Beyond the Zones: Looking beyond the colours to build self regulation skills

Why recognising body signals and sensory needs is key to helping children use Zones of Regulation effectively.

Many schools already use the Zones of Regulation to help pupils recognise, talk about, and manage their emotions. The approach is widely recognised and easy to understand - using four coloured “zones” to help children identify how they’re feeling and what strategies might help them return to a calm, ready-to-learn state.

But there’s a challenge that many schools face.

For Zones to truly work, pupils need to be able to notice and interpret what’s happening inside their bodies - their internal body signals. These are the subtle cues that tell us when our heart is racing, when we’re feeling tired, or when our body is buzzing with energy. Without this awareness, children may be able to label a colour but not understand what’s driving their emotions, or know when they’ve successfully changed zone.

They also need to learn what to actually do when they want to change zones - practical strategies they can use in the moment.

That’s where our training makes all the difference.

How Our Training Strengthens the Use of Zones of Regulation

School Sensory Solutions courses are designed to help staff go beyond the basics, providing the understanding and practical tools that make Zones genuinely effective in everyday school life.

Here’s how:

🌟 Assessment Framework

Our Sensory Profile tool helps staff identify each pupil’s sensory processing patterns and potential barriers to regulation. It provides a clear starting point for supporting pupils who struggle with attention, behaviour, or emotional control.

🌟 Targeted Interventions

Through hands-on modules, staff learn how to create sensory support plans and introduce evidence-based strategies - like movement breaks, deep pressure, and sensory circuits - that help pupils actively shift between zones.

🌟 Interoception Focus

One of our modules focuses on interoception - the “hidden” sense that tells us about our internal body signals, such as hunger, thirst, or anxiety. By developing pupils’ interoceptive awareness, we build the crucial foundation they need to recognise emotions and regulate effectively.

🌟 Supporting, Not Replacing, Zones of Regulation

Our training doesn’t replace Zones of Regulation - it enhances it.

By combining:

• a clear assessment framework,

• practical, sensory-based strategies, and

• a focus on interoceptive awareness,

...staff gain the confidence and tools to help pupils truly understand themselves, choose effective strategies, and move between zones with greater independence.

👉 Find out more:

If your school already uses Zones of Regulation, our training will help you make it work more effectively - especially for the children who need it most:

• Learn more about our courses here: https://schoolsensorysolutions.co.uk/what-we-offer-courses (including our How to Run Sensory Circuits Training)

• Take a look at our range of standalone modules here: https://shop.schoolsensorysolutions.co.uk/products-list/collections/modules