The key purpose of the Butterfly Jar is to provide a communication option for children to their school adults, which is safe, private, familiar and easy.  

Sometimes it is hard for children to find the right time to talk to an adult and starting a conversation for some is scary, especially if they want to say something private or something they are scared to talk about, but they might write a note instead.

If something is making you feel upset or worried, it is always good to talk to an adult you feel safe with. It can help to tell them how you feel and what is happening even if you are not sure what is wrong. At Wellstead, each class has a Butterfly Jar, where children can share any worries they may have. 

In Key Stage 2, there are different coloured pieces of paper that can be added to the Butterfly Jar. The different coloured pieces of paper tell the teacher if the note needs to be read urgently.

In Key Stage 1, teachers will develop an age appropriate method that still allows the open communication but removes the need to write lots down.  Previously, classes have used happy/sad faces and drawing pictures to good effect.

Messages for parents about our Butterfly Jars:

We moved away from the ‘Worry Box’ idea to the ‘Butterfly Box’ idea to open up the use of the box and make it more normal and common to put in a note. This should lead to less worry that ‘If I put a note in the jar everyone will know I'm worried about something or have a problem.'

Notes can be anonymous or named.  They can be addressed to the Butterfly Jar or to a named adult. Obviously, a named note is much much easier to follow-up and resolve if needed.

The teachers' job at the start of the year is to build trust that the Butterfly Jar still works and classes will usually use them in general lessons as a practice, e.g. "What did you think of our class story?" or voting for School Councillors. 

We know that if children are familiar with using the Butterfly Jar for a variety of reasons and see that the notes are read and that other people put notes in, they are more likely to put in a note in if something is really worrying them. 

Here you can access 'Emotional Literacy Support for children' this site gives you access to a number of resources to help with anxiety and mindfulness.

There maybe times you feel the need to speak to someone else outside of you friends, family and school community, if this is the case then 'Childline' will be there for you. They can be contacted by phone, online chat or email and will be happy to listen to you regarding anything you feel the need to talk about.