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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if and what you gift school teachers?

49 replies

Pushpushpoosh · 04/12/2019 14:44

Do you get them a gift and if so what?

There's alot of well off and some ott parents at DDs school what's generally the school teacher gift?

OP posts:
MonstranceClock · 04/12/2019 14:45

Nothing. Is this a thing?!

KC225 · 04/12/2019 14:53

5 quid per family (voluntary) went into the collection but that covered teacher, classroom assistant and PGCE student and box of biscuits from our class to the school office plus cards that all the children signed. Well worth it and a lot cheaper and easier than doing individual gifts.

Original poster
Pushpushpoosh · 04/12/2019 14:54

Apparently so, that would have been a fab idea for a whole collection, it's a new year group so not many of us have gotten to know eachother well enough to initiate that

OP posts:
livingthegoodlife · 04/12/2019 14:56

Nothing

soapboxqueen · 04/12/2019 14:56

My dd picks out a Christmas ornament for her teacher.

We don't do the big collection because she likes to hand a gift over herself.

However, no teacher expects a gift.

If you don't want to, don't.

VincentVanGoughandhisear · 04/12/2019 15:00

A card .

There is no need for gifts. It is all getting too much with all of these handcrafted my blind nuns gifts and £50 gift vouchers.

No teacher wants more tat or chocolate or wine.

kjhkj · 04/12/2019 15:01

generally a book and a nice thank you note,

Original poster
Pushpushpoosh · 04/12/2019 15:09

So glad people don't go wild I was worried about affording it for a teacher and 2 TAs

OP posts:
VincentVanGoughandhisear · 04/12/2019 18:04

Our teacher has sent a note to say no presents!

kjhkj · 05/12/2019 07:08

So glad people don't go wild I was worried about affording it for a teacher and 2 TAs

I think some people do. One year one of the parents at our school bought the teacher a dress!

SimonJT · 05/12/2019 07:11

We just make hand print reindeer cards.

My son frequently moans about the lack of yellow pencil crayons at school to me and the class TA who confirmed that the yellows always go missing. So I have bought a box of 50 yellow pencil crayons.

FudgeBrownie2019 · 05/12/2019 07:13

I buy a box of 50 pritt sticks for DS2's teacher every Christmas. Sounds mad but no school on earth ever has enough.

DS1 is at high school so takes a box of chocolates in for the secretary/office staff as they are fabulous with him.

WaterSheep · 05/12/2019 07:28

I buy a box of 50 pritt sticks for DS2's teacher every Christmas. Sounds mad but no school on earth ever has enough.

That's a dream gift Shock Actual Pritt sticks! Shock

As for the OP, no teacher will ever ask for a gift, they don't want them. A handmade card is more than enough if you feel you want to give something.

Stompythedinosaur · 05/12/2019 07:47

I send in a small box of chocs for teachers, TAs, club leaders as well as the dinner lady, the admin person and the cook. Just the tiny £1-2 boxes.

If they don't want them they are free to chuck them away or regift them. My dc want to give something and I want to thank them.

RedskyToNight · 05/12/2019 07:57

Hand made cards with personal notes.

I don't see the need to get a teacher a gift unless you feel they have gone over and above what is required. Teaching your child is, after all, their job. No one gives me a gift for doing my job.

(I admit this is slightly coloured by 20 years as a Brownie leader - a voluntary role - I hardly ever got Christmas gifts or even cards. No, I didn't expect them, but I just find it odd that people feel they want to reward people for doing their paid job, but don't think it's important for people who give up their own time and often money to run children's groups).

churchandstate · 05/12/2019 08:00

I’ll buy gifts for my DD’s teacher/TA when the time comes, if I like them. Not for the teaching itself but for the caring that comes with it. A box of chocolates or a bottle of wine won’t kill me.

vivacian · 05/12/2019 08:00

I know someone will be along soon to say that it's an old use of the word, but I can't stand the use of 'gift' as a verb.

ElluesPichulobu · 05/12/2019 08:06

I get the teacher a bottle of decent champagne because my child is such a handful she bloody deserves it.

the point of a gift is that it is voluntary, made with no obligation because of the giver's desire to give. If you feel there is an obligation then or isn't a gift, it is payment in kind for services.

so don't worry about it and don't do gifts unless you genuinely want to.

motortroll · 05/12/2019 08:12

A card andante some homemade biscuits or mince pies if I can find time. I'm a teacher and I really appreciate just how good my kids teachers are but I still wouldn't go overboard!

Topseyt · 05/12/2019 08:15

Nothing.

PineappleDanish · 05/12/2019 08:16

One of the mums in DS's class always organises a collection, we each bung in a fiver. She usually buys vouchers for one of the shopping centres in town and a small gift like a box of chocolates.

Weekday28 · 05/12/2019 08:18

I just do a £5 amazon voucher for the teachers so they can choose what they would like either personal or school things.

00100001 · 05/12/2019 08:21

I write an email so they can use it as part of their CPD/appraisal.

lazylinguist · 05/12/2019 08:27

Buy a small gift if you really want to. No teachers expect gifts (I'm a teacher) and don't be guilted into it by the parents who act like it's compulsory. It really really isn't. When both my dc left primary I bought a nice gift for their teacher who had taken them right through the school. That's it. No Christmas presents etc.

ImportantWater · 05/12/2019 08:30

Three mini Tiptree jams/ spreads wrapped up like a cracker has been our go to gift for teachers for ages.