Help me spend £70 on teacher’s Easter present

[SoGladofYou]

Class Rep here. One of my jobs is to buy the teacher a present from the class kitty on behalf of the parents at the end of each term. I would like to choose something Springlike but I’m cr*p at choosing presents, so would welcome suggestions from Mumsnetters. The budget is £70. It doesn’t have to be just one item, but a maximum of three. Thanks so much ☺️

Class kitty? Easter gifts? Class rep? What is all this stuff!

So glad at my kids school it’s buy a random gift at Xmas and end of year and the teachers keep asking for you to plant a tree for them instead. I always get the kids to make a card, seems much more personal to me.

Gifts in the workplace come under HMRC rules - gifts from employers are taxable above £50 and gifts from interested parties (arguably parents) come under gifts and hospitality rules and are potentially taxable. I sat through a very boring full day seminar on it.

No one is going to quibble boxes of chocolates or token gifts, but gifts or vouchers worth more than £50 are getting into dodgy territory to be honest.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/ssro-gifts-and-hospitality-policy/gifts-and-hospitality-policy

“The general principles for the acceptance of gifts are:

The gift must be of a nominal or notional value. Typically, a gift should not be accepted if the cumulative value from any one organisation or individual exceeds £200 in any 12 month period or £50 for any one gift.
The gift must be given for an appropriate reason.
The gift must be given at an appropriate time (e.g. not in advance of the issuing of an opinion or determination, or in advance of the award of a contract).
The gift must be of a “one-off” or irregular nature (i.e. that could not be viewed as a regular source of income by HMRC for personal taxation purposes).
The details of all gifts accepted or declined should be fully recorded in the Gifts and Hospitality Register (see Appendix), which will be published on the SSRO’s website.”

If every child in the class spent £2/3 on a load of random crap like teacher mugs, cheap boxes of chocolate etc, no-one would think anything of it. So why is it seen to be so much worse to club together to get a decent present?

The idea of a voucher, flowers and a nice Easter Egg is fine.

But only buy JL vouchers if you have one nearby and know she shops there. Otherwise, it's just an expensive inconvenience. M&S would be much better as there's far more of them and more chance that you can use it for something more reasonably priced.

As the class rep can you not be brave/ socially responsible and just plain old sensible about this absolute nonsense that goes on in schools both states and private. A voucher for the school bus driver who ferries the children safely to and from a home is undeniably doing just as an important job as a teacher.

Local restaurant vouchers

Presumably if every family gave a gift of £3 then it would be ok? No individual is giving £70.

i don't see what I'm doing as not socially responsible. I share one message that if anyone would like to contribute - I'll arrange a group gift. There's no pressure, no set amount and it's anonymous. Usually 3/4 of parent contribute. I'm unsure why that's not socially responsible - to collect monies to then give the teacher one decent gift instead of 20 boxes of supermarket chocolates / favourite teacher mugs....

and whilst I don't disagree that a school bus driver is also an important job, our local primary doesn't have school buses. The local catchment means everyone is within a few minutes walk or drive from school.

nobody is forcing anybody to part with their money.

Typically, a gift should not be accepted if the cumulative value from any one organisation or individual exceeds £200 in any 12 month period or £50 for any one gift.

So as long as no child/family gave more than £50 a time, or £200 within a year, you're fine.

You should have included the key facts in your OP…

@GiantKitten thank you so much for the suggestion

Sorry - had intended to add a to that.
Not helpful as it stands

@GiantKitten ah, I see. But I suspect where I really went wrong was in thinking that my original post was a just a harmless little question. But I’ve been in Mumsnet awhile so I seriously should have known better 🤦🏽‍♀️

But seriously, thank you to all those who have made suggestions. I’ll take the vouchers, plant and chocs for now and perhaps a dining out voucher at the end of the summer term, when it will start all over again 😁

God, this in spades. £70 for a teacher’s Easter gift!? I just can’t even comprehend.

I know that’s not what you asked, sorry.

A private (I know you’re not in uk but am still assuming fee-paying?) school where the parents have to buy all the supplies, as well as paying fees and giving massive presents every term? Wow!

Easter presents for teachers?
This is ridiculous. If this is becoming a thing, I'm glad my children are out of primary school.

I was just thinking this - what the hell!

You’re failing to acknowledge my point of the complete absurdity of buying teachers or anyone who is employed in a public servant environment public school or not anything g more than a small token of appreciation. I also think it says a whole lot about the staff accepting these presents. It has nothing to do with forcing anyone to
part with money, it is greed and privilege on all counts

A voucher for the school bus driver who ferries the children safely to and from a home is undeniably doing just as an important job as a teacher.

Apart from the fact that most children don't go to school by bus, do you really think the bus driver has as much impact on a child's life as the teacher they are with for six hours a day? Do you think children or parents would even care if it was a different driver every day?

@BritInAus £70 divided by the parents of the 25 children in the class comes to £2.80 each. We could buy individual presents which, averaging to £2.80 wouldn’t buy much or (as is the case) a collective decision could be made to pool the money in order that the teachers have something more substantial. I’d be glad if you could clarify why this is so wrong, and, specifically why this is ‘greed and privilege’.

I think you might be replying to someone else? I totally agree with you!

I don't see gift giving as a 'complete absurdity' - it's an optional, nice thing to do. A bit like leaving a tip. Nobody is forcing you.

My DC's teacher does an amazing job - far beyond 'just a job'. I have no doubt she could put in far fewer hours and give far fewer f*cks and still get paid the same. But I really appreciate the care, effort, energy etc she puts in. And for that, I'm MORE than happy to contribute to / collect contributions equivalent to a few pounds a year per family (again, optional, for those who want to and can afford it) to show my appreciation. Just like I enjoy gifting my lovely neighbours - who could be perfectly pleasant, but in fact are perfectly pleasant PLUS feed our cats sometimes/bring us delicious leftovers/etc a bottle of wine at christmas and chocs at easter. It's just a nice thing to do. That people can choose to do!

I've also gifted my midwife champagne.... sent flowers to other 'service providers'. Why is that so wrong? As long as nobody is forced into it or made to feel guilty for not participating.

Apologies @BritInAus.

So, @giggly £70 divided between the parents of 25 children is £2.80 each.
We could buy individual presents which, averaging to £2.80 wouldn’t buy much or (as is the case), a collective decision could be made to pool the money in order that the teacher has something more substantial. I’d be glad if you could clarify why this is ‘greed and privilege’. Why is it so wrong for us to want to give our children’s hard working teacher a nice present?

Like the idea of vouchers or if you have one nearby a really lovely spa.

This really is 'how the other half lives'.

Easter present for a teacher? What fuckery is this?!?!

My god, so end of the year isn't enough for them anymore?!