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 don't. There is a class collection this year which I'm actively avoiding. I just hate the anonymous lack of thought it involves, I understand the theory (no 30 mugs etc) but it doesn't seem like a proper "thank you" from my child.

My kids will make a card. I think that is enough.

Aaahhhh ok. Easy to understand now that I know that you're cheap/lacking in generosity of spirit in all walks of life.

Never did it... on a couple of occasions I've written a card to say thank you but only when I've genuinely been grateful and thought a teacher had been fab!

I don't like it... no one needs choc wine and trinkets x 30

I did once arrange flowers from all class parents when staff took ours on residential! Time away from their families to enrich my kids is beyond I think and appreciated.

Don't get anything. Haven't done for 6 years.

Nope, never have for any of my 4DC, all this ‘oh they put so much effort in’ I’d hope so that’s what they’re paid for. It’s a ridiculous trend.

I organised every year for 7 years teachers presents Christmas and end of year. I'll ask all parents to give £3 to £5 twice a year and it worked very well.
I don't do it now as our son is in year 8.
I think it's nice thing to do for teachers.

Someone I know got giving teachers gifts banned at her school 😬😬🙄😳

Only once since my first child started in 2005. None of them have been deserving. Always favouring other children.

If a teacher has been good I will go up and shake their hand and thank them personally.

I don't. I make them a cake on their birthday instead!

Don’t buy gifts for the teacher! I get bags of crap which I bin on the way out.

Do credit some parents with actually being able to get nice and personal gifts. Maybe if you don’t like the stuff it says more about you than it does about them. Eg dds teacher is pregnant and wears converse boots, we’ve bought converse bootees.

Dd is in yr6 primary so leaving at the end of term. I buy stuff and I bake a cake at Christmas and at the end of the summer term. Dd already made a charm bracelet for her teacher earlier in the year. She has occasionally written a little note to the teacher and is giving her favourite dinner lady a bunch of second hand stuff plus something she chose from the shop. I’ve also bought presents for the ta and two ladies in admin, who’ve known us for years.

It is the norm at dds school to give a gift although not everyone does. I never give chocolates or booze. So many parents do and I don’t think they realise just how much is given. The staff room is heaving.

A good friend of mine was a primary school teacher, she used to get mostly chocolates and wine; she neither ate chocolate nor drank wine so all of that was given away. She did appreciate cards from the children themselves though.

I would quite happily chip in if there is another parent organising a collection but otherwise I don't bother, usually because I'm too busy to think about and organise it.

Let’s face it, teachers do a shit job anyway; most English kids are half-literate and barely employable.

Right, yeah, let’s get rid of teachers and see how well the country functions as a result. Prick.

I did the first year my DS was in school. Peer pressure! I then did buy another until my DD's Y4 teacher was leaving and we loved her. She went above and beyond. This year the teacher did no prep, and we hardly saw him. So when someone mentioned it. I scrolled last that .message. Dont feel obliged.

I think that is enough.

It definitely is. And tbh even a card is not needed or demanded. I actually think its worse if it's given begrudgingly. No teacher or TA expects or demands gifts. No one goes to a transition meeting and says "oh, Jimmys mum never gives gifts, don't bother with him this year."

It's a nice surprise if and when they happen(whichever form they take), there's absolutely no issue if they don't .

I didn't this year or last year because my dds teachers were terrible. If the teacher is good I would say get a thank you card and a wee token gift.

Our school does a collection. Each child puts in £5 at christmas and £10 at end of year. Staff then get a voucher. I have always contributed to this.
I have now found out that some parents also do seperate gifts for the staff from their children and now i feel i should. We also never sign a card so the staff wouldn’t know who has and who hasn’t contributed.

As a teacher, I genuinely do not expect any gifts. However, for all the people who say teachers are paid to do the job...yes, however the majority go above and beyond the hours expected of them, and many buy resources for their class without claiming back.

Most years I do but just a card & token gift. This year DD really doesn’t like her teacher but loves her TA so I have given enough to the class collection to cover something for the TA & 2 cards. I struggled to write something nice in the teacher’s card!

Teacher here. Sometimes I've had lots of gifts, sometimes none. I don't care, I certainly don't see the child or family in a different light. However, I've received some really lovely, personal gifts. I've also received some lovely messages from different children or parents who have appreciated what I've done and they are just as treasured as the gifts.

No, I've never done it either. You don't have to do it even if it seems the done thing by others, we are individuals not sheep.

I do send one to my dc SENCO, well the dc does, she is lovely and does a job nobody else does. If I had to provide for all teachers I'd be skint.

People in many careers go above and beyond what is expected of them.

I'll get small gifts (normally a nice hand cream, I normally have to buy 6 presents, 2 DC and 2 TA's in each class, so it is quite expensive, I'm sure some families can't afford to buy anything).

£10 donation per child
So potentially £2/300 gift for teacher? That’s ridiculous and pressure on families to produce £10.

My DD is leaving middle school and has just announced that she wants to give her tutor a gift, I’d not thought of it though he has been a diamond. She’s going to have to smuggle on a bottle of wine, I don’t have anything else.

Me - never have never will

We make or buy and the kids write a card. I am very grateful and appreciative and say so.

Presents no, whiprounds asking for £15 to get the teacher £300 next vouchers, nope not that either. It all escalates. I think schools should say it's not appropriate and spare everyone the angst.

work on the principle that no teacher is ever going to have too many pens

This is true.

I particularly enjoy getting novelty pens as gifts, because I lend them to children who have forgotten their own - they are much less likely to walk off with a pen that has a crown, or a unicorn or a watermelon on the end.

The more —embarrassing— unusual the better. Although my year 10 boys secretly like using the glittery crown pen, I know they do!!