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Original poster

Can you give party invitations to the teacher ?

68 replies

Brilliantlydone · 08/09/2023 20:38

Is this the done thing ? Disclaimer, I am a teacher, but at 11-18 school. So part of me feels this is very much not the teacher's job.

My Ds just started school. His birthday is in a couple of weeks and I want to invite the entire class. I work full time so he is at breakfast club from 7.30 and stays until 5.30, so I won't see parents at the classroom for drop off.

Is it ok to give a pile of party invitations for her class to the teacher and ask her to put them in bags? Or if not, how do people do it ?

OP posts:
Singleandproud · 08/09/2023 21:09

I did this for the same reasons as you, didn't know any of the parents as DDs birthday is beginning of September, and no WhatsApp groups or SM then. Got to a few days before DDs birthday and I hadn't received a single reply, turns out the teacher didn't hand any out/lost them. So I had to just invite DDs baby ballet class instead on the Saturday morning and the party was in the afternoon.

Original poster
Brilliantlydone · 08/09/2023 21:10

Singleandproud · 08/09/2023 21:09

I did this for the same reasons as you, didn't know any of the parents as DDs birthday is beginning of September, and no WhatsApp groups or SM then. Got to a few days before DDs birthday and I hadn't received a single reply, turns out the teacher didn't hand any out/lost them. So I had to just invite DDs baby ballet class instead on the Saturday morning and the party was in the afternoon.

I can imagine this happening...

OP posts:
coodawoodashooda · 08/09/2023 21:12

Brilliantlydone · 08/09/2023 20:38

Is this the done thing ? Disclaimer, I am a teacher, but at 11-18 school. So part of me feels this is very much not the teacher's job.

My Ds just started school. His birthday is in a couple of weeks and I want to invite the entire class. I work full time so he is at breakfast club from 7.30 and stays until 5.30, so I won't see parents at the classroom for drop off.

Is it ok to give a pile of party invitations for her class to the teacher and ask her to put them in bags? Or if not, how do people do it ?

I'm a teacher. I do it now I'm a parent. Used to really annoy me before I had kids though. I'd buy a bottle of wine or chocs to say thank you. It wouldn't be expected but is a kind gesture for someone doing extra.

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WhiskersPete · 08/09/2023 21:13

I'm in the same position as you OP and was wondering this. I'm a secondary teacher and DD just started Reception today. I think I will just give the teacher 30 blank invites and ask to put in book bags.

Iwiicit · 08/09/2023 21:15

I'm a teacher and I have no problem doing this but my blood ran cold at the thought of being invited myself!

AngryGreasedSantaCatcus · 08/09/2023 21:16

HollyGolightly4 · 08/09/2023 20:39

I can't help, but I thought you meant give the teacher an invite to the party 🤣. Absolutely not, it cracked me up!

I got invited... twice. Had to very gently let the kids down. Grin

AngryGreasedSantaCatcus · 08/09/2023 21:19

Are you sending sweets too?

As a rule, the schools I'm familiar with , will do it but only if it's an invite for the whole class. Normally the birthday child, or the children who have the letters job hand them out at the end of the day.

plum1304 · 08/09/2023 21:21

@Notaflippinclue i went to a child’s birthday party once… after teasing ‘Is there an invitation for me?’ all year I thought I’d best turn up if I’d been invited!!
was a lovely afternoon!

notforonesecond · 08/09/2023 21:22

It’s fine at our school. I stick them in the book bag and they end up going home in the book bags of whichever kids have been invited. It’s very useful.

SleepingStandingUp · 08/09/2023 21:24

Switcher · 08/09/2023 20:47

That is what I did when mine started in reception, as the school refused to even give the first names of the children - so I had to give the teacher 30 blank invitations.

What?? That's crazy
We get a name list every December!

Switcher · 08/09/2023 21:30

@SleepingStandingUp it was a bit odd, but to be fair in reception he hadn't formed friendships within three weeks so it would've been whole class anyway.

reluctantbrit · 08/09/2023 21:35

Only if it was a whole class party. Otherwise you had to hunt down the parents in the playground

ByeByeMr · 08/09/2023 21:35

Please don't do this. I'm a TA and had to do this today (primary reception). It takes ages and takes your attention away from the jobs you should be doing and the children.

Original poster
Brilliantlydone · 08/09/2023 21:38

ByeByeMr · 08/09/2023 21:35

Please don't do this. I'm a TA and had to do this today (primary reception). It takes ages and takes your attention away from the jobs you should be doing and the children.

Ah no, really.
I regret paying for a hall and entertainer 🤣

OP posts:
Singleandproud · 08/09/2023 21:52

Your school might also do a birthday celebration at school.

For a small donation DDs school let them choose 7 friends to eat with at lunch so they were sat together and they got a 'birthday' cupcake each and a photo of the children at the table.

I don't know whether this was because it was a disadvantaged area and many children didn't get to have out of school birthday parties but it was a lovely idea.

Original poster
Brilliantlydone · 09/09/2023 07:51

Thanks for everyone's thoughts. I'll email the teacher and ask, and if not then I'll just... invite any other kids I know instead ! 🙈

OP posts:
CaptainMyCaptain · 09/09/2023 07:53

I used to hand them round at the end of the day for children to put in their book bags.

megletthesecond · 09/09/2023 07:54

This was a few years ago but they did for DD's whole class party on the first week of reception.

Icannotthinkofaname · 09/09/2023 07:56

I'm a teacher that's happy to give out whole class invites.
It takes a couple of minutes no bother at all. If a parent gives me them in register order it takes 30 seconds as we are lining up at the end of the day.
I will not give out invites if there are children not invited.

WhatapityWapiti · 09/09/2023 07:57

Don’t you have a class WhatsApp? None of ours are paper, all on the WhatsApp. People post a little e-invitation graphic, they are easy to design online.

WandaWonder · 09/09/2023 07:59

I think teachers have enough to do than be social coordinators

Clawdy · 09/09/2023 07:59

Fine if it's whole class. No teacher likes seeing the disappointed faces of the ones not invited, if they are having to give out just some.

FoodFann · 09/09/2023 08:01

I’m a primary teacher and I will hand out invites for my kids, even if it’s only for certain members of the class. I’ve never had the whole class invited. Never caused any problems.

xyz111 · 09/09/2023 08:03

My sons teacher did this for us this week!! Was absolutely fine as we never see each child at pick up as the time is spread out.

MyrtleSmurf · 09/09/2023 08:04

That was one of my favourite jobs as a TA! I'm 1:1 now so don't do it anymore bit I'd definitely say it's a TA job not a teacher one. Parents would pop them in the bookbag with a note in their contact book and I'd just distribute them when changing books or putting letters in etc.

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