Understanding Zones of Regulation at Drighlington Primary School
At Drighlington Primary School, we are committed to supporting every child’s emotional well-being as well as their academic growth. One of the key tools we use to help children understand and manage their feelings is the Zones of Regulation. This framework gives children a simple, visual way to identify their emotions and energy levels, helping them to recognise how they are feeling throughout the day.
The Zones of Regulation use four colour-coded zones:
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Blue Zone – when a child may feel tired, sad, or low in energy.
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Green Zone – when a child feels calm, focused, and ready to learn.
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Yellow Zone – when a child may feel worried, excited, or slightly out of control.
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Red Zone – when a child feels very angry, upset, or overwhelmed.
By teaching children to identify which zone they are in, we can then guide them in finding appropriate strategies to return to the Green Zone, where they are calm, regulated, and ready to learn.
Supporting Children Through Co-Regulation
Recognising emotions is only the first step. At Drighlington, we actively teach and model co-regulation strategies to support children in managing their feelings. This means that adults in school help children to calm down, solve problems, and learn strategies for self-regulation through supportive interactions. For example, a teacher might guide a child through breathing exercises, offer a movement break, or talk them through their feelings in a safe and supportive way.
Over time, these approaches help children to build independence in managing their emotions, developing resilience and empathy. Using the Zones of Regulation, alongside co-regulation from trusted adults, empowers our pupils to understand themselves better, respond positively to challenges, and thrive both in and out of the classroom.
