To feel sorry for all the teachers who are about to be inundated with shite gifts

Well if they were as engaged and aware as you seem to think, there would be no mugs, chocolates and vouchers for spa days, etc., surely? Parents would be setting up standing orders for paper and glue sticks wouldn't they?

I really do not believe that parents are aware how hand-to-mouth basic schools supplies actually are.

My brother and SIL are both primary school teachers in their late 30s. So, 20 mugs/magnets/teddy bears per year for the last 10 years...
Yes, they can send them to the charity shop, to be recycled for next year, but even if only half are bought new, that's a lot of stuff being manufactured.

Daughter is in year 5. Every christmas and every end of year since reception the class teacher has got a voucher for £200. Sometimes more. There are 32 kids in the class and most parents chip in £5-10. Easily reaches £200 sometimes £300 if it’s a popular teacher

I don't know many people who would leave a £200 voucher on the shelf and forget about it

To keep dust off and it's biodegradable.

Bless you! We’re endlessly short-staffed, so breaks don’t happen for staff as we otherwise can’t keep the children safe. But after-school cake and tea is always appreciated!

Thanks thats genuinely really helpful! Have tried and failed to instigate a collection so being forced to go down the individual route (or just a heartfelt card and no gift alongside it). I know they often buy things out of their own pockets so if we get anything I wanted to be something which would be genuinely useful.

I would be surprised if parents, especially on MN aren't aware of how bad things are.

I know people say teachers like to moan, but there have been plenty of news stories about budget cuts and the dire financial situation of many schools.

When mine were in primary I often bought a terracotta plant pot which I painted with white acrylic paint and they then stuck paper shapes cut using paper cutters to it with pva glue. Once they were finished, we painted over it all with more pva and we put a potted miniature rose or similar in it which could be kept indoors or planted outdoors.
When DD1 left high school she made a massive batch of cookies and went round all her previous teachers over her 6 years at high school.

The church I used to go to had several teachers in it and I remember them having table top sales as fundraisers. Every time there were lots of "best teacher" mugs and teddies.

One of my son’s school sends an email about it and it states what is allowed and what isn’t.

I find it very helpful. It’s usually some kind of sweet treat.

I do cards and vouchers with a wide range of things with a bag of little cakes for those I don’t see behind the scenes that help our children.

As if that happens.

That's so beautiful. You will treasure that and bring it out on bad days ❤️

TA not teacher but I have kept or consumed (and on a suitable occasion regifted) every gift/card I’ve been given. And I have never received 30 of the same anything.

And also don’t think anything less of those who haven’t gifted.

Only if your employer gives it to you as part of your wages. You could give the teacher a £100k cash gift if you like and they wouldn't have to declare it on their tax return - gifts are fine, I wouldn't worry.

Blimey. I think if parents were aware of this they would buy these things for you, wouldn't they? Obviously before end of term so that they can be used.

It's terrible reading posts like yours and realising how things have changed so much for the worse. I would buy paper and glue sticks for you; and a cake for your morning tea break (if you get one?).

Maybe things have moved on, but when my OH was teaching we were inundated by candles, candles, bloody candles every year. They never got lit. Thank you cards much more appreciated.

Don't be silly, nobody does that. It is fine to give vouchers.

But if you wrote in a card, or sent an e-mail to the head, I’d be equally bowled over.

Why do they need 'feeling sorry for'?

Bright smile and thank you to the child - and then put the gifts into a box for charity. People will always buy them.

I would cry happy tears if someone gave me paper or glue sticks - preferably now, so that the last two weeks of term are not a litany of ‘we can’t do that, because we have no glue or paper’.

I bet you don't wish you got loads of shit gifts every year though.

The underlying assumption here is that teachers are both poor and venal. Of course, some are poor, but not all, and very few are money oriented.

I was a second career teacher and had a pretty lucrative first career. Many teachers are married to people with ‘big careers’ and a voucher for £200 will just be forgotten on a shelf until they need some new pots and pans (or whatever).

OTOH I have kept every handwritten card and personalised gift that I ever received. It gives me real joy that people actually appreciated the hard work I put in and it made a difference to them.

Everyone is different but most teachers I know would just like pupils to take the trouble to buy and write a card, although I am not saying gifts aren’t also welcome!

Charity shops are full of ‘Best Teacher’ mugs!

Our staff love handmade cards and a nice email. They don't want gifts, but I suspect there would be tears of joy if someone gave them these.

This!

Having said that, I appreciate any card or present given.