The Zones of Regulation
MK Primary PRU will launch The Zones of Regulation school-wide in September 2023.
The Zones of Regulation is an internationally-renowned curriculum which helps children to recognise and manage difficult feelings and emotions, known as ‘self-regulation’.
Children who feel strong emotions such as anger, tiredness or anxiety often find it hard to learn and concentrate in school. The Zones of Regulation aims to teach children strategies to help them cope with these feelings so they can get back to feeling calm and ready to learn.
By supporting children gain skills on how to cope with how they are feeling, it may prevent negative coping strategies which can affect their mental and physical wellbeing.
We aim to support children to:
- Recognise when they are in the different categories (Zones) and learn how to change or stay in the Zone they are in.
- Increase their emotional vocabulary so they can explain how they are feeling.
- Recognise when other people are in different Zones, thus developing better empathy.
- Develop an insight into what might make them move into the different Zones.
- Understand that emotions, sensory experiences such as lack of sleep or hunger and their environment might influence which Zone they are in.
- Develop problem-solving skills and resilience
- Identify a range of calming and alerting strategies that support them
What are the different Zones?
Blue Zone: low level of arousal; not ready to learn; feels sad, sick, tired, bored, moving slowly.
Green Zone: calm state of alertness; optimal level to learn; feels happy, calm, feeling okay, focused.
Yellow Zone: heightened state of alertness; elevated emotions; has some control; feels frustrated, worried, silly/wiggly, excited, loss of some control.
Red Zone: heightened state of alertness and intense emotions; not an optimal level for learning; out of control; feels mad/angry, terrified, yelling/hitting, elated, out of control.
We will teach the children that everyone experiences all of the Zones. The Red and Yellow zones are not ‘bad’ or ‘naughty’ Zones. All of the Zones are expected at one time or another. We will show them that the Blue Zone, for example, is helpful when you are trying to fall asleep.
How will my child learn about the Zones of Regulation?
We will be introducing the Zones through eighteen discrete lessons and through our PSHE curriculum. We will also be using the Zones language as part of daily school life so all staff will be referring to them, not just their class teacher.
Some children may also benefit from additional lessons in the form of an intervention.