15 presents - childminders, teachers, TA's

[fia101]

I am thoroughly appreciative of everything my childminders, after schools club helpers, pre school teachers and primary teachers and assistants all do for my kids but I've calculated I need 15 presents.

Even a box of ms biscuits and wine each will set me back over £130.

Just do cards for teachers and TAs etc.

Think Cm relationship is totally different so a small present from the children is lovely.

Hi I did this, but just got a bottle of white wine for 13 teachers ta's and admin office- £5.99 a bottle from Lidl- m&s also have bottles of white for £5 at the moment. Gave them all yesterday- everyone was really appreciative. It did seem expensive at the time but I think they all do such a good job I wanted to do something for them!

Don't buy them anything!

I spend a tenner on snacks for the staff room, that way they all get a look-in.

I teach.

The thing I was most grateful this Christmas? The heartfelt honest note in a Christmas card from a student. Nothing else matters. I don't need chocolate. I don't need wine. I do need to know I'm appreciated sometimes when it's been a long and hard term and I've cried several times. Get a card, write an honest note.

At my younger children's school you can give £5 to a collection for the class teacher and TAs. I was class rep this year so organised my younger child's class presents. It's entirely voluntary and there's no guilt involved if you don't want to give, but 20 families did and we got wine and chocs for the 3 x TAs that are in the class, and a voucher and chocolates for the teacher. The same happened in my middle child's class, and I'll be sending my eldest in with a bottle of prosecco for his teacher (secondary school) so all gifts, for 3 teachers and 5 TAs done for £15, which seems good to me.

It doesn't need to cost that much. Even the poundshop does small boxes of chocolates and small tins of biscuits.

I bought a load of £5 costs coffee gift cards to put in cards

I didn't buy anything for ds teachers or ta's

I've given our cleaners (they come as a pair!) a bottle of prosecco (half price at the start of October) after a funny conversation we had at the end of the summer holidays.

Our school is small (one form entry) so I always make a batch of cakes or flapjacks for them in the last week or 2 of term (every term) which are always well received. This time they had flapjacks with cranberries and white chocolate and a card.

There's no need to go over the top, but the thought is generally very well received.

DS is in nursery and there are four girls in his room, I didn't want to just get a present for his keyworker as they're all lovely and all look after him. In Cafe Nero they are doing cards for £3 which have a voucher inside for any hot drink, I got them one of those plus a small Lindt reindeer each stuck to the card. £15 all in and hopefully well received!

Tub of celebrations for all adults in each of dc class. I have no idea who anyone is in their classes (apart from main teacher). Small box for after school club. Box biscuits for cm.

Then onto the thank you presents in my own workplace...

£130!! My own children aside, I'm not spending that much on my entire (big) extended family!

Please don't feel you need to do this.

I don't have a form group this year and was really surprised by the number of cards and presents I got from children who are 'just' in my curriculum classes and show casts. It was really sweet and I appreciate every single one but I don't need them. And I'd hate to think of families putting large dents in their Christmas budgets for people they barely even know - we're just doing our jobs!

I am pretty cheap about stuff like this. I live near a pretty good poundland. In this instance I'd be scooping up their branded boxes of chocolates or biscuits. It's the gesture that counts and I would write a card expressing thanks, too. I bloody love poundland

We did gingerbread biscuits nicely wrapped. And yes, mn, they did eat them. I calculated 19 presents, even a small thing each would have added up.

It will only cost £130 if that's what you choose to spend. Set a sensible budget and then plan your gift buying.

Fuck are you supposed to buy teachers Christmas presents now?

The thing I was most grateful this Christmas? The heartfelt honest note in a Christmas card from a student.

Or the one which is sent to your Principal telling them how much they have appreciate you being their child's teacher this year and what you have done for their child.

I'm a TA and am completely overwhelmed with how kind and generous the parents have been this year. I don't expect a thing but I was given gifts by most of the children. I made sure that I thanked each child and parent and assured them that it really wasn't necessary but that I was extremely grateful. I have been shocked and disgusted at how ungrateful some of the teachers are, all I have heard this week is complaints of "not another box of chocolates" and "I can give that to someone I don't like"!! Absolutely disgusting behaviour. I felt ashamed to be in the same classroom as them and my respect for them has completely disappeared. I also feel sorry for the children whose parents don't buy gifts, the numerous party games were all won by the children whom had given the most expensive gifts. I left work feeling really sad yesterday.

I’m pretty sure I read a thread recently saying that a lot of teachers have to buy their own supplies so maybe some dry markers/stationary to use in the class room in a nice box or something might be appreciated??

It's out of stock now but for next year:
Wilko sells gorgeous panettone (I lived in Italy. I may not be Italian but I know a good panettone). £5 for a proper sized panettone which comes in a gorgeous tin. It's been so appreciated by recipients.

We used to buy for my primary teacher in the early 90s, it really isn’t new

The difference is back then there was 1 teacher you bought for per child you had at primary school. Now there’s a good chance each child had 2 teachers, plus TAs so it mounts up.

Don’t buy gifts if you don’t want to/can’t afford it. Teachers on here say every year that while they appreciate gifts they’re just as happy with a handmade card from your child and a genuine thank you

You don't have to give presents. £130 is a huge sum, more than I'm spending on my DC at Christmas all together. I wouldn't give wine, ever - what if they don't drink?