What to buy for nursery staff for Christmas?

[howdoyoudecide]

So, due to timings of mat leave , I haven’t had children in nursery over be Christmas period before.

I have a DD 15 months who does full time nursery and a DS 2.8 who does 2 days nursery and 3 days childminder.

Each of them has a key worker in nursery. I have bought three tubs of sweets. One for CM and one for each room at nursery.

The nursery is wonderful and I am incredibly grateful for the care and attention they give my children. My son has become attached to one particular practitioner who is an older lady. I think she remind him of his nana. I am very grateful for her and the warmth she shows towards him. I want to buy her something but I didn’t want to make a massive faux pas because I wasn’t going to buy for his key worker (who I don’t really see a great deal of - not sure what days she works these days)

Daughter has a key worker who is wonderful but she also has another lady in her room who is equally lovely and they both show her lots of affection and warmth. The nursery really is wonderful.

We don’t have much cash as the nursery is also crazy expensive lol but I wanted to acknowledge them somehow.

What should we do?

Because I have had my child minder for years, she helps me out at short notice if needed, we work round each other and she knows my daughters well and clearly cares about them. She buys them both birthday and Christmas presents. I don't have the same relationship with the nursery staff

But you come across as super dismissive of nursery staff and said they or Teachers don't get presents yet some people have the relationship with their key children that your childminder does with your children.

Just came across as a very double standard post. You said Am I one of the few people who don't buy nursery and school teachers anything as though it's not the "done thing" yet you buy for your childminder.

There's absolutely no difference in buying for a Keyworker, teacher or childminder.

There is for me. I've had this particular childminder for about two years, she gave me fantastic support when my mum was ill and died and I also offered support when her family members were ill.

My daughter has had a number of key workers and I don't think the one she has even knows my name. It's a totally different relationship and she is only in nursery 2 1/2 hours a day.

I'm not dismissive of them at all, they do a fantastic job. But I don't want to buy them a present.

My organisation and many others in the public sector are not allowed to accept gifts. It is policy.
I think teachers should be the same.

We will buy a present each for our dcs keyworkers, and then a box of choc for the other room workers to share. We will also buy for the nursery senco and manager/ 2ic (youngest has SN and they've been amazing with it!)

Panettone from TKMaxxxxx

I agree with killer whale. My organisation also has that weird policy where if we receive any gift from our customer worth £5 or more, we have to declare it. Not worth the paperwork. I usually decline such gifts. Number of people annoyed by the refusal is dropping down significantly and very very few ask for a reason.

We don’t expect anything but like anyone, we appreciate what gets given. Most often it’s biscuits/sweets but have had lovely more personal gifts from key children. And you don’t have a spend. One of the loveliest gifts - not Xmas but a leaving one - was a poem with the child’s hand prints in a frame. It’s up in the staff room now.

The key thing is nothing is expected. We know it’s an expensive time for all parents as most of us are parents/grandparents too.

Chocolate.

I used to buy a bowl of half sprouted hyacinth bulbs and transplant each into a pretty mug with a bit of compost, nice mugs in supermarkets and charity shops.

I think it may be tricky to give to others and not the keyworker - it might be seen as a snub. They will be the ones doing all the paperwork and just because you don't see them interact it doesn't mean that they don't have a good relationship - maybe the keyworker works different shifts and leaves early to pick up their own children, or is setting up activities. I would go for a box of biscuits/chocolate for the room and make some Christmas decorations for key worker and favourite worker.

nicknacky some children are in nursery full time, every day of the week so it's a different scenario!

Also...it's not a race to the bottom! Just because you don't get gifts doesn't mean other people can't! That's the whole point- the joy of giving. You don't lose anything by being kind.

ifyou I think I made it clear that my daughters aren't in full time nursery, but not everyone on this thread necessarily has a child in full time nursery either. I have an elder daughter at school also.

I love giving at Christmas time, I spend months thinking and planning my presents and I like to think I'm very kind. I do give to my paper girl! I just don't buy for teachers etc. Was included in a group text last week where the organiser wanted £15 from us all.....