Teachers don’t want Thank You Teacher gifts

I’m secondary so you don’t get whole class gifts, which means the ones you do get from students really do mean so much. It ranges from cards, to the occasional mug, alcohol, chocolates, candles… all mean a lot!

My son is doing GCSE's now and will be leaving soon. I'd like to get the teachers he's had for many years (and have been so wonderful) a gift. I was thinking of John Lewis vouchers. They can always buy something from Waitrose if JL isn't their thing. Although I'm now thinking Costa vouchers might be good too

I’m surprised anyone still does individual gifts… we’ve always done a whole class collection to one bank account, and the class rep has then been able to give a very generous John Lewis gift voucher and a bunch of flowers. Also afforded smaller vouchers for the assistants.
Cards were signed online by whole class with personal messages.
Everyone happy!

A friend of mine is a teacher and at the start of every summer holiday she hosts a bbq party with all the alcohol she receives from her class. Please don’t stop the parents providing this!

At our school all parents contribute towards a large gift which is usually some flowers and a £250+ voucher for somewhere. We never get told not to do presents so perhaps the teachers don’t mind and when they say they are very pleased, they are being genuine.

I’m a teacher. I do appreciate (but don’t expect) any gifts I might be given. However, like anything everyone has their own personal likes so I would prefer flowers, alcohol or a gift card for a coffee at costa over a mug, trinket etc as I’ve nowhere to put them all. Another teacher might think differently.

If you felt a teacher had gone above for your child or had done a great job with the class, then a thank you note would definitely be appreciated and if you wanted to get a small token present of thanks, then regardless of what it is, teachers will be grateful / touched that you thought of them.

At my child’s school parents who want to, give money to one parent and then they buy a John Lewis voucher from everyone. It’s optional to contribute and the teacher has no way of knowing how much (or if) you contributed. Seems to work well!

I don't think you can speak for all teachers. My mum's a teacher. Well ok, she's not in the UK, but another EU country and also have a tradition to bring teachers gifts, but at the start AND the end of the year (not compulsory, obv).

She likes and and is grateful. Chocolate is always well received (doesn't matter 'cheap' or 'posh', all of it is appreciated and eaten), flowers. Alcohol gifts are not a thing there, but she'd be perfectly happy with wine too.

Beginning of the year is flowers/chocolate, end of year - usually vouchers. Mum loves it and she said her colleagues love it and appreciate it too.

Teacher here! Certainly don’t expect any gifts, but always grateful for anything given, especially those made or chosen by the children themselves. Even ‘cheap’ wine 🤣

I worked with two primary teachers. Both were horribly competitive and gifts were displayed by the classroom door so the other teacher could see the annual haul. Deeply sad and hilarious at the same time.

Not allowed to give to teachers in our local authority. So in the past I've arranged a class collection for a favourite charity (teacher's favourite charity) and then a personalised card with comments from the class.

Normally manage £100 donation from a class of 30ish.

That always goes down really well.

I send a box of fancy teas, coffees, hot chocolate and biscuits for the staff room. Means that every member of staff gets to benefit as there are several teachers/TAs/admins involved with DCs. It’s always appreciated and it would be too expensive to do worthwhile vouchers for each member of staff.

I am going to get books for the school this year with a thank you card.

We are only at nursery, but the teachers have always been so grateful when I’ve given them a gift. We gave them each a small Easter egg last term and hand made cards and they were over the moon.
You don’t have to give anything monetary, but if a teacher doesn’t appreciate a thank you note for their time and effort then they shouldn’t be teaching.
What an ungrateful post!!

Meh. Surely every teacher is different. An old friend of mine is a teacher and always used to say she hated all the trinkets and would much rather have chocolate and wine etc but that won't be the case for all of them - non drinkers, those with dietary requirements etc.

I've seen a few teachers use what were obviously gifts given to them in their classrooms - cushions, prints etc.

I know gifts aren’t essential but I used to think it was nice to give a small token of appreciation at end of term and Christmas and nice for the kids to learn about showing appreciation.

I used to get things like nice candles, sweets, molton brown hand creams, etc as well as a card.

My sister is a teacher and I always look forward to her end of year hauls! She always gets nice stuff too. Gift cards, nice wine and choc, bath bombs etc. She got a really nice MK perfume once!

How is alcohol embarrassing??
I got a bottle of prosecco at Christmas. I don't drink. I said a genuine thank you and gave it to my mum 🤷 no big deal.
Contrary to your OP I do need multiple boxes of chocolate thank you very much. We stash them in the classroom and bring them out every so often for a pick me up.
It's very odd that you're choosing to be your "friends" mouthpiece. Neither of you sound pleasant.

I take your point, but no teacher is going to get 30 bunches of flowers or 30 mugs or 30 boxes of chocolates - people bring different things! My teacher friend used to share the chocolates with friends!

I tended to do something a bit different. Last year I got DD's teacher a cold cup - she seemed genuinely grateful.

You can't really police this. My friend has baked birthday cakes for teachers in addition to the gifts she sends!
We don't give anything to mean teachers.

I always give my children's teachers a posh cheese, jar of sweet chilli jam and crackers plus recipe for amazing grilled cheese combos, plus a card from my children. Never had any complaints

I'd just be happy if they return the pens I buy and lend them each lesson.
But I'm secondary, so it's different.

You sound angry OP - did a teacher return your gift or are you a teacher and nobody buys you gifts?
I think our teacher loves her gifts - we ask her what she loves and we buy that.

...looks over at my "best teacher in the world" keyring attached to my bag from a child whilst sipping tea from a mug from a child...😎

I don’t think teachers should be given presents at all, it’s embarrassing for those who can’t afford it.
We’ve started collecting cash, whether someone gives £2, £5 or £50 it doesn’t matter. Then we get vouchers usually.

I was once a secondary school teacher in the state sector, I rarely got gifts but when I did it was very clear the teenager had gone to the pound shop and bought me a uniquely sized box of quality street or something. I thought it was the sweetest thing!!! Spending their limited pocket money on a gift for me! Made me all warm and fuzzy! I guess it must be different in primary school

Don't forget the TA's as well. Not much money but many do a sterling job

My son's TA's spend more time with him than his teacher. They are amazing