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.

No I don't.

And I certainly don't believe that teachers work any harder then any one else who do different jobs. Some of them just seem more entitled.

I do, I'm a teacher so I know how much teachers go above and beyond. A little gift to make them feel appreciated and feel a bit better about what to be fair, can be a really shit job sometimes.

*Anotherusefulname

I am a teaching assistant, I always buy for my children's teachers just like my mum always bought for mine.
I would prefer if parents didn't buy things for me, I don't drink so have a cupboard full of wine, I am lactose intolerant so chocolate gives me terrible stomachache, handmade crap goes in the bin at school (for most of us after we have had a laugh in the staffroom).
If you really want to say thank you then send an email and CC the headteacher, I appreciate the sentiment and don't clutter up my house.*

So, essentially ‘I buy for my kids teachers, but bin off and laugh at presents I’m given’ ? I’m willing to bet you’re not swamped with gifts though, right? As you sound like a bit of an ungrateful, nasty tw*t.

Class clubs together and gets some love to shop vouchers. And kids make a card with their names in. The mum who organised this year did an amazing job! Everyone contributed what they wanted whether it be a pound or 20. No-one knows who gave what. It was good

The present buying or present exclusion seems to have become a way for parents to communicate how well a teacher has performed! I thought it was bad enough with OFSTED! No I don't buy teachers gifts. I don't buy my kids GP gifts either!

And I certainly don't believe that teachers work any harder then any one else who do different jobs.

that's a strong statement to judge the entire workforce population

I won't be buying individual gifts this year, we'll do cards and send a box of chocolates for them to share. I would buy a gift if they had been exceptional.

*and even if teachers were not working that hard they take care of my kids.
That's quite enough for me.

i never did and i used to thank the teacher personally for all they were doing and how happy [only if it was true] dc was/had been in their class.

🙋🏻‍♀️

It's just a pissing competition to see who can buy the best gifts.

DS teachers are amazing and have been right through primary, but at the end of the day thats their job.

We do generally give a card and IMO if I was a teacher the knowing I was appreciated would mean more to me than a mountain of competitive gifts.

We only buy in Y6 when the DC are allowed to give to as many that feel have impacted them during their time. That said, each year I do send emails to the Head if they have been great detailing why etc.

To add, in y6 we also try to put real thought into the gift so it isn’t a bottle of wine or chocolates (though these are obviously lovely).

We only buy in Y6 when the DC are allowed to give to as many that feel have impacted them during their time.

What happens if he wants to buy a gift for a teacher or member of support staff, who has since left the school?

This has in fact happened, we got that teacher a leaving gift.

He has got his reception teacher a lovely small gift for his instrument this year. I think it means something that in y6 he remembers his reception teacher as s being great and it being a lovely welcoming, nurtured year.

We also emailed the Head the year he had him as he was incredible. —I didn’t cry when he left—

DC only in playschool but I've ordered a big box of loaded cookies from a local bakery and will get a couple of bottles of prosecco for them all. I appreciate the care they take with my toddler, that they "get" him and look after him.

I was a TA and never expected gifts but was thoroughly grateful when I did receive them. I am 33 and always took a thank you token in to school for teachers. It was a rough school in a deprived area and loads of the other kids did too.

"Anotherusefulname

sundaeMorning
Just being honest, I love my job, I love the kids I work with. Don't need piles of crap'

Fair enough, sorry didnt mean to have a dig.

Not all gifts get binned, am sitting reading this in a lovely cosy dressing gown I got from a voucher was given one year ,while writing thank yous for the lovely chocolates,wine and pens I was lucky enough to receive this year, to which I do not feel entitled ,but am very grateful for. Having taught Primary for 30 years I have not kept every card I have ever been given(I live in a small flat) but these days I take a picture and have always thanked the children,parents and never thought any different about those who give presents and those who don’t.

I taught in a school in a deprived area in the past. I had a couple of bottles of half used perfume once, a necklace with a security tag on it and various half eaten boxes of chocs. My lovely TA discretely returned them to the parents. I was always happy with a thank you card. It's unusual to receive presents from every child in the class and none were expected, I'd usually get a couple of bottles of wine, some flowers and some chocolates from various children, maybe a teacher mug or two. Never any vouchers!

I always get token gifts for all my dc teachers/tas in primary and their favourite few in secondary. Just a small box of chocolates or a plant so if they don't want it it's easy to pass on.

I get the dc to write some words about the year they've had and I say a thank you as a parent.

Yes they're just doing the job they're paid for and hopefully they love it, but they're looking after my kids day in day out, keeping them safe, nurtured and learning. They're doing a very special thing under usually challenging conditions they deserve a thank you!

I haven't done for the past few years, because I don't have much money (will get them a card) but I will do this time because he's leaving the school and I honestly can't praise the school enough, so I'll be getting the teacher something and something for the other staff to share (probably some really nice biscuits or whatever)

I don't, it doesn't mean I don't appreciate the teachers kindness and effort. It means I'm skint and can nearly afford food in the table so no mi why left for teachers gifts. It put such pressure in patents as seems expected now.
I write a nice card if appropriate

My DGM was a Reception teacher for many, many years and my cousins now teach primary level too. I teach in a college so sadly receive no presents (violins) but head all about my cousins selection of gifts every year. They both give the chocolate away as they’re quite health conscious, neither of them drink wine either so that is also given away. The ‘best teacher’ items, whilst appreciated, just end up shoved in a cupboard because there’s not really much you can do with twenty best teacher mugs! There’s also a reason ‘best teacher’ items end up in charity shops guys... Just don’t do it. They actually like the little pictures or cards made by students most of all, they are rather cute.

My DGM still has a big box filled with handmade cards and pictures she received over the years.

I sometimes contribute to the collection but not this year as my DS teacher left mid way through and the new teacher although good has not been there long enough for me to know him. And also because the collection is for the Class teacher, the school office person, the caretaker and the TA, I think that's too much. One year my other DS had an exceptional teacher and I did get her a gift.

I don’t buy them gifts but they do get handmade cards.