Who does NOT get teachers end of term gifts?

[louise5754]

My DH always says it's pathetic buying gifts for teachers. I've done it every July and Christmas for both my kids for the past 5 years. Often buying for the teacher and 3-4 teaching assistants.

He said he never did this and only the suck up kids do it.

I just thought it was what you do.

I have never understood the need to get these. When I was in school I never did that in 12yrs of school or 3yrs of college. Why would I be expected to do it for my sons teachers?! Even more so when in 3 years time I'll have one son in school and one in nursery.

It's their job not a favour. Unless your child has needed a lot of help and a teacher has really helped them through their entire time at school and your child was leaving for high school or college, I honestly wouldn't bother.

You don't have to buy gifts. It's your choice.

It is not mandatory but it is nice, a token of appreciation.
Lots of workers receive gifts, my DM buys her GP and receptionist a gift every year.
I buy my neighbour a gift as he doesn't complain when the DC throw thing over his wall. DS has finally past his throwing phase

I will say I don’t because I have 3 in school (will be 4 in September) & all 3 classes have 2 TAs each, all 3 have had a 2nd teacher this year too, none of them have crossed over so I’d be looking at 12 gifts.

They are all currently nurturing baby spider plants though which I’ll send in at some point in September (when they’re in the final pots)

i get cards, not gifts. i can’t imagine anybody wanting to get 30 ornaments, mugs, chocolates or cheap wines every year

No. Never done it
Went in an personally thanked a few as they’d gone above and beyond for my child but gifts no

No one gives me gifts for just doing my job wouldn’t cross my mind to do that for anyone else tbh

My dc don't at secondary, but dd sees a TA once a fortnight following her father dying and she wanted to give her something, so she's taking her a card and small box of M&S biscuits.

We always get a plant from the whole class - works out about 60p each!

Where I come from, not the U.K., there is an annual teacher's day (and a children's day) where teachers are given lots of gifts are shown appreciation by their students. It is also a scheduled government school holiday! Teaching is a very well-respected and well-paid profession in my home country.

And yes, I give gifts to teachers. Not just school teachers, but to my child's music teachers as well.

I've only ever bought when DC are leaving primary school

We put £10 in the class collection for each child (unless we find something personal to the teacher that we know they will love-no tat!) I have 4 kids and we're not well off but I can't think of anyone that plays such a big part in your child's life as their teacher and (so far) our teachers have always been brilliant and I'm so thankful for them.

I never did it. It was the school groupie parents who bought into doing this. I always thought it was cringy, creepy and unnecessary.
Saying that, my child struggled with school so my interactions with teachers was always negative and no help or special support was ever given.

If they'd gone out of their way to help support him I may have gifted something.

I'll be glad to see the back of school tbh.

DC's school requests either voluntary donations for local charity or contribution which goes towards gifts for ALL staff - caretakers, support staff, canteen staff as well as teaching staff.

I don't. They get adequately paid for teaching my kids so why would I? If one went above and beyond and did something out of the goodness of their heart I might.

@gotmychocolateimgood the TA gave your gifts back to the parents?

Just the jewellery and perfume bottles as we had a suspicion they were taken from the mums... the two child had been caught several times being light fingered at school so my TA had a quiet chat and returned them!

Two children

I spent €75 on two teachers and 3 Montessori teachers they deserved it imo. I do it at Christmas and end of year. It’s the least I could do.

My dc school have a class kitty so the class rep sorts out a voucher at the end of the year for the teacher and TAs (independent school - not sure if this makes a difference). Happy to contribute to that, think its a better idea than just getting lots of £5 cheap stuff.

Some people also seem to give their teacher a present as well, up to them, but it's not the sort of school where parents are giving designer handbags to teachers.

I'd never make a handmade gift fir a teacher, as why would they want something from your kid, they're not a relative.