Teachers! What is the nicest/best gift you've received?

[user50316]

Looking at getting an end of year gift for my child's teacher and wondered what is appreciated.
She's been an enormous help and a big part of my DC's life for the past year, so want something a bit better than the usual "tin of biscuits" which I give 😂
I asked my friend who's a teacher, but she gets gifted designer bags and purses from her parents and so that was a non-starter 🤣
Maybe something around the £20 mark?
Would a groupon for a day out over the summer be a good thing?

Get an amazon voucher

Wine

My favourite gift was a large shell from an island near Sri Lanka. The student bought it me back from a holiday visiting relatives - so lovely he thought of me especially as this was secondary school! However you could get a book on a subject the teacher has a special interest in? Or a voucher? Honestly a thank you card is more special than a gift 😊

Groupons often have T&Cs attached that can make them a pain to use, eg not allowed in the school holidays.

You'll never get a consensus on universally popular gifts and anything could be problematic.

Wine - what if she's pregnant, tee total, a recovering alcoholic?
Flowers - she might be going on a 2 week holiday as soon as term ends.
Posh chocolates - she could be allergic or on a diet.

You get the picture.

I'd suggest a nice card with words of thanks, and possibly also write to the head to tell them how much you value your child's teacher.

If you want to give something, I'd say an M&S voucher could be a good choice as it's more accessible in terms of both price and location than John Lewis and has a good choice of treaty things that are reasonably priced or could be used towards something more expensive/special. If she's really stuck she can buy food/wine/her own flowers when she's at home to appreciate them.

Stick with a voucher and a card. I can’t tell you the amount of stuff I’ve had to give away because of allergies.

The one thing to avoid is anything personalised - especially plastic tat like keyrings and personalised mugs. Back to the cupboard/drawer they go.
My teacher friend loves flowers and wine accompanied by a hand drawn/hand written card.

I think a Marks and Spencer voucher and a nice personal card would be perfect. The best gift I ever had as a teacher was a small bunch of carnations from a family who had very little money to spare. It really is the thought behind the gift that matters most.

Cash

As both a teacher and parent I think nothing is expected or necessary but if you want to and can afford it then nicest option that will be used and appreciated is a small gift card that they have to use for a treat like a costa or a local cafe. And a nice handwritten card by child.

A friend of mine (a teacher), said one of her nicest gifts ever was a rose bush.
Best teacher or something…she says whenever it flowers she thinks of the little boy who gave it to her.

Disclaimer: garden needed 🤗

When my youngest left primary school last year, his teacher was amazing so I bought him a £20.00 gift voucher from M&S and a small gift from a company called "not on the high Street" on Internet. It was for his hobby. My DS had his teacher for two years and he was brilliant and very supportive so the gifts were a small token to say thanks.

I would be over the moon to get that!

I love getting a gift for my classroom, rather than for me - a pretty book with a message from the child, a nice pen or fine liners in unusual or metallic colours. I know my own kids would rather I came home with chocolate though!

I think the loveliest gift I received was from a little girl (year 1). She'd asked me a few days previously what my favourite colour was. I told her, didn't think anything of it.
On the last day of term, she'd made teacher/teaching assistant and additional needs assistant, a friendship bracelet in our favourite colours and a little handwritten message. Made my day!!!

I loved receiving wine or vouchers, but never any expectation... always loved getting handwritten cards of thanks best! I usually try to find out what my kids teachers like to drink whether it's alcoholic or not eg. tea/non-alcoholic wine/Nosecco.

The best gift I ever had was from a boy who told me he would never forget me.

A really personal and thoughtful card and a message to the head are good, as are vouchers. I’d have loved a rose bush, but not everyone has a garden or likes gardening. If she does, maybe a gardening voucher.

I love hand drawn cards, with a message.

I did once get a nice lidded cup for drinks at work though- I still use it years later!

Handwritten cards are always the best. I keep mine in a special box! Honestly....

I also love receiving nice pens, different colours, for marking books. Or a nice bath bomb, bubble bath or shampoo set. Something I wouldn't buy myself, but nothing that breaks the bank.

This year, I have hit the body shop sale and have made little baskets of hand creams and lip balms for everyone.

Also these are just a fun thing that we like to offer as gifts but... a real live cactus in a keyring! (One managed to grow quite big). Always fun.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B08W4MK75F?psc=1&ref=ppxpoppmobbbasin_title

I've just ordered this which i think is cute! Will put it round a bottle of wine

www.etsy.com/listing/1033197338/thank-you-teacher-teacher-gift-and

A Kilner jar with a handwritten message from each member of the class. One of the girls had marbled some paper. They were not well off kids. It was really touching and I've still got it.

Just write out a card and go into some detail.

If you must buy stuff, stationery is a good idea.

I think the nicest gift I had was a voucher

Nearly all the parents had put in £1 and they got me a manicure at a local salon .

it was really thoughtful (and a good price for the parents) it felt like such a treat in the summer holidays to go have that done.

the only people disappointed where my own children, who eagerly await end of term chocolates coming home 😆

A voucher. John Lewis if you have JL and Waitrose nearby. M & S otherwise. Or if you know she drinks alcohol, a really good bottle of wine. Not mugs, key rings, candles, hand cream etc. An email to the head saying how fantastic she has been would be very good.

Wtf?

Voucher for local coffee shop that also does gifts.

Best ever was £100 cash. Was just before we became an academy and I was actually allowed to accept it.