Do staff in your primary school give the children gifts?

[SadOtter]

Conversation with a friend, I'm wrapping little end of year gifts for the children I work with because I thought it was a nice idea, most staff at my school do it. (nothing big, teachers tend to give them a notebook or some stationery or something like that, TAs tends to give out sweets or party bag type gifts) Friend who works in a different school was really surprised because she's never done it and nor do her colleagues. My school we also do Christmas and Easter gifts, hers they do Christmas cards but that's it.

So now we are both wondering if it's a common thing or not?

I generally buy a bit of something at the end of each term - usually chocolate 🙈

I usually get my class - a couple of small items of stationery and put them in a party bag.
I admire the op’s dedication in wrapping 30 small gifts

I think my kids occasionally got a little Christmas gift from a teacher. But only one or two did it.

Our teachers do, just something small like a fun size malteasers. Kids love it.

I've usually gone with chocolate too but I've got a few who can't eat it this year, hence having to wrap things.

@CallSignCharlie I'm definitely not wrapping things next time. I had ordered little bags, they haven't arrived and delivery now says 25th July

My DSs teachers always have. Either sweets or stationery usually. I wouldn't expect it though. We have always bought gifts for the teachers in primary also, then in seniors just for tutors and maybe specific other teachers that work with our DCs a lot

DS came home with a book from the trainee teacher on her last day last week.

It's one of those things that you feel obliged to do if everyone else is doing it.

We used to give stationery, pencils etc. Sometimes sweets.

No - nobody in our school does.
But we all spend an arm and a leg during the year on things like cooking ingredients, nice things for the classroom (as well as tissues etc), props for plays and so on so it's swings and roundabouts really.

Sadotter-lol you can always keep the party bags for next year .
I always think it’s just a nice gesture to wish the kids well for their next year.

I normally plant a load of acorns and give each child a little tree. I make stickers to go on the pots saying "from little acorns grow mighty oaks".

It's meaningful, eco friendly and free

We do.

When mum was a TA and I was a teen, I would write the children, Christmas cards and wrap chocolate buttons up for them from her and the same with a small gift at the end of the year (I was paid in what gifts she got but didn’t eat - normally malt eaters). So it isn’t a new thing.

I teach secondary science now and bought a load of those small bags of Haribo for my classes, I think its a nice thing to do. We live in a really disadvantaged area and some of students really wont have a good summer. Other teachers asked why i bothered but it really surprised my students and put a smile on their face.

As a student myself, when my year 4 teacher left she gave us gifts, i got a bamboo necklace which i still have and love 20 + years on.

My kids usually receive something from primary school. DD1 got Christmas socks in year 6. In the past they’ve received pencils, sweets etc. Token gifts, which I think is very generous when multiplied by 30

Some do, some don't. Works out pretty expensive and they're never grateful for it so I don't bother, personally.

Not received end of year gifts at secondary, but they do secret Santa at Christmas, including the form teacher

Yes ours do, they're always lovely, pencils, erasers, sweets, a nice laminated picture from the school year, that sort of thing.

Yep dd1's teachers and ta's do. She's had books with lovely inscriptions, stationery & home made bookmarks and sweets/choc.
Will be interesting to see what if anything they do this year since pupils have been banned from taking in sweets/chocs for the class on their birthday.....

Yeah myself and colleagues all give little gifts at Christmas and end of year not Easter as we have an egg hunt so they eat the finds in class still costs us though. My own children's school teachers have always given small gifts also.

Yes. Easter and end of year presents.

I used to in several different schools at the end of the year. Christmas was often a bulb in a pot, or a decoration with their name on it.

I do. DCs school did much more personalised ones though. One teacher made a dvd of photos and videos from the year, with a personalised cover. A lot of the teachers there also write individual thank you letters for any gifts they receive. Totally puts me to shame
I have to say though,like pp, children in my school don't appreciate it.

I usually do.

I still need to sort this year’s and so tempted not to (can’t fall back on easy option of sweets / chocolate as too many dietary issues). But I will get something for them all. They’ve worked hard and it’s a nice token. I do chocolate at Easter & Christmas usually.

Have done glow sticks & ice pops before - you brighten up every day, have a cool summer but I’ve taught this class before so need to think of something new. Hence not sorting yet as distinct lack of inspiration.

Some of my colleagues do give something, some don’t.