To ask what is the most extravagant "teacher present" you have given/received/heard of

[LadyMaryofDownton]

I was scrolling through my FB feed an a teacher friend of mine has received a Prada handbag with matching purse!

It got me wondering if the good old picture frame/personalised gift things aren't the done thing anymore?

I didn't/don't plan on spending more than I usually do but I am curious.

That is so inappropriate I don't even know where to begin.

A friend had a similar thing! But she was teaching at a private English International School in Milan. Apparently the staff received handbags, a pearl necklace, designer perfume, gold jewellery, smart luggage, spa vouchers and plane tickets to weekend breaks!
I'm in the wrong school!

We have given hand made cards and contributed a fiver most years.
Some other organised (show-offy....) parent usually has a collection tin and goes and buys one big gift.
Sorry. We are very boring.
Although the teachers generally do,appreciate the cards.

A spa day! Received by a friend at posh private school!

PTA asked for £20 from each family at my children's last school and gave teachers vouchers. Only fifteen in a class but that's a heck of a lot of vouchers imo!

We usually make a card and make a little present.

As said on another thread, friend, UAE, Rolex!

Oh I've never seen the collection tin before, that's new to me to! I really like getting the kids to do the handmade cards & they love it.

I usually spend £10ish on teacher gifts (depending on how good the teacher has been!). The best teachers though get a personal letter (copied in to the head). I've only done that twice though and both times the teachers have cried when they thanked me!

Some schools/authorities may set their own guidelines for where the teacher should declare their gifts, to make things transparent and to prevent any link to gifts being viewed as bribes.

We have to declare any single gift over £50.

Most extravagant I've come across have been a decent cricket bat and a set of golf lessons.

I've heard of a horse. But then maybe that was on mumsnet and not real like life.

My teacher friend got a trip to Switzerland last year from a grateful family!

A "gold" locket on a chain which was a watch. From the Shopping Channel, having been watched for weeks by nan until it was discounted. Means the absolute world to me as it was a really heartfelt gift and extravagant as it was an 11yr olds plan and all his own savings. I never have a playground watch so it's used every day!

Is also the only bit of proper jewellery I own, so qualifies as extravagant to me!

I generally get flowers, chocs, wine, home made gifts, mugs. That sort of thing. Occasionally a class will club together and get a voucher instead.

When I was at school we never gave our teachers anything so I was a bit taken aback when I started teaching and found that so many parents now do this. I appreciate the thought whatever the pressie (even though, cos I'm vegan, some always end up being passed on).

I particularly like it if parents write a thoughtful message in the card. The cards stay up for weeks, and when it's time to recycle them I always keep a couple. They're the sort of thing that it's nice to get out if you've had a bad day.

One of my all time favourite presents was a personalised desk calendar. The parent who gave it to me knew that I love travelling so had chosen a theme where, for example, my name was spelled out in the Northern Lights or The Great Barrier Reef.

That was a perfect present because it was useful, looked great (I loved the photos) and was really thoughtful.

I work in schools, but not a teacher, so I don't attract presents (alas). I'm always dead jealous at the end of a big term when teachers have to wheel their crap- loot out to their cars in a suitcase.

In my experience, they do appreciate getting a gift, but appreciate words/something hand made much, much more. (and I'm on the edge, envying it all. I did get a pot plant once, which I appreciated massively, until I killed it!)

Our 'best ever' was when I went to a Christmas market and they had these beautiful hand-made tiles, and I brought several for family members and because there was a deal about how many you brought, chucked in a coaster which was x-mas gift for class teacher. She made a point of thanking me personally, so I guessed it was something out of the norm for her.

My husband works at an international school. Teachers have received ipads, flights, expensive jewellery - you name it. It's another world, that's for sure.

At the end of dd's Nursery year I gave the teachers 6 bottles of very naice wine . I was just so please that my pfb had settled into school so well and seemed so happy every day. I cringe when I think of it.

They're lucky if they get a card now

I have received hotel vouchers, spa vouchers, handbags and other designer things, very nice wine and lots of lovely things. As a parent I have given my son's teacher a nice bottle of whisky and chocolates for Christmas and the end of the year present as well as contribute to the class voucher present. I also give presents to all the other teachers and TAs in the year group (he is in Early Years).

www.cbsnews.com/news/new-hampshire-high-school-seniors-give-money-raised-for-class-trip-to-principal-fighting-cancer/

The above post would be in the "heard of" category.

Most private schools where I am (including the ones we attended) have a rule banning anything other than homemade gifts/cards for teachers. Parents are encouraged to contribute as a group to something for the classroom that the teacher specifies.

Teachers have received ipads, flights, expensive jewellery - you name it. It's another world, that's for sure. I think this is a recipe for disaster in a school tbh.

In 15 years I think the most extravagant I've received is a £10 gift voucher. Most people give nothing, some give a small gift (under £5). A Prada handbag is extravagant, ridiculous and definitely not the norm. I'd be embarrassed if someone gave me an expensive gift.

When my kids were at nursery, at Christmas I bumped into another parent hauling in a crate of champagne for all the staff. Made me feel very understated with my tin of festive biscuits!