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?

I've just remembered another one, one of my tutor group got me a little trinket box, about 10 years ago I would say, and I still use it as my button box. The gift label she put on it is still at the bottom too!

A child remembered I love Double Deckers and bought me two. I was so grateful, that meant a lot. But honestly, don’t do gifts…a note of a card is always more than enough.

I found some cards today which made me smile: both from students who'd started with me in y9, not liking my subject... who left in y11 with a different view.
I have plants in my garden from students, many bottles of gin, and mugs galore, all of which have a story. I appreciate all of them. I'd be less delighted to receive glue sticks.

My favourite gift received was a plain white pencil case and the student has decorated it. That was 10 years ago and I still use it now.

Voucher for Costa. I took my son for a special outing to spend it and we both chose delicious cakes. He mentions it whenever we drive past 😍

I ran into an ex student not so long ago - he's the Bob who gave me a pot noodle. I've still got it, and it was a joy to see him again. He's a dad now, not the teen I taught :)

I've enjoyed a book, a necklace, a subscription to a book club for a few months, vouchers to amazon, John Lewis, bookshops, theatre, Costa, local cafes, M&S, clothing shops that the parents knew I used, things to do with my hobbies, edible presents. Mostly things that didn't take up room. Apart from the hobby type gifts - those were nice even if they weren't things I'd have chosen or things I needed, but the fact that someone had noticed my interests and tried to choose something personal was hugely appreciated. Same with the vouchers to clothing stores, or jewellery. In all those cases, they were very specifically chosen with me in mind, and that was so appreciated. I realise that this is not possible in many cases! Also, many of the presents were not expensive, and the vouchers might have been for quite small amounts that I could then top up myself. In fact two of my favourites gifts have cost less than a pound - a specific type of little chocolate bar at a cafe, and some sour haribo - because in both cases, they were chosen and given to me by a teenager totally on their own, without being told to by a parent (and in one case, highly unexpected). It really is the thought that counts! But if someone does want to get me a present, those are some of the things I've enjoyed.

I got a male teacher and his assistant a gift voucher for their nails. The owner of the shop knew him, and it ended up turning into a party at her house..... with nails being done. He loved it.

Also I mostly did Christmas instead. I would buy enough mugs for my childs teachers. We spent November adding chocolate treats each time ny child had one. It then went into a gift bag and was handed over on the first working day of December. I thought it was ok. Found out it had become a much looked forward to tradition when an excited teacher exclaimed in rxcitement, when told they were my child's teacher in year 6....

It seems to me that any gift that is made from the heart will be appreciated. But I would advise you to give something that the teacher can associate with your child. Perhaps it is something that can be made to order or some kind of art.

Cards are something that can be kept and don't take up much room.

Sad to say this but things for classroom, obviously that depends on the age of the child but for primary felt tip pens (washable), playdough, scissors - you can get them with different edges. A box of pritt sticks.

I know it doesn't sound personal but it will be appreciated.

• an email their head and say why they've been a great teacher this year

• vouchers for coffee / department store

-Something personal to do with things they've said they like

• card where the child and adult writes a comment

• nifty stationary / stampers

I forgot to add nice Christmas tree ornaments. It's nice to keep but you don't need it out all year!

My

Cash or vouchers not groupon

My colleague and I were given vouchers by a girl we had both taught and we made an occasion of spending them - went out to lunch and had a lovely mooch around the shops with obviously the central joy of an hour in the shop browsing and choosing! It sort of gave us the gift of a day iyswim.

Oh, the email to the head would honestly be the best thing…Parents can be very quick to email when they’re not happy but…

We got the teacher vouchers for the local posh ice cream cafe. They cater for lots of dietary needs and I thought worst case they could use it to treat a friend. But later the teacher said it was so nice to enjoy a couple of free ice creams over the summer holidays - so my suggestion would be something like this.

I got a notebook with a message from Mum on the inside cover. She said I’d helped her to embrace her child (who is autistic) for the person they are. She also said that her child had never been so happy.

I’m not ashamed to say I cried. I’ve had lots of presents from children and their families over the years, but this was my favourite.

Unless you know what she likes give her a voucher with a really nice message written in a card.

When my children went to the nursery I gave to the each of their teacher a strawberry plant with a hand made paint plant pot made by my children-
with their name tag on it.

They were quite happy with that.

A hyacinth bulb in a vase to grow indoors. It smelled delightful and filled my house with the scent.

A bottle of my favourite champagne bought for me by a Sixth Former. A cheese board another Six Former. Several giant bars of white chocolate by a GCSE student. All very well received. More often got given either a Costa voucher or a bottle of wine. I got some very nice hand cream once. Lots of bunches of flowers.