End of year gift for form tutor?

[TheFirstOfHerName]

I have always contributed towards the end of year gifts for my children's class teachers in primary school. Also got the children to write a personal thank you letter at the end of the school year.

However, once DS1 started secondary, there hasn't been a collection for a gift, so he has just made his form tutor a card (on the computer) at the end of the year with pictures of his favourite things and some funny quotes.

Now that DS2 is finishing his first year at secondary, another parent has asked if it's customary to give the form tutor a bottle of wine at the end of the year. I hadn't realised anyone did this at secondary?

[noblegiraffe]

No, they don't. Very rare for a secondary teacher to get a gift, except perhaps at the end of Y11/13 when the kids are leaving, and then the kids organise it themselves.

[TheFirstOfHerName]

Phew! Thank you.

I'll get them to do the usual card-made-on-Publisher-with-funny-quotes then.

[ChocolateWombat]

In my experience, kids often give their Form Tutor a gift at the end of their first year in Secondary.
The move to secondary is a big deal and Tutors do a lot to make it smooth,molten going well beyond what you might expect. At this point the children are not embarrassed to give a gift, but later become so.
I don't think there is ever an excitation of a gift. I'd ask my DC and see if they felt they wanted to give one and go from there. Children are not always good at giving thanks, so if they are keen to do it, I'd encourage them. The home made card sounds very thoughtful, so stick at that if you want to. It's great DC wanted to make something.

The ones Im keen to give gifts to are people like Scout leaders,Moho give up their time voluntarily for years. Oddly, they rarely get gifts.