To email the teacher

I'm not surprised that it was so well-received. It's good to express appreciation, especially to those who are rarely given it.

I still remember the grateful reply written to me years ago by the director of our local theatre when I praised a production. They are so used to criticism.

You have just inspired me to write a thank you email. I hope the head office passes it on (business not a school).

It’s soooo nice getting emails like this. Her heart will sink when she sees a parent email (expecting a complaint or moaning!) and then she’ll read, be happy and realise it doesn’t mean she then has to do 10 other things! Honestly it will mean the world to her.

Also send one to the head teacher

It will be a lovely thing to do. I am sure the teacher will really appreciate it.

In was a secondary teacher in a tough school in a deprived area. I can still remember when a parent took the time to write a letter to me to say how much their daughter enjoyed my lessons. That was maybe a little over 20 years ago but I still remember it

Wow @Princesspollyyyas others say, please ignore @LemaxObsessivewho is quite wrong. An inbox full of thank yous would be great!

Please do that. It will be much appreciated.

That would be great and please cc the head teacher or head of dept. Always so lovely to get a thank you.

That would be a lovely thing to do. I would include a line saying that you do not expect any reply because she is on holiday. My dcs’ school have a reply policy that requires staff to respond to a parent email within 24h. Definitely cc the Head.

There is a difference between crawling and appreciation.

You're completely wrong.

As a retired teacher, I would have been really pleased to receive such a message. And I've no idea how it might lead to the child 'getting ahead in some way' - what do you imagine the teacher might do?

Good idea. Don’t forget to copy it to the Head!

Absolutely 100% do it!

My DC's HT (Secondary) issued a letter a few months ago. It was regarding a small minority of parents who were rude / abusive / insulting towards members of staff, asking them to refrain from such behaviour, and that it would not be tolerated.

It really saddened me to read this letter, so I emailed school, basically saying how awful it was for staff members being treated like this, and I thanked them for everything they had done for my 3 DC and I, as a parent, really appreciated the job they do.

Within the hour (it was evening when I sent the email), the HT rang me, saying how lovely it was to receive this email, and she would be reading it out to all the staff the following morning.

Just saying "Thank you" goes a long way IMHO.

It is so strange isn't it that for primary school teachers everyone is buying gifts and somehow secondary is different.

I have emailed in to thank teachers for their incredible support and I always do it through the main office to the head basically saying can my thanks be passed on to Teacher's Name so they see it. At the end of year 11 I wrote in to the head as a general thank you for being an amazing school from teachers to pastoral to head of year. Then I listed out a few notable mentions and did get replies from them too.

When Ds started year 7 he came in from a non-feeder school so there were extra things put on for those who knew no one. Throughout year 7 he had some minor issues with bullying, different kids doing it and each time the HOY dealt with it. Ds went to his office at the end of the year and the HOY rang me to say that he had had a really shit couple of weeks and when Ds knocked he was thinking what now? Turns out Ds gave him a lovely card to say thank you for making the transition easier, that he knew he could turn to him when he needed to and it would all be dealt with. He admitted that he opened the card in front of my son and nearly burst into tears. All year he deals with parents defending their violent or disruptive child and it is nice to actually be thanked once in a while.

So I say definitely say thank you if you want to.

I work in a secondary (not a teacher) and I have been really struggling these past few weeks with negativity and tiredness. A Year 7 who I see every day but have not really conversed with brought me a handmade card thanking me for my kindness (all I have done is welcome her to sit quietly). It has really cheered me up and boosted my mood. Please send the email.

As a teacher, I would love this. I wouldn’t see it as you sucking up at all. I’d just feel so grateful. And even more so if you cc’d the Head in!!

For future reference saying kind words to anyone is never a bad thing, no need to ask for permission

It is a lovely thing to do. It isn’t sucking up and it will make the teacher feel very happy.

Oh the horror of having multiple emails thanking and complimenting you!

You arent actually being serious are you?

It isn’t sucking up and it isn’t bribery. It’s just a lovely gesture of thanks. For those nay sayers, do you never thank people for a job well done?

I think we live in a world where not enough people thank others.

I do a voluntary role which I love and part of which involves thanking people when they make an extra effort It is such a pleasure to write and send these messages and I know that it gives pleasure to the recipients.

I say good on you OP. It is a little sad though that you felt you should ask Mumsnet whether it was ok to do so. It shouldn’t be the exception to what normally happens. We should just make a point of thanking people more, more of the time.