Presents for teachers

[6079SmithW]

I have two primary school age DDs and I am all out of ideas! Without help their teachers will end up with wine (AGAIN). AIBU to ask for your suggestions please?

Small gifts I would very much appreciate:
Thick socks
hand warmer things (my school do a lot of outdoors learning + playground duty)
A new book to read to the class.
Nice pens.
grown up colouring book

I like wine, chocolate, bath stuff and candles too, I do end up with a fair amount but its not like I need to use it all that day, I save a lot of it for when I've had a bad day.

The gift that made me smile the most was I had a child who used to come in and tell me terrible jokes his Dad had taught him (like why did the sea blush - because the sea weed) which really amused me so for Christmas he bought me a children's joke book

3kidsstillsane's relaxing pouches above would make me quite happy too.

Nurses and hospital staff absolutely can accept gifts.
*
It's just that they should be declared and there's usually a maximum limit.*

You are wrong. Only the most trivial gifts eg no monetary value should be accepted.

www.nmc.org.uk/globalassets/sitedocuments/nmc-publications/nmc-code.pdf

When I was teaching, the best gifts were either consumables, stuff for my classroom or vouchers for places I could either put towards things I wanted or use towards stuff for my classroom.

I love mugs and pictures etc but there's only so many mugs you can use at once and whilst I would never reject a student's gift, when you receive yet another mug you do start to wonder where you're going to store them all!

When I moved back to the UK after teaching abroad for 9 years I donated a lot of stuff to charity, including 57 mugs I had accumulated from students (and that doesn't include the many that had been lost/broken during various house moves in those 9 years)

Presents for what? Christmas? Are we actually serious? Jesus.

Heckneck yep. Deadly serious. Anyone who looks after and nurtures my child for 30hrs a week whilst being kind and supportive to us both deserves a bottle of wine at Christmas.

You don't have to do it though.

I spoke to my DDs' teachers and they advised that actually the school is quite well funded/resources so no school items are necessary. I think I will pick up some nice personal pens or stationery as suggested. Thanks for all the help

I just can't afford it. They get paid to do that though don't they. I don't get any extra gifts for going to work everyday. Just seems extra pressure on parents.

No one expects a gift, Heckneck. Some parents just really appreciate all our hard work and dedication, particularly if we go above and beyond.

We get paid to do what? Provide loads of extra resources and things for the classroom? No, we don't. You'd think, though.

You shouldn't be tight with your teachers and your hairdresser. That's my rule.

And 'some parents' cannot afford it, whether they 'appreciate' you or not.
And the increasing culture re gift giving makes that difficult.
You get paid to teach. A service recipient is the child.
If there are not enough resources that is a separate issue surely?
You shouldn't have to 'tip' teachers like a hairdresser?

sb: 'The service recipient...'

You shouldn't be tight with your teachers and your hairdresser. That's my rule.

I didn't say they could. I can't afford it myself.

I get paid to teach and need my wages to live, however at least half goes on the class leaving me without and that isn't right either. That's a separate issue from receiving gifts, but if parents want to show they appreciate me, I'm very grateful, especially if they are gifts for the classroom.

HALF of your wages go on your class to supplement lack of supplies?

That is not something that can be addressed by Christmas gifts, surely?

Easily half.

That's why I said it was a separate issue.

I am not doubting you btw, I am just boggling at what must need £100's a week spending on?

I suggested 'gifts for the School' as an appreciative token by parents that want / can afford to upthread but a pack of highlighters/some writing pads/pritt sticks is not going to cut into that sort of black hole is it?

It depends on the school! Some have better budgets, some aren't struggling. Perhaps ask the head? Or the secretary as they usually order the stationery.

Mine was more payments in bulk rather than hundreds a week. I probably spent £300 a month on resources, stationery, classroom bits etc. At the start of a new year, we have new topics so I usually spent about £800+ on setting up the classroom each term. I teach Foundation Phase so the classroom needs to be a rich environment with lots to see and do.

Ok. My kids were until recently in a scottish primary in a deprived area. Windows held in with gaffer tape. No playground equipment. Almost NO books and no stationery. Low morale, awful Ofstead equivalent, they couldnt keep teachers. I sent kids in with what they needed. It all got stolen, repeatedly. None of the staff spent their own money at all (why should they need to?). Parents fundraised as much as they could. My son had 1 outstanding teacher there and when he left he bought him a small wooden item out of his pocket money - he had such an impact on him. I wrote him a letter of thanks.

we are now at a small english school (state). The kids have been given folders for their homework, subject divided, paper (lined and plain) inserted. They were taken on a 3 day residential for free. They are going to the panto tomorrow (no cost to parents). We are very fortunate. I am not aware of teachers spending their own money (I think they dont need to here, the budget must be sufficient for extras) There is one outstanding teacher. My ds chose to buy him a mug (sorry!) at the end of last year out of his pocket money. Again, I wrote a thank you card as I was very grateful.

I am a single parent on a low income and hoped a heartfelt card would be appreciated as I had no spare money for wine/chocs etc. I still think the culture of giving personal gifts is a bit unwise.

You are a very decent person to be investing in the kids in your class. in this way.

Please not wine....if you don't drink getting so many bottles is a waste!

Schools differ so much, it's incredible.

I appreciate a heartfelt card MUCH more than a gift. Those are treasured forever.

Thank you - I work in a deprived area and lots of the children don't have much at home so I try and make school a fantastic place to be.