Teachers gifts ..... any teachers give us some thoughts?

[Rupertgrintismyguiltypleasure]

I’ve been giving teachers gifts for the last 10 years, I’ve given candles, mugs etc now I wanna go bold but obviously out of this world expensive. Dd has 2 teachers, one is vegan. So I’ve brought chocolates, because there are other teachers that help out the class so chocolates will do for all teachers. However I want something individual... any ideas from current or past teachers on what you would like to receive??

I'm not a teacher but I do tutor, so I usually get gifts off my students at Christmas.

The most practical gifts I've received are gift cards, especially ones you can use at a variety of different places. To make it more personal, put it in one of those 'thank you teacher' cards and get your DD to write a nice message in it.

The nicest gift I ever got was a fancy notebook (think one of those Paperblanks notebooks you see in Waterstones) with some messages from the kids inside and some pictures of them on the first few pages. But I'm a sucker for fancy books and notebooks so not sure if that's good for everyone.

I'm a TA and recieved a rose plant and several other home grown plants with either personal notes or a hand decorated pot. Really lovely.
Past presents staff have been pleased with include gift cards for local ships, coffee shops and jewellers. Practical and a treat! A teacher got a smart cool bag with some picnic non chilled items in, crackers etc. She also got a wine cooler bag with wine in.

It's lovely that you want to give a gift, though none is ever expected by any teacher. I can't think of anything right now, but in the card, say something very specific about what the teacher has done for your child. It's priceless, heartwarming (and good for promotion evidence).

This.

I have kept every card or note given to me by student (including the one written on the back of a cupcake box). Other than the delicious cupcake (which I only remember because I still have the box), I have forgotten what presents I have been given but I treasure the messages in the cards and read them when I am having a bad day and thinking about quitting.

Seriously, just dont buy any presents! As posters above have said, a card with message of thanks will be appreciated for years - I have been teaching for over 20 years and still get a buzz when I reread cards from students whose children I am now teaching.

I feel that the expectation for presents lies with us as parents rather than teachers - I had to give myself a good shake and step back from the tack of the gift aisle for my own children's teachers! Make or choose a card, write a message and this will be more than enough.

I'm an ex- teacher. My take is that I just simply didn't want end of term or year gifts and dreaded them.

In a large class (and in general frankly)it's an awful lot of waste, I didn't want a mug, candle, bottle of wine or chocolates or objects with my own full name engraved or piped on them etc anymore than anyone else would if they got given 30 several times a year. I live a fairly clutter free life and almost all of it went to charity (a pain to organise) or the food and wine palmed off to friends and family because it's just too much or not to my taste or simply wasn't going to be used (I don't drink or eat gluten but obviously parents would have no reason to know this). Often rightly or wrongly teachers would swap gifts in the staff room or leave food and drink items there for similar reasons.

I partially dreaded it separately because the whole thing made me feel guilty, you simply can't keep it all, the pressure on households to spend (and waste) money made me uncomfortable and you do feel bad for the pupils when you reach a point that cards and drawings or homemade gifts (one year I had about 15 bead bracelets) need to be thrown out, because you care.

I loved reading through the cards and letters with proper messages and kept several as memories but physical gifts- not needed.

If you really feel you have to my advice would be national book tokens the teacher or school can use to acquire books for classroom reading, for book corner or even to use as prizes.

My daughter is a teacher. She has kept every single card and message given to her and though she has received some lovely presents over the years I doubt she can remember who gave her those. She does reread the cards etc though, they are definitely the most appreciated.

Vouchers are my fave. Even a £5 Costa/Starbucks one. I do love flowers too though, I rarely get them though.

Retired teacher here, several decades at the chalkface. While gifts are nice, and appreciated, the best thing is a written message of thanks, maybe, if emailed, copied in to the head and the chair of governors. I have a box full of cards, notes and letters that boost me up considerably on less bright days. They will last after the chocs are eaten, the wine is drunk and the teacher mugs have gone to teacher mug heaven. ( and, if you're thinking about a teacher mug, maybe remember that about ten other parents probably will too :-D )

Oh and nice emails about me to my headteacher too.

Hullo! It's cards and notes I treasure. Emails too. That's what I keep.
I am now a parent and am horrified by the WhatsApps on parent groups I'm on with parents contributing towards teachers gifts and struggling to scrape together a tenner. I always want to say to them 'don't'! The teacher really wouldn't want that.
Genuinely no teacher expects anything. Genuinely.
The free things are honestly the best things. The notes from a child etc.

However, if you do want to get something, then something consumable with a long life is good- like wine.

Ha. Just seeing everyone is saying the same thing. I really hope people notice this thread. I'm mortified that people might have struggled financially to buy me gifts in the past.

I am a teacher and I have given my friend who is a teacher some novelty drawing pins, highlighters and a notebook for her new office. Another friend I've given a bookmark of the character she likes. Ins of the pupils in my class gave me a voucher. I'm really pleased!! Hth.

A card with a personal message is worth so much more. I always keep my cards but gifts often don't last.

Another one for cards. I have kept special ones from parents. This means so much.

I have always appreciated a novelty pen. Pens have a tendency to walk a lot in schools. Novelty pens mean you can identify yours easily! and I really love it when the kids have picked it themselves.

I haven't had booze for 2 years on the trot now, neither at Christmas! Any booze is good for me and if you don't drink you can pass it on.

It's difficult isn't it as you want to show your appreciation it don't want to clutter up their life or give something that is going straight to the charity shop.

Alcohol can be an issue for obvious reasons.

I'm probably leaning to something edible as no clutter, the gesture is there and who doesn't love a treat. But even that could miss the mark.

We have a fab baker that makes amazing donuts so was thinking a box of 6 and a card. Can then have to themselves or share with team. ?

Agree with everyone else. Especially about the emails to the head!

It's nice when the dc are excited about giving you something. Excited and involved. But other than that I'd prefer nothing than something.

I once got a whole class gift of a handbag, physically given to me by the mother who organised it, and the children had no idea about any of it.

Vouchers are my fave They are my least fave! Parents pretty much handing you money.

Definitely a card with a nice note in it. That’s the best thing to receive. One parent used to make home made biscuits and wrap them up nicely which was lovely. A nice pen or notebook were also good presents or a small voucher. But a nice thank you note or card means so much more and I’ve kept the vast majority of them.

I'm another one who favours vouchers.

I used to work in a boarding school so the end of term was the same every year (and Christmas as well), I would get dozens and dozens of chocolates, candles, bottles of wine and the odd scarf. Many of them were up-market gifts and probably cost anything from £10 - £30 each. I used to think it was such a waste as I'd have been happier with a fiver and be done. They would all be given away - there was too much chocolate to eat, I don't wear scarves, I haven't time for candles (the staff gained those) and I don't drink alcohol anyway.

Every so often, some parent would understand. I once had a mother buy me some Carluccio's vouchers so I could take a friend for a relaxing coffee after a hard working term. One parent from overseas used to put a £20 note in a card every year, I can't tell you how much I appreciated that. And one year, the parents of the children who were leaving all clubbed together and bought me a John Lewis voucher for a large amount of money....I was SO grateful, I used it in Waitrose and it fed me every week during the long summer holidays!! I guess that wasn't what they had in mind but we weren't well paid, so it was definitely the best present I received during the whole of my time in that job!

DD in a rural area and loves getting eggs from the DC's chickens

Booze is good for me! But cards are always very much appreciated.
I mainly teach sixth-formers and have had some really lovely thoughtful presents from them which I can put in the classroom, and I smile every time I see them. (Artwork, and an engraved plaque, related to things from the course!)

I’m a teacher and I really don’t want any presents. Nice comments are always welcome though!

I agree with notes, cards, emails to the head.

I think most generic gifts can be problematic - please no candles or mugs or any thank you teacher tat!

Wine/alcohol - people don't always drink and lots don't like to receive it

Chocolates or other edible thing - often thrown, passed straight on or put in the staffroom for general consumption

Flowers - people are often going away on holiday and have to throw them or give them to somebody not going away.

If you don't want to be wasteful and have no idea of the teacher's preferences, a lovely message in a card and a voucher card for somewhere generic is probably the safest option.

Not a teacher but what goes down well is a selection of female orientated gifts work, like shower gels, pretty soaps, hand creams and body lotions. Nice floral ones, not too specific. Always get used.