Social and Emotional learning (SEL) enhances students’ capacity to integrate skills, attitudes, and behaviours so they can deal effectively with daily tasks and challenges. Research has shown that the success of every child in the future will depend on their ability to understand themselves and the people around them, not just on academic achievement.

Two of the frameworks that we use at St Joseph's School Papanui to support our learners with developing their social and emotional understanding and capabilities are 'The Zones of Regulation' (Years 0-4) and 'Quality Circle Time' (Years 5-8)

The Zones Of Regulation 

The Zones of Regulation (ZOR) is an original framework and curriculum (Kuypers, 2011) that develops awareness of feelings, energy and alertness levels while exploring a variety of tools and strategies for regulation, prosocial skills, self-care, and overall wellness. 

This curriculum framework provides us an easy way to think and talk about how we feel on the inside and sort these feelings into four coloured Zones, all of which are expected in life. 

 Once we understand our feelings and zones, we can learn to use tools/strategies to manage our different Zones in order to meet goals like doing schoolwork or other tasks, managing big feelings, and healthy relationships with others. 

The simple, common language and visual structure of The Zones of Regulation helps make the complex skill of regulation more concrete for learners and those who support them.

Quality Circle Time

Jenny Mosley's Quality Circle Time (or QCT) framework is used in Years 5-8 to help our students develop these crucial skills of life.

At the heart of the Circle Time Model is a scheduled team meeting which involves the students sitting in a circle to look at issues relating to personal, social, moral and health education. The circle meetings aim to encourage the development of positive relationships, self-discipline, conflict resolution, assertive communication and democratic group processes alongside the skills of speaking, listening, observing, thinking and concentrating.

It is a time for learners to gather together to share their personal feelings and ideas about anything that is significant to them. QCT shows children that their opinions matter, giving them real choices and allowing them to express their feelings enhance their self-esteem. 

Circle time gives all children the chance to experience some of the responsibilities and privileges of citizenship and provides a model for a more equal society. It is also about helping the individual members of the group to understand more about themselves and how they feel, act, react and respond to the world in which they find themselves. 

It attempts to foster mutual acceptance, support and care for other people, whether or not they might have an active relationship with them.