Teachers don’t want Thank You Teacher gifts

I am a teacher. I don't expect gifts at all - but I certainly appreciate them when I do. My favourite at Christmas was a pack of 4 Kinder Bueno's because the pupil who brought them was so excited to give them to me!

It's not up to you whether her or her colleagues throw them away. I wouldn't eat them either.

I would say the safest guidance is don’t buy anything that they wouldn’t want more than one of, unless it’s consumables. You’re very unlikely to buy them something that they don’t already have, so chances are it will be a duplicate. DP is always very pleased when he gets something specific to him as it shows the children have taken an interest in buying the gift, and have reported back to their parents that Mr Marmite really likes cheese, labradors etc

(He’s also very pleased when he gets wine, but I do understand why alcohol is not the most sensible of gifts)

I am going to get DD’s nursery teachers a Boots voucher each at the start of the summer holidays. My thinking is that most people can buy something they’d like from Boots if they are at all interested in beauty/health/skincare, and if they’re really not then they can stock up on basic toiletries and spend the money they’ve saved on toothpaste and shower gel on something they actually want!

DH left teaching but his top draw is still the thank you cards he got and he treasures them (Secondary teacher)

I also thoroughly enjoyed ANY present he got: booze, sweets, flowers, I got to enjoy too! He loved receiving things.

pipe down OP 😂

Not a single friend or neighbour?

Our local Freecycle Facebook group also has people who appreciate alcohol donations!

In one school I heard that teachers were delighted with a contribution to a classroom fund, for all those things they need but can't get a budget for. To spend at school as they see fit.

@SilentSilhouette the problem with alcohol is if I was given some not only do I not drink - I don't really have anyone I could easily pass it on to and I can't put it in the food bank collection.
It would literally be a waste of money.

I do aswell 🤣

I love cheap wine 😬

Since there's a lot of teachers here! DS in reception and I've been thinking today actually what to get!

What do you love?

I have TA's I want to buy for also

I was with you until the alcohol and chocolate bit! Whaaaat?!?!?!

If they don't drink or eat chocolate then they can gift it.

I'm not a fan of teacher gift tat though!

What is best is a card telling me my effort has been appreciated. A heart felt message. But alcohol is always appreciated! 😁

Receiving a £200 voucher would have made me feel so uncomfortable. Way too much!

Again different system in Ireland but as per my last post, I send in treats for the staff room but also my DC give a gift to their tutor after the end of junior cycle (like GCSEs) & then in senior cycle they organise gifts for certain key teachers among themselves.

I still see the climbing rose we bought, in the garden of my DC’s teacher. Makes me, her and them smile every year when it flowers.

I don't think it's usual in UK schools but it's very standard in Irish primary schools to do a class collection, €5 - €10 per child so a decent sum, and teacher gets a voucher for a couple hundred plus flowers / chocs. Easy to do & one decent gift, no messing with lots of unwanted gifts.

In secondary school, I always send in boxes of chocolates & biscuits to the staff room, close to Christmas & the summer.

I'd hate the teacher to get no gift. In almost all cases they go above & beyond.

I'm a secondary teacher. We get nowt.

Teacher here, and yes, gifts are never expected but always appreciated. And wine, chocolates, biscuits and so on are lovely and very welcomed !

Oh give me strength.

I do actually. I'm not a teacher, but I often give gifts to people in my team when we come to the end of a project or if they’ve done something i think is worth rewarding, it’s very normal in my industry. I also always give my team gifts at Christmas (outside of any performance/project extras).
in my opinion a teacher is part of a “child-raising team” so I just like to show appreciation.

Perhaps parents could pay a service charge at the beginning of the school year? Like some restaurants do.

My mum was a primary school teacher and I loved last day of year when she came home with loads of chocolates 🤣 but yes I wouldn't appreciate mugs

Cards are always nice, cheap, thoughtful and easily stored

I always stuck to the basics - alcohol, JLP vouchers or Waterstones vouchers.

Anything else is just clutter.

I remember a thread from last year where a teacher was made to feel incredibly ungrateful because the very expensive "thoughtfully chosen" hamper she was given by the parents was full of food she couldn't eat (allergies) and alcohol she couldn't drink (teetotal).
I expect that yes - most teachers wouldn't want 30 identical mugs from Card Factory.
Perhaps schools should say that cards/letters are much appreciated but for gifts a joint class one is best and Amazon voucher is probably easiest.
Also £1 donation per child. £30 is fine for a treat.
If parents want to spend more then donate to the PTA for school equipment.

I wouldn’t buy a teacher a present, but I got my kids to send a thank you card.🙂

Aw, no, bless.
In the 70s, when we went on a coach ride, we'd have a whip-round for the driver.
"There you go, butty! Have a drink!".
He needed it more than us.