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How much for the class collection for teachers gift?

31 replies

womaninatightspot · 07/12/2020 14:22

At what point did ten pounds become the standard donation for a class gift? I'm sure it was a couple of quid ( a fiver for the generous)a few years ago?

What do you cough up for your five year olds?

OP posts:
Sober4Summer20 · 07/12/2020 14:36

I did the collection for my sons teacher recently. I would say about 15 people gave £5 and 5 people gave £10. I usually give five xx

SirSamuelVimes · 07/12/2020 14:37

I think it was £4 last year!

MeowMeowLikeACow · 07/12/2020 14:38

DC in reception and year 3 here. Reception class £5 was requested, year £2 was requested (someone in each group took charge of the collection). Probably reflects how enthusiasm for gift giving diminishes over the years Grin

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WellTidy · 07/12/2020 14:41

It has varied in DS' class collection this year - anything between £2 and £20 donated. I know this as the money has been collected through PayPal (donations can be made anonymously).

Crunchymum · 07/12/2020 14:47

No amounts are requested and all donations are anonymous.

I have done £20 each for my Y1 and Y3 children as quite frankly I think teachers deserve a fucking medal (especially at the moment)

Our collections are changed into vouchers.

HeyMicky · 07/12/2020 14:54

The other year 1 class this year has asked for £25 ShockShockShock

I would have had a lot to say about that but it's not DD's class.

There should be no minimum amount. People should give only if they can, to an amount of their choosing. And there should be no judgement if individuals opt out

LittleOverwhelmed · 07/12/2020 15:07

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

Findahouse21 · 07/12/2020 15:09

Depends on how many staff it needs to cover - our collection covers 2 teachers, 2 TAs and the lunch time supervisor (each class has a named supervisor) so for me £10 is good value as I couldn't get anything meaningful for £2.50 each. I wouldn't give £10 just for the teacher though

NoSquirrels · 07/12/2020 15:14

Is it just for the teacher, or the TA too? Think ours is suggested £4, but donate 'what you can afford'. So you are free to give more or less or not contribute at all. I think if it's a mandated £10 that's poor form whoever suggested it, frankly.

user1471538283 · 07/12/2020 16:34

Good god collections! It shows how long it's been since my DS left school but when he was small we might get a teacher some flowers but there was no collection. Times are incredibly tough for lots of people and this is another added financial pressure along with Secret Santa and the like. Just give what you can afford if anything at all

SionnachRua · 07/12/2020 16:39

I think it depends on the school and how many staff you're buying for. Presumably you'd be spending the same for any primary based child though (not accounting for extra staff etc).

I think the parents put in about €15 at Christmas and again at summer where I work. Couldn't tell you, it's not like I count it up!

SionnachRua · 07/12/2020 16:40

To add: that's for one class teacher, no classroom assistant or anything of the like. But it's a well off area so that impacts their choices no doubt.

selflove · 07/12/2020 16:40

Ours is a "give what you can afford" but its £10 is the accepted unofficial amount. It is split between the teacher and any TA's in that class, so it's not an unreasonable amount. Having collected in previous years, everyone gave £10 apart from one family (with about six kids in different year groups so dear god I get it!!) who gave £5. And this year there are 30 kids in the class and the collector said we have collected £295, so again, everyone has mostly done £10.

MotherWol · 07/12/2020 16:43

I’ve just chipped in to ours, it looks like the average is about £20 each, but that covers the teacher, TA and trainee (shared between two reception classes).

GreeboIsMySpiritAnimal · 07/12/2020 17:16

We usually give £10 per child, but only gave £5 each this year as times are harder.

I organised the collection last year, and a lovely single mum of two, who works part-time as a cleaner and doesn't speak great English, tried to give me £30 - for one teacher! I gave it straight back and told her it was far too much, suggested £2-5 was a more reasonable amount. She told me in 4 years of donating she'd always give that much and no one had ever told her it was too much. I felt a bit sick on her behalf.

Pipandmum · 07/12/2020 17:24

£5-10 was the norm, but we didn't collect for Christmas only the end of the year when they would be changing teachers for the next year.

BackforGood · 07/12/2020 17:48

Nationally - it isn't.
In fact, nationally, even having a class collection isn't 'the norm'.
You will get skewed views on MN.

There is no need to contribute anything If you choose to, it should be a token amount.
If you really appreciate what the teachers have done, then write a nice letter / card / e-mail and get them something personal. Otherwise, don't.

itsovernowthen · 07/12/2020 17:56

My DS is 4 and attends the pre-school attached to the school where he will be joining reception next year. There is one main class teacher, and at least 5 other teacher helpers in the class (I'm not sure exactly what all their titles are), so I've got them a small hamper to share between them, so each of them gets something. They do a fantastic job, and my DS absolutely loves going there.

We don't seem to have a class collection as nobody has contacted me, however if we did, I'd probably give £20 as there's so many people for the gift to be shared amongst (ordinary suburban state school).

Pascha · 07/12/2020 17:59

My kids have traditionally given a card at Christmas and a couple of quid per head at the end of the summer term.

RosieLemonade · 07/12/2020 18:02

I’ve never known any class in any school I’ve worked at to do a collection.

lazylockdowner · 07/12/2020 18:10

£5 here. Dd year 1 has 15 kinds in class. The money will be shared between 2 teachers and 2 t/a so in fairness

lazylockdowner · 07/12/2020 18:10

In fairness cheaper than getting a gift for each

DontCryForMeNextdoorNeighbour · 07/12/2020 18:12

I do £10 but it's for both the teacher and the TA. People give what they can though, there's no expectation.

Camomila · 07/12/2020 18:21

I feel a bit bad we gave £5 as we can afford £10 (which is what most people gave), but our DS1 is in his first year and at work collections were always £2 or £3 so I guessed!

HappyChristmasTreeRex · 07/12/2020 18:24

This is crazy amounts of money, I think £1 or £2 should be more than enough for a few token gifts.