Teacher presents. End of term.

[rackhampearl]

Aibu to ask you teachers what your best and worst present experiences have been from --parents students. Also has anyone got any ideas? I'm thinking of miniature bottles of Hendricks gin and a small can of fever tree in a gift bag for the teachers heavily involved in my DDs school life and some loaf cakes for the staff room. Is that abit naff?

I used to be embarrassed by gifts, and some children are embarrassed when they realise that they haven't brought a present and lots of others have.
I would always go for a picture or card made by the child, and for a teacher who has gone above and beyond a personal letter.
When my own son, who has ASD and was, quite frankly, a nightmare at times, left Secondary School I also wrote to the Governors to express my thanks.

I'm of the view that it really is the thought that counts. As an NHS professional I am really touched whenever a patient has given me something, regardless of whether it's to my personal taste.

we don't have class collections here. I'd welcome one, as long as it were both optional and without a suggested minimum, and the card marked "from all of class 4F".

My kids' teachers and TAs get a card with personal message suitable for inclusion at appraisal/CPD portfolio, and a token present of flowers or chocolate, same value for teacher and TA. I try to get the relevant kid to find out whether they're a maltesers/green and blacks/lindor person.

My favourite presents have always been vouchers of some sort . Definitely not a mug or best teachers gifts. After years of being in childcare you can have only have so many . A voucher means that I can choose something I will use. Not keen on alcohol or chocolate

Amazon or post office vouchers- even if it’s a fiver- always come in handy!
One year I got enough in (post office) B&Q vouchers that I could spend all summer sorting my garden (a couple of paving slabs to replace broken ones/3 bags of cement to finally cement in my patio/couple of hanging baskets/lilac shed paint/strimmer wire/cheap patio set) which was amazing as I can never afford holidays due to the sch Hol travel agent mark up. Made my summer a much happier one and I think of the class that made it possible every time I open the garden door!

I like wine but not everyone does- I don’t drink red or rose but how are the parents to know this?
I hate gin and most chocolates that parents like to give us.
Also HATE coffee so those vouchers would be useless.

Nothing plastic, DEFINATELY no mugs 🙈, no bits and bobs.... 10 years into teaching and I take them straight to the charity shop on the same day I receive them. Otherwise I wade through them for months on end until I chuck them in the bin.
Home made foods go in the bin.

I appreciate the gesture but I’d rather people spent their money on something I would find useful than simply chucking money at rubbish that I won’t use/don’t like/have thousands of/am allergic to.

30-32 mugs/bubble bath sets/chocolates I can’t eat/alcohol I don’t like/plastic stuff from Card factory x 10 years of teaching = spread the word that teachers don’t want them!!!

I'm parent and have also been a teacher. I feel really strongly that we should not be buying presents for teachers, especially through whole class collections which can really put pressure on parents, who may not be able to afford to give, especially if they have several children at the same school. I've heard it called poverty shaming. A home made card with some happy memories of the year is more than enough.

Some of the teachers on this thread!!! Picky and entitled.

We've had teacher told off at our school this year as she announced it was her birthday and spent registration time during the week showing the kids presents she'd received. One of the kids felt guilty for not getting anything and went home and asked the parent for something to take in. The patent, rightly, complained to the head. Stop shaming and pressuring children and families into this collective greed. Accept with grace those presents you receive and if you don't want any let the kids know so they can go home and tell parents. Giving presents should be entirely optional with no pressure from teachers or other parents.

This is very outing if his teachers are on here (waves) but the most successful gift we ever gave was from my rather quirky but very sweet son. He saw some chunky wooden giraffes which he insisted his (job share) teachers would love. Sent them a card saying "who doesn't need a wooden giraffe in their life?". He's since left the school but both teachers talk about it when I see them (younger son still at the school); how it reminds them of him every time they see their giraffe. I suppose it helps that they were find of him.

As a former teacher, my favourite present ever was from a boy who, in retrospect, had ADHD before it was a thing. I adored him. He brought me some eggs from his quails and a cake that they had had decorated saying "Goodbye Miss Floating".

Teacher here, I’m secondary so gifts aren’t a thing at my school. I very occasionally get the odd gift; for example my students know I like novelty stationery so they might buy me something like a glittery pen or an ice cream rubber which I absolutely love! In fact if we get expensive gifts we have to declare them!
My own children are at primary and the present buying is ridiculous. It’s 3 presents per child for their teachers and TAs (part-time staff). Luckily my mum is a bargain hunter and gets chocolates and little toiletries sets throughout the year which she keeps to one side.

A card is plenty, with a nice message. If you didn't like the teacher, or teachers in general, feel free not to bother. Class collections, as it's clear from some comments, make some parents feel pressurised, so I think those should be discouraged by schools. A small token of thanks from a child is lovely to receive and I would not turn up my nose at anything I'm given. Personally, I love home baking and homemade preserves.

I once had a lovely parent who’s son I’d been heavily involved with helping (above and beyond) she bought me an outfit from M&S - it was hilarious but she meant well, the funny thing was it consisted of jeans, a top and socks and pants! She didn’t wear western clothes and I did really appreciate the gesture - but pants!
Gifts I’ve loved - homemade cards (and homemade cake) coffee shop or bookshop vouchers.
As s parent - kids school do a collection which I contribute to for most teachers but if I have a special relationship/appreciation for one then I’ll get something personal.
I usually do a fresh fruit basket for staff room - if you are going to go food for staffroom, do it at least a week, pref 2 before the end of term for it to most appreciated because they will be inundated on the last few days.

I don't expect presents but a card is always appreciated. Best present I had at christmas was a lovely set of decorations for the tree. Have also had a lovely personalised tin and keyring which I still treasure. Worst present was some out of date chocolates and used candles!!!

If I had to get a present, I'd love to get a voucher for costa or M&S or something personalised.

I file "teacher presents" under those abysmal Americanisms like "Prom Night" - completely unknown in the UK 40 to 50 years ago.

Overall I am happiest with the notes from the children themselves. They always mean the most, and they're easiest to store away. Every year or so I stumble over some old card from a child and it really brightens my day!

I'm not really fussed about food, drink, knick knacks or expensive items...THAT SAID, I have been relieved when I've had a decent sized voucher before. I will end up spending at least 50 on my own presents to the kids so it is nice to recoup the costs!

(and no, I don't necessarily think parents should have to buy gifts or teachers should have to buy gifts but at the school I'm at everyone does it and I would stand out like an evil old sore thumb if I didn't give them at least something!)

My dh was I'll in hospital the other week. I bought chocolates for the staff and wrote a thank you card detailing why they were marvellous.
They were doing the job they were paid to do but by God, that job looked hard! I know I couldn't do it!

NY son has just finished year 11. He wrote cards for all his teachers thanking them for helping him get through his exams and we bought chocolate for them all.
It's a gesture.
Nobody has to make a gesture if they dont want to. A thank you gift given grudgingly or under duress means nothing. Better not to give anything.
I know that the parents of some of the children I work with will write me a card or send a small gift and those gesture will be very much appreciated.

They wont be necessary at all but deeply appreciated.

Last year I bought my son’s teacher 30 pritt-sticks! She was very pleased! (I used to go in and read with the kids so I knew she spent her own money on things like pritt-stick for the class)

Teacher here - agree with PPs that cards with personal messages in are the best. I’ve kept all mine from over the years in scrapbooks.

Home-baked cakes would be lovely :)
Speaking as a teacher, the things I've appreciated most are a nice email, especially if it's Ccd to the Head! Many parents are quick to complain and slow to thank.
I've always treasured cards with a heart-felt message - have kept them all.
Presents are not necessary; nobody should expect them.

One of the best presents I received (it was a leaving present) was a used copy of an Enid Blyton book.
The note on it said: a good story to read to your new class.
ESA child. How thoughtful was that? I absolutely loved it
Sometimes, the inexpensive things are the best!!

Why do we do this at the end of every term?!
Isn't it an over-extension of days when a child really wanted to give their teacher something, stemming from genuine affection and/or gratitude?
When that over the years turns into what are often monetary gifts from mothers in the form of tokens, (often press-ganged outside school gates or by email) it totally wipes out any genuine feeling and becomes just another payment

Many teachers here have said they are happiest with a written card, it should stay at that and/or something genuinely gifted in a heart-felt way by the children shouldn't it?

Any gift is welcomed but the most important thing is to send a thoughtful message. I don't drink and always end up with ALOT of alcohol to give away SO I would say unless you know their preferences veer away from alcohol.

I don’t expect any presents, and as a deputy head I don’t get many as I don’t have a form.

Things I of course am very touched by the gesture but don’t like getting include:

• alcohol
• chocolate/sweets
• bubble bath/bath bombs
• anything best teacher
• personalised things
• vouchers for specialist shops I never use
• homemade food etc...

Best things I have received over the years include:

• super warm mittens - the Mum recognised that I stand outside on duty before and after school come rain, shine, snow, gales, torrential rain etc....
• stationery
• Heartfelt cards/messages
• flowers/plants in the summer term - I go away straight away so these die!
• vouchers for shops that sell a variety of things, not too specialised!

I don’t expect anything at all but would far rather parents got me a £5 lendwithcare voucher than a £5 bottle of wine/candle/box of chocs etc.... but it’s a bit grabby to suggest that!

If a child asks me what I drink it’s very simple though.,,, ‘Robinson’s apple and black currant double concentrate squash’ - one day one will get the hint and get me that not a bottle of bubbly!

Oops, flowers should be in the list of things I don’t like receiving

Not relevant but reminded by PP upthread that when I was in Infant school as a pupil I hand coloured a thank you card for the dinner ladies - and included 1p for them! Mum knew nothing about it.

Please no gift. I feel embarrassed. A card form the child is always the best.

I can see why you are not keen on teachers @greenlloon - they utterly failed you...

How rude! You were not taught any manners then. Or respect for the views of others. I agree, no gift is necessary.