Zones of Regulation and ELSA
Zones of Regulation
At Goldsmith Primary Academy, we understand that emotional regulation is the foundation for successful learning, positive relationships, and wellbeing. To support this, every child takes part in our Zones of Regulation (ZOR) programme — a whole-school approach that helps pupils recognise, understand, and manage their emotions throughout the day.
All pupils complete their ZOR check-ins twice daily — once on arrival in the morning and again after lunch — in a private and reflective manner. Using our school’s 1:1 iPad technology, pupils in Years 2–6 record their emotional ‘zone’, which is securely shared in real time with one of our two ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant) practitioners. This allows our ELSAs to instantly identify any pupil who may need additional emotional support and offer timely check-ins or regulation strategies to help them feel safe, calm, and ready to learn.
For our youngest learners in EYFS and Year 1, this process is adapted to suit their developmental stage. Children use photos of themselves or name labels on magnetic boards within their classroom to show which zone they are in. This visual and interactive method helps them build emotional vocabulary and self-awareness through discussion and play, supported closely by their teachers and teaching assistants.
The Zones of Regulation framework teaches children to:
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Identify and label their feelings accurately
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Understand that all emotions are normal and manageable
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Learn personalised strategies to regulate and return to the “Green Zone” for learning
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Develop empathy, resilience, and independence
By embedding emotional regulation into daily routines and combining it with our digital wellbeing systems, we ensure that every pupil at Goldsmith can belong, achieve, and thrive — emotionally, socially, and academically.
ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support)
What is an ELSA?
At Goldsmith Primary Academy, we are proud to have trained ELSA practitioners (Emotional Literacy Support Assistants) as part of our Student Services and pastoral provision.
The ELSA programme, developed by Educational Psychologists, is a nationally recognised initiative designed to help children understand and manage their emotions so that they can thrive both in and out of the classroom.
Our ELSAs work with children who may need extra support in areas such as:
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Understanding and managing emotions
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Building self-esteem and confidence
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Developing friendships and social skills
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Managing anger, anxiety, or loss
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Coping with change and transitions
Our ELSAs, Mrs Franks and Miss Brant, provide both individual and small group sessions, tailored to each child’s needs. They use therapeutic strategies, play-based approaches, and structured emotional literacy activities to help pupils develop self-awareness, resilience, and confidence.
Working closely with class teachers, parents, and our wider pastoral team, ELSAs ensure that emotional wellbeing and learning success go hand in hand. Their work underpins our belief that every child should feel safe, understood, and ready to learn — allowing them to truly Dream. Rise. ASPIRE.