To be irritated that people buy the teacher but not the TA presents at the end of term.

[Lucyellensmum99]

This really annoys me! My DD had both a lovely teacher and TA this year. Her TA helps her loads, but when i asked other mothers if they bought for both they made a face at me and said that they only bought for the teachers. I think this is really sad, as the TAs often have quite close contact with the children. My DD loved her TA this year and was quite clear she wanted to buy the same for TA and Teacher. We didn't buy much, some cheap flowers and choccies, we spent no more than £8 as DP and DD managed to find some bargain chocolates (i hope they weren't minging!) that looked nice.

Why would you not buy for the TA too?

I don't think they want to be teachers! I know a lot of teachers who are TAs because they can work with the children without the workload, they can have evenings, weekends and holidays free. I haven't met any with a chip on their shoulder. I think you can simply thank them and let the DC make a card, if they want to.

Anyone would think you had to give presents - it is optional!

My DD has had two teachers and 3 TAs that move around a lot. DD can't even name two of the TAs. I have no money, £8 might seem very little to you but as I only had £30 to do my whole week grocery shop that would have eaten into my budget considerably, and I would have had three more people to buy for.

DD made cards for the two teachers. She didn't want to make 5 cards to give to people she doesn't know the name of, so I didn't make her. I think it's getting ridiculous if people are feeling the need to buy 5+ people presents at the end of the school year. It is a job you know, not volunteer work.

We're skint, but I really feel that DS' teacher has been so brilliant that she deserves recognition. I wrote a letter to the class teacher and DS made a card. I found a scarf in a sale that I knew she'd like. I also made fairy cakes for the whole staff. (Apparently much appreciated.) Total spend £12.

what i notice at the end of term here in holland is that the working mums dont tend to bother with presents for the teachers, but then, nobody gets them gifts for doing there job well, and the're not about to get 6 weeks paid holiday.

Well I'm a working mum and I did. And back to the old holiday argument...

I buy for the teachers only-you have to draw the line somewhere. The LSAs in my children's classes have had very little to do with them as individuals.

When my boys were in Infants school there just seemed to be a bank of TAs who went into a classroom when they were needed and moved round all the year groups, so YR might have had Miss X, Miss Y and Mrs Z in the same week. The TAs also did the 1-1 and extra help, so if either of the DSs had had that, they would have seen the same TA once a week or whatever for a while, in which case (if they were any cop and the child actually liked them) they would have got a present as well as the class teacher.

As it was, I was buggered if I was going to shell out for a gift for each of the 6 'floating' TAs, each of whom might have only spent time actually having a conversation with my child twice all year.

DS2 has just finished Primary school and I couldn't tell you the name of any of the TAs at the school. I think they have the same sort of system, whoever is free goes where there is a need for a TA but for the most part it was just his class teacher trying to wrangle 25 11 year olds so for that, she got a bottle of gin and my heartfelt thanks

DS2 had a lovely TA this year, he's just finished year 6 and has never before even mentioned his TA by name! but this one he thought was amazing, so he bought her a lovely card, and a better present than the one for his teacher :)