Mumsnet Talk

This term I've got to know DS's class teacher fairly well, and she is excellent. I'd like to get her a thank-you gift for the end of term.

This evening I remembered to my horror that there's also a TA in the class - I've only ever seen her once, and we had a brief playground chat. She's not a warm person at all, and I don't especially like what I've seen of her. However, I don't doubt that she does a great job in the classroom.

I'm feeling really bad about essentially forgetting her existence in my present planning, but it seems false to get a gift for someone I hardly know and don't particularly like. At the same time it feels wrong to just get one for the teacher.

I'm interested to know what you all would do in this situation.

I'll be giving the teacher and the TA the same present. They are both getting a bottle of wine.

I think it's fine to just give one to the teacher and not the TA in the circumstances you describe.

I think that is mean. Sometimes people who are fantastic with children can come across as awkward or aloof with adults. You don't know what this TA really does.

I would either buy for both or neither.

Greensleeves, that is why I said I am sure she does a great job in the classroom.

Where has Mumsnet put the old "hmm" emoticon?!

...hence my opinion that not to buy for her as well is mean!

I'd buy for the TA as well.

Gifts at Christmas are usually thought of as being from the children, rather than the parents. I'd imagine that your son knows the TA at least as well as he knows the teacher.

DD1 would have done, she didn't like the TA.

I sent presents for both.

Even though I agreed she was an idiot in her handling of spellings for dyslexic DCs.

If you can then buy the TA one. My mum is a TA and she works extremely hard with the children and keeps everything the children give her. Unless it's edible, obviously!

I'd buy for both , it's a bit mean not to and would look like you don't appreciate her contribution in the classroom.

I feel bad now I didn't come on intending to be aggressive and cause offence. I'm a new teacher and I suppose a bit overzealous in my opinions. I would be screwed without the fabulous TAs I work with, so I felt a bit defensive for them!

But I should have expressed myself less harshly. Sorry OP x

I think if you are going to buy for one, you have to buy for the other. It doesn't have to be the same gift for both.

When they're little it's such a relief to have a teacher who seems friendly and warm. But as they get older, what's important is how they bring the dc on academically and socially. The TA usually plays a huge part in that, but you don't necessarily see it.

I would get her something small.

Whether you like her or not, whether your DD likes her or not, whether she directly helps your DD or not, she is helping the class teacher to 'be excellent' and help your DD. Without her your DD's teacher probably wouldn't have as much time to do the things she does that make her excellent.

I usually buy for the teacher and then bake something that the teacher & TAs can share. There seem to be a lot of TAs/trainee teachers at our school so I wouldn't know how many to buy for if I bought them gifts.

Am i the first to say that neither the Teacher nor the TA will be getting nothing but a card?

Clearly really mean in this household but DS will write a card and we'll send our best wishes and thanks for putting up with them for another term!!!

Teachers and TA get a small pressie from us at the end of the academic year.

That's enough, it's a recession...and they do get paid! dives under the table for cover

I see lovely parents who, frankly, haven't got a pot to piss in, worrying about what they should buy for the Teacher. It's ridiculous.

Goodness, apologies! Terrible grammar! "anything but a card".

Sorry it's late...been on nights!

Cards only from my children too- older one will write personalised message to teacher and couple of TAs.

'she's not a warm person at all'.....and yet you've only met her once

so 'in the one brief playground chat we had once, she wasn't at all warm'

Yep, I know, I'm judging her based on relatively little direct contact. But then we all do that, don't we.

Part of the problem in terms of how I view her is that DS's reception teacher & TA set an extremely high bar as they were terrific - highly professional and very warm and engaging. This year I didn't even know who the TA was until 2 months into term, and then whenever I've seen her she's looked grumpy and forbidding. Then in the one convo I had with her (btw I should have said above that I've met her once, not "seen" her once) she didn't smile and looked like she didn't want to be there. I imagine just about everyone would come away with a negative impression of someone who behaved that way, right? Also when I asked DS what she was like, he said she was 'sort of alright'.

Chipping and upstart make an excellent point, that she supports the teacher in being excellent. So I'll definitely get her something as a thankyou.

How well does your child know the TA?

In my opinion TAs do a hell of a lot in class. I had never met dds at her old school apart from once for a few minutes and she wasn't very communicative but I know for a fact she did lots with dd.

So I would buy both as TA often get missed.

Greensleeves, don't worry about it!

Mrz, I don't know - the only time he ever mentioned her was when I asked him about her! But I assume she does a lot as TAs always do.

Anyway that is the right question to ask, as her grumpiness wasn't the main reason I was querying the present issue; it was primarily because I barely know her. But as you all say, TAs always work hard and DS will know her, so that's reason enough for a Xmas thankyou.

Is the TA a general class one or for a specific child/children? It may be that the TA has little to do with your DS.

I have sent a small present for the teacher only but there have been numerous TAs through the year and I have only seen the current one a couple of times. I will be taking some cakes and chocolate to be shared in the staffroom for anyone too, though.