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Original poster

Thank you teacher gifts

33 replies

deflatedbirthday · 21/07/2022 08:42

Looking for ideas...

I need to put together some thank you teacher gifts for DSC for tomorrow with limited funds and time! Both are moving up to new schools (juniors and secondary).

I've got bottles of Prosecco and I can easily make cards..

Any other ideas?

OP posts:
OnceAgainWithFeeling · 21/07/2022 08:46

I bought some Kilmer-type jars and let DD fill them with sweets of her choice for her (beloved Y6) teacher (large jar) and other staff (smaller jars). She wrote a card and I added some cocktail sachets and a couple of other bits that she had mentioned to me.

it was her last day yesterday. (Emotional rollercoaster.)

Her teacher text me last night to say she had read DD’s card first and had to stop. I told her to pour a cocktail when she was ready to try again. 😂

Original poster
deflatedbirthday · 21/07/2022 08:53

@OnceAgainWithFeeling oh that's sounds lovely!!

OP posts:
UnagiForLife · 21/07/2022 09:06

I’m in the same boat, need to sort something today. Each of my children have two teachers and two teaching assistants who have all been great and I want to thank. DC have written thank you cards but I want to do something too. I’m wondering whether a thank you card and a joint gift for the whole class team each? What would be a good joint gift… box of biscuits? £20 to spend on whatever as a class team. Or £5 Costa voucher each? No idea

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DockOTheBay · 21/07/2022 09:09

Prosecco and a card sounds like a fine present :)

Acunningruse · 21/07/2022 09:10

This year I did mini bottle wine and mini box chocs each. Cost less than £5 each.
Previous years I have done:
£5 Costa voucher
Multiple boxes biscuits for staff room
Pen and note book set
Bottles of wine (be careful if carrying into school in gift bags!)

Musicalmistress · 21/07/2022 09:12

As a teacher, a card with a little message written by you or the children is the perfect gift. We don't expect gifts and the best ones are always the wee personal ones that show you've had a positive impact/relationship with the child and family.

AwfulTed · 21/07/2022 09:31

Prosecco and card is perfect! I’m a SEN assistant and although it’s lovely to get staff room gifts I’m afraid there was a lot of waste especially with fresh bakery goods… but honestly, a card alone is enough - you could also email the principal if deserved!!

LisaSimpson77 · 21/07/2022 09:47

As you say you have limited funds, please, please don't spend any more. A bottle of Prosecco and a nice card and message is perfect.
A heartfelt thank you message is lovely but honestly most teachers would prefer that you spent those limited funds on your own family!!

maddy68 · 21/07/2022 09:48

Trust me. I'm a teacher. Please send wine

KatherineofGaunt · 21/07/2022 09:59

Prosecco and a card sound lovely! As a teacher, any card or gift was gratefully received and I never thought any less of those who gave nothing or just a card.

Soubriquet · 21/07/2022 10:02

I’ve got mine Prosecco fudge. I was supposed to get small Victorian style jars full, but I accidentally bought the small portion.

I won’t be replacing it as I figure teachers will
share out what they have

latetothefisting · 21/07/2022 10:08

Not chocolate! My friend, mum, and sister are all teachers and every year they all end up trying to offload or bin 20-30 bars or boxes of chocolate or cupcakes etc each, either because they try to eat healthily/have allergies/just don't like cheap dairy milk. Their favourite gifts are as a pp said, cards with a really thoughtful message. Other than that a nice bottle of wine, because even if they don't drink them all themselves they can give them as presents to others.

MisgenderedSwan · 21/07/2022 10:10

I always take biscuits a few days before the end of term, that way if they're not keen they can put them in the staff room. Then the dc draw and write a card.

Tintackedsea · 21/07/2022 10:30

The teacher does not want a gift. All schools should have policies about this and, imo, should remind parents that they do not need or expect presents. It's a equity issue and puts enormous pressure on other parents who may not be able to afford it. A card with a note is lovely and much appreciated.

LisaSimpson77 · 21/07/2022 10:42

@latetothefisting they seriously bin them though???
Why be so wasteful, what's wrong with the food bank or Olio?

OnceAgainWithFeeling · 21/07/2022 10:48

Tintackedsea · 21/07/2022 10:30

The teacher does not want a gift. All schools should have policies about this and, imo, should remind parents that they do not need or expect presents. It's a equity issue and puts enormous pressure on other parents who may not be able to afford it. A card with a note is lovely and much appreciated.

All other years we’ve done a class collection - max £5 each and bought something of the teacher’s choosing for the classroom.

This year was different, being the last year of primary. The teacher is famous for her love of sweets (which she shares) so it’s only right that she gets her own body weight in haribos after all she’s done. There was also a collection and they’ve bought her a voucher to have her nails done with that. Nobody spends £££s.

Nadal · 21/07/2022 12:19

For my Year6 son, I bought the teacher the devine Glayva (whiskey liquor). She is such a superstar who taught/supported him and his brother and I wanted to say a big thank you. She is also retiring this year.

Also accompanied by card from son with a little note from our family too.

upinaballoon · 21/07/2022 12:33

Any head teacher worth his or her salt would ban every kind of thank you teacher gift or card. No, teachers are not more important than everyone else. Go around and give thank you Prosecco to the shelf-stackers and the lavatory cleaners and the workers on 12 hour shifts standing and putting four pieces of ham on countless pizzas which pass under their noses every boring hour.

Original poster
deflatedbirthday · 21/07/2022 12:37

@upinaballoon I don't disagree that everyone deserves thanks. However, I personally have had a lot of interaction with my DSC teachers this year (and previous years) for a number of reasons and I'd like to show my gratitude for their hard work which has personally impacted myself and my family. That's not to say I don't appreciate other workers. I often work 12 hours shifts on wards in a hospital in addition to my substantive NHS role. It's rare to get a verbal thank you let alone anything else but I'm not bitter enough that it stops me from showing my appreciation to the people who make a difference to mine or the kids lives.

OP posts:
Doubleraspberry · 21/07/2022 12:43

I have done:

Tony Chocoloney chocolate bar sets for the admin team at both schools - both of them have been amazing with my kids for various reasons
Grumpy Cat prints for my eldest's job share teachers (likely to remind them of her but both have small kids so would also work for a child's room)
Candles for Wellbeing lead and one class teacher
Notebook for other class teacher
For my son's 1:1 TA, I've got him a treasure hunt to do with his family, and then a print of something that is very much about my son.
After school club have a box of Heroes.

And cards for everyone above.

Penguinfeather781 · 21/07/2022 13:55

upinaballoon · 21/07/2022 12:33

Any head teacher worth his or her salt would ban every kind of thank you teacher gift or card. No, teachers are not more important than everyone else. Go around and give thank you Prosecco to the shelf-stackers and the lavatory cleaners and the workers on 12 hour shifts standing and putting four pieces of ham on countless pizzas which pass under their noses every boring hour.

Not more important. But I’m much more emotionally attached and indebted to the TA who supports my disabled child at school, works tirelessly to try and help him achieve things, comforts him when he cries, sometimes comforts me when I cry, celebrates his successes with him etc than I am to the guy who makes my pizza in Asda. I owe a much bigger thank you to the teacher who’s spent hours making resources for him, patiently helped him crack something he’s struggled with for years, put up with an awful lot of chat about his special interests, arranged all sorts of adaptations without even being asked and has got him to do things we never thought he was capable of than I do to the guy who puts groceries on shelves. It’s a completely different relationship. I’ll give them cards if I flipping well want to.

Doubleraspberry · 21/07/2022 14:53

Penguinfeather781 · 21/07/2022 13:55

Not more important. But I’m much more emotionally attached and indebted to the TA who supports my disabled child at school, works tirelessly to try and help him achieve things, comforts him when he cries, sometimes comforts me when I cry, celebrates his successes with him etc than I am to the guy who makes my pizza in Asda. I owe a much bigger thank you to the teacher who’s spent hours making resources for him, patiently helped him crack something he’s struggled with for years, put up with an awful lot of chat about his special interests, arranged all sorts of adaptations without even being asked and has got him to do things we never thought he was capable of than I do to the guy who puts groceries on shelves. It’s a completely different relationship. I’ll give them cards if I flipping well want to.

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Hear hear!

Suzi888 · 21/07/2022 14:58

We’ve done a class cash contribution and will get vouchers.
I usually send in wine and a Yankee candle with flowers and a thoughtful thank you note.

latetothefisting · 21/07/2022 15:05

LisaSimpson77 · 21/07/2022 10:42

@latetothefisting they seriously bin them though???
Why be so wasteful, what's wrong with the food bank or Olio?

I said "offload" so they do try to give them to friends/neighbours/bin men etc.

Personally I use olio etc so would do that if it was me, but they don't and tbh can see why you cba downloading an app, signing up for an account, and waiting in for someone to arrive - added faff after a year of a lot of faffy work for something that's supposed to be a reward for you not yet another thing to sort out! Plus not worth the aggro if the parents recognised their gift on there (if your kids teacher lives in your village and the day school breaks up suddenly there's a huge pile of chocolate including the exact box you gave them being offered on olio it's pretty obvious!)

Bin is not deliberate but usually when they've kept them for months thinking they will eat them at some point then never get round to them and they're found gone off in the back of a cupboard etc.

LadyHelenaJustina · 21/07/2022 21:33

Wine. They deserve every mouthful.

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