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Great Bowden Academy

Great Bowden Academy

Zones of Regulation ​​​​​​​

Across the school, all our pupils are using our Zones of Regulation system to understand and manage their emotions. From Reception through to Year 6, we’ve seen great benefits—children are more aware of how they feel, more confident naming their emotions, and knowing how to get themselves back to a calm, Green Zone.

Zones of Regulation gives everyone a simple shared language to talk about emotions and behaviour, both at school and at home. Here are the four Zones explained:
🔵 Blue Zone – sad, tired, low energy
🟢 Green Zone – calm, happy, ready to learn
🟡 Yellow Zone – excited, nervous, frustrated
🔴 Red Zone – angry, overwhelmed, out of control

Staff help pupils notice which Zone they’re in and practise strategies to return to Green—like deep breathing, taking a short break, talking about their feelings, or using calming activities.

You can help too! Try using the same language at home by asking, “Which zone are you in?” or “What might help you move toward the Green Zone?” It’s a simple way to support your child’s emotional wellbeing and resilience.

These pictures show some Key Stage 2 pupils making feelings trackers last week, helping them to navigate their emotions.