Christmas presents

[MrTrebus]

Is it viewed as compulsory to give gifts to nursery staff/key worker or school teachers etc

My DD goes to an amazing nursery and we want to get them all some kind of Christmas gifts but not sure what is "normal" or what would be an insult. She's only been going since June and she's our first child so not sure what the norm is. They are amazing and we love the place but not sure if monetary gifts would be an insult or not the done thing? A tin of biscuits doesn't really convey how we feel and also maybe could be viewed wrongly? AIBU if I give them some money each??

[GreatDuckCookery6211]

Who says it's compulsory?

A tin of biscuits is fine.

[MrTrebus]

I want to give more than that is my point,a bigger gesture than that but I'm not sure what. If everyone gives a gift of some kind because it's the done thing that's fine what is that generally because I want to do a bit more as they've been so fantastic.

[Kemer2018]

It's your money, choose who to give it to.

[LikeJellyTots88]

I just take a card and box of chocolates, last year I gave one member of staff something extra but that was because she really helped me and DS with some issues and I wanted to say thank you. If you want to give individual presents to each member of staff it's up to you, maybe make some pictures or something with your DD for a personal touch?

[GreatDuckCookery6211]

How many members of staff are there?

[Dottysmum18]

If u give them money they would have to declare it as a monetary bonus a personal gift is nice but biscuts or chocolates are always appreciated x

[MrTrebus]

I mainly deal with about 3 of the staff but I think there's a couple of others that are sometimes there too. Would booze be weird? I just have no idea what's the done thing and I bet they get sick of all the biscuits and chocs that's all.

[Kolo]

I’d say a voucher would be really appreciated! I think nursery staff and primary teacher alike get inundated with chocolates, biscuits and wine. I’m sure cash would be appreciated too, but I don’t think I’d feel right giving cash.

[Oobis]

Tesco often do 25% off when you buy 6 bottles or more of wine. I tend to get a couple and whatever's left over is mine 😊. Always wine gifts from this house, except one time when all mums put in for a meal out voucher thing. Pretty standard currency IMHO

[Joinourclub]

Nothing beats a proper written thank you. They may not drink, they may not like chocolate, but everyone likes a card saying ‘ I think you’re great’.

[namechange4000]

When DS was at nursery I got one of those Tower of Treats from Costco. This way, his key worker could choose one box for herself and the others could be shared amongst all the staff.

[suzuki650]

One of our parents bought in a basket of goodies from the body shop (hand creams/lip balms etc) & some nice Choc & small bottles of wine. We each picked out what we preferred & it was lovely of her. We used to get so many tins of chocolates (always grateful!) we would hide them for throughout the next year for those days you just "need" chocolate.

[Isthisaproblem]

You could give the Nursery money towards their Christmas night out.

[MrTrebus]

I really like the idea of a hamper with stuff in it that's not just chocolate etc. Toiletries and stuff is a great idea plus I love the body shop! Thank you everyone some great ideas

[ScarlettDarling]

I definitely wouldn't give money, I think that would make them feel weird. Loads of good ideas mentioned above. As a teacher, any card or gift or good wish is gratefully and graciously received.

[Doubletrouble99]

I've done things like smelly candles or wee toiletry boxes. Usually got them from M and S when they did 3 for 2. I would spend about a 5er on each.

[MrTrebus]

Thanks great ideas. I thought money would be weird but chocs didn't seem enough somehow.

[cujo]

I’ve given money towards their Christmas do before. They are very much a team and although there is a specified key worker, the others are involved just as much. I think they appreciated it, though I’m told it went towards shots! Will probably do the same this year tbh

Have also done gifts at a different nursery, such as wine, chocs, candles, scarves and gift vouchers

[reluctantbrit]

When DD was at nursery we gave her keyworker a larger present and the rest of the room staff cards and a small Christmas decoration.

Her first keyworker was a really young, well girl, the first year she got an iTunes voucher, the second a Topshop one.

The second was a man, we knew he was studying so he got some notebooks and an Amazon voucher.

The last most likely still is a bookworm so she got a Waterstone one and a large pack of chocolates.

In school the class reps did a collection. We only bought for Y4 and 6 as these teachers were really amazing.

But ideally do a card with a honest thank you and when your child gets a bit o,der we got DD to draw a picture or did handprints.

[Thesmallthings]

One if the nicest things iv ever received was a little canvas that one if the bug school leavers painted her self.

She had painted a portrait of me, with the correct hair eyes colours and got her mum to write words that she thought imo me like funny kind lovely. She did one for each staff member.

We hung them up right under our professional photos of us by the entrance

But chocolates are always good. We save all the treats brought in them split them between us all on the last day. So we end up with quite a lot of lovely different treating a big topps wear box

A card is always nice to.

[DrWhy]

Our nursery has a a great system where a couple of parents contact all the others and ask for their children to make a drawing / picture / photo collage or similar on an A4 sheet of paper. They have all of these compiled into a book and a copy made for each member of staff. On top of that they take a collection of money, no requirement for it but a typical amount of people want to contribute is £10 per child. The money is pooled then split equally between the staff so people don’t get more or less depending on the ratio of the room they work in. It seems to have gone down well now for years.