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Original poster

Did school give your kids a present? What?

90 replies

SleepingStandingUp · 20/12/2021 20:57

I'm just curious. Ours (primary) always do books, from nursery up to year 6. It's also always books for prizes like Halloween altho Easter Bonnets is an Easter Egg

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ldontWanna · 20/12/2021 22:17

DD's school just little bits from teachers/ TA's.

My school does a book for every child and money to each class for the teacher to buy presents for the class , things like games, role play or outside area etc.
Then the teachers/TA's might also buy little things for the children in their classes.

Pinkflipflop85 · 20/12/2021 22:18

Another teacher here who has never been given a budget from the school/pta.

I buy my class gifts from my own money.

Draculahhh · 20/12/2021 22:21

My childrens school took every single pupil to the panto, which I thought was a lovely idea.

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ichundich · 20/12/2021 22:25

No, and I don't think they should. Better to spend the money on learning materials or other stuff needed in school.

Original poster
SleepingStandingUp · 20/12/2021 22:40

@HerRoyalNotness

Not this year, I think they only do it at primary here. One year they gave all the kid’s a whistle! Can you imagine it? 1200 kids walking out of school before the holidays all blowing on whistles 😂
Omg. Also your school is HUGE
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Original poster
SleepingStandingUp · 20/12/2021 22:46

Some lovely teachers on here, ours comes from school / probably via PTA, I wouldn't expect teachers to buy anything (not that I expect school to but one either of course)

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Original poster
SleepingStandingUp · 20/12/2021 22:47

@Draculahhh

My childrens school took every single pupil to the panto, which I thought was a lovely idea.
Ours is half subsidised but agree, it's such a lovely experience for them all
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Knittingnanny · 20/12/2021 22:52

@Downton57 me too! Never in my 35 years of teaching was I ever allocated a present budget. I always bought my infant classes a small gift at Christmas and end of year from my own money.
Sadly over the years a few parents have complained about the smallness of the gifts.

HamCob · 20/12/2021 23:02

[quote Knittingnanny]@Downton57 me too! Never in my 35 years of teaching was I ever allocated a present budget. I always bought my infant classes a small gift at Christmas and end of year from my own money.
Sadly over the years a few parents have complained about the smallness of the gifts.[/quote]
Complained?! That's shocking!!
Like most of the other posters I've always bought a little token e.g a Christmas pencil/notebook & some sweets (often provided the prizes and sweets for the Xmas parties too!). Even a small gift x30 isn't cheap. I think if someone complained it would be the last time I did it!

Legomania · 20/12/2021 23:10

DS (yr 1) received a book from his teacher and one from the PTA, and a personalised Christmas tree ornament. I think it's really lovely of them.

Nittersing · 20/12/2021 23:15

I usually give a book to each of my students. This year there was a book, a Christmas pencil and a chocolate santa ( about the same size as a chocolate frog). The children themselves also made an art piece as their gift to their families using a white tile. All of this is purchased by me. There has never been any present funding from the PTA/P&C/School budget.
And yes parents do complain if the gift is too small. The expectation for teachers to give a gift to the students comes from the parents not school admin.

AuditAngel · 20/12/2021 23:21

My Yr 6 came home with a bauble with her name written on it, with sweets inside. Last year it was fluffy socks and£ the two Yr 5 teachers had made their own labels for the socks with their names on. I think funded by the staff not PTA-

SkankingMopoke · 20/12/2021 23:43

My primary DCs always get a book each at Xmas, which tend to be OK titles. They are certainly a better investment than the bibles the PA buy the leavers in the summer (because those who are that way inclined will, I'm sure, already have one. For everyone else, they will just collect dust/be sent to charity, and be a waste of money that would be better spent on desperately needed items that would benefit all the DCs).

BitterTits · 20/12/2021 23:50

I gave Y8 a Lindt chocolate bear each. I let abouther class at a tub of Celebrations. Last year it was a magnetic book mark. I pay for it myself so I'm not prepared to spend any more and I'll only do it as long as they say thank you and tidy up after themselves.

BitterTits · 20/12/2021 23:51

And yes parents do complain if the gift is too small.

In that case I wouldn't be buying gifts at all.

JimmyGrimble · 20/12/2021 23:52

Never had a budget for Christmas or other presents for my class so it all comes out of my salary. Books, chocolates, bits of stationery, all paid for by me. And yes, some parents do complain. Because some people are entitled fuckers.
Also bought by me: anything my class needs for special art projects, cooking ingredients, christingles, books, extras for the Christmas party … I do this willingly because I think the children deserve more but the constant moaning from some parents does get a bit wearing.

badlydrawnbear · 21/12/2021 00:04

Some sweets, a christmas themed choc lolly and a pencil.
I assumed the teachers paid for it themselves.

User135792468 · 21/12/2021 00:05

I’ve never known PTA’s paying for gifts. Those of you assuming they do, it is actually your child’s teacher putting their hands in their own pockets to do something nice for your dc.

ToMeetOrNotToMeet · 21/12/2021 00:07

A book and four Kinder eggs.

Legomania · 21/12/2021 00:09

@User135792468

I’ve never known PTA’s paying for gifts. Those of you assuming they do, it is actually your child’s teacher putting their hands in their own pockets to do something nice for your dc.
Our PTA ones have a sticker inside the front cover saying "from x school PTA"!
sarah13xx · 21/12/2021 00:14

I’m a primary teacher and I get them all a present every Christmas and summer then some sort of chocolate at Easter. The school also gives them a book from Santa.

@Downton57 totally! The only job where you steal from home to take to work 🤦🏼‍♀️ I spent £500 in one summer doing up a classroom that was literally bare, not a single resource. I even bought bloody scissors for them all because there were none 😂 I didn’t grudge any of it until I’d get a parent up complaining about something I hadn’t done for their child or when my own resources got thrown at me or intentionally broken by a child day in day out. Can you tell I’m glad to be on mat leave? 😂😂

Original poster
SleepingStandingUp · 21/12/2021 00:21

@ToMeetOrNotToMeet

A book and four Kinder eggs.
DS would be in heaven. That's his dream present there!!
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Original poster
SleepingStandingUp · 21/12/2021 00:24

I just can't imagine going up to the teacher and saying "I'm really unhappy with how small the GIFT you've GIVEN my child is". It's so absurd!

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JimmyGrimble · 21/12/2021 00:29

A couple of years ago at home time on the last day child goes running up to their parent clutching the gift bag I have given them. Child says something like ‘look, ms grimble got us a present’ … parent replies ‘it’ll just be a book or some other shit’

Beachhuts90 · 21/12/2021 00:39

I always get my class a little something small for Christmas and the end of the school year. The PTA also buys them a book, which we wrap. It's lovely, the kids really love the novelty of a little present in school, although they're usually put out if I say they have to wait til home time for their sweets. Key stage 1 though 😂😍

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