Cheap but meaningful gifts for teachers

[KJCB1210]

I know everyone has a different opinion on whether gifts should be bought but the staff in ds's class have gone above and beyond this year, he's in year 6 so leaving too. He's been one of the Ta's for the past 4 years in the mornings.

he has additional needs ^

thing is, I want to buy something but very tight budget this year. There is 1 teacher and 3 ta's.

home made is not an option as Ds hates anything crafty related 😅 and I'm not much better myself

The best gift I ever had was lovely letter from a parent, written on special notepaper. I kept it for years. Apart from this, the usual biscuits, chocs and flowers are your absolute best bet (esp if they come from M&S) - teachers don't want vouchers or the odd fiver. In this case, it really really is the thought that counts.

As the wife of a teacher I would say a card with a lovely message would be nice but I also love all the chocolates that DH brings home and makes us both happy

And please no cups or mugs we have cupboards full of them.

Cafe Nero gift card.

You don't even need a card. I'm four years retired, and I still have a note from a parent written in some lined notepaper, pinned to my onboard in the kitchen.

Her son was severely autistic and non verbal. Somehow he and I just clicked and he made progress that no-one expected. She thanked me effusively (though seeing him blossom was my reward) and said "You get him! You really get him!". That note means more to me than any card or gift I got in forty years of teaching.

Your words are the best gift.

Argh. Ruined by a typo. Pinboard

A handwritten card would be wonderful and something to treasure. I still have a card written by a little lad almost 20 years ago. It still makes me smile every time I come across it in my dresser.

I totally agree about the letters and cards. Just that someone has taken the trouble to write down their thanks is so valued.

I was also given a tiny Christmas decoration by one little girl, who sadly passed away a few years ago (I taught children who were seriously ill). She chose it herself and I think about her when I hang it on the tree every year.

Cards and letters are great.
But if you do want a small gift, then vouchers are also excellent - small is absolutely fine, as you can use them for a coffee or something, or put them together with some money to get something else you really want. But a small one for a coffee and piece of cake - lovely afternoon treat. Or a book voucher, enough to buy a paperback or something, doesn't have to be really pricey.
A small bar of chocolate also nice - I had a pupil remember my favourite one, and get me that one year - probably cost less than £1, but I really appreciated the fact that she'd noticed and remembered, and decided to get me it herself, and it was something I really liked so I probably enjoyed it more than something else that might have cost more!

Chocolate orange and a scratch card is a cheap option.

Etsy do lots of handmade personalised stuff e.g. peg dolls if you don't have the skills yourself!

A thank you card is enough. I've never thrown one away after over 20 years!

As others have said, a note and a message to the head teacher / governors explaining how the staff have helped your child would be enormously appreciated. School staff know that the cost of living crisis is having a massive impact on families, and I bet they’d rather you spent the money treating your son.

Please, please don't buy a gift if funds are tight, a thoughtful message is really all that you need to send.
Many teachers get overwhelmed with presents at end of term/Christmas and it is shocking to think that parents are struggling to afford them. I help in a Food Bank and one year a parent said she couldn't afford food as she had bought teacher presents (yes, I know that was a poor decision but it indicates the pressure some DPs feel to buy teacher gifts )

A nice (but not expensive) pen along with a nice note was a lovely present I had from one parent.

I've also got a fake report written about me by the parent and child, reflecting on the things they'd really liked that I'd done with my class through the year. Printed and laminated.

This. Please let senior management know they have a wonderful ta!

One of my favourite ever gifts was a card with some lovely words and a £5 Starbucks voucher. So sweet as it was from someone who had very little money

Maybe a school wall calendar for the next school year with pictures of the class if other parents are supportive, and a gift card or a really nice tea/coffee set?

I am a teacher. Today I received a letter from some parents to say thank you. They also copied the Head who called me into her office to tell me about it.

Meant 1000 times more than anything I have ever had in terms of flowers and chocolates.

A student gave me a can of Diet Coke with a ribbon around it and a lovely card-I was well pleased!

I’m a TA, if parents really do want to buy a gift then I love a plant that I can pop in one of my patio pots. And I love the idea of a coffee shop gift card.
But the plant would always remind me of that pupil.

Amazon voucher.

last year we bought dc2’s reception teacher & class ta a big punnet of local grown strawberries, scones & clotted cream at school pick up. Seemed appreciated & apparently enjoyed. Dc1’s teacher got some veggies for his pet 😀, but as above. A close friend is a yr6 teacher and loves a card at most, she keeps the ones that are specific. She did receive a glasses case about 3 years ago and she still uses it.