions about the Zones of Regulation or how we support emotional wellbeing at our school , please feel free to contact your child’s class teacher or SENDCO Mrs Jackson.

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