To consider NOT giving teacher xmas presents

[LessIsNotMore]

Between the three dc, there are about 7-8 teachers and TAs. There is also the school office, club leaders etc etc.

AIBU to either NOT give any of them presents or to JUST give them chocolate?

They will all get xmas cards.

We’ve got one of ‘those’ class reps who started organising the collection weeks ago.
It’s on a website where you have to list your name and contribution (so not anonymous).
Most people donated £20 to be split between 3 teachers.
I thought that was steep but some people donated more. This is primary school. I won’t be buying anything in addition but I know some are.
I do not think YABU.

Just a regular state primary by the way!

So my child has 1 teacher and 1 TA.
They see a separate teacher for phonics but only once a week and that staff member has their own class.
They see music and art teachers that teach whole school.
They see lunchtime supervisors.
They see a sports teacher that does extra curricular with them for a pound.

The likelihood is that I will card everybody but buy for the teacher, TA and after school club person as they are the Key Workers for my child.

Personally I will probably buy for the head and 2 office staff as all three have supported me personally this year so that's more from me than my child iyswim

When I had 3 children at school I used to buy a fruit hamper for staff room as everyone used to buy them chocolate, just addressed to all staff from (insert dc names)

It’s on a website where you have to list your name and contribution (so not anonymous).
Most people donated £20 to be split between 3 teachers.

not anonymous?? So everyone knows if you've donated less than the ridiculously high £20?? That's more than I spend on my mum (we r doing a Max £5 this year as everyone is skint!), and sometimes more than I spend on my DC!!

I'm a teacher with 3 dc and I don't give gifts at Xmas or end of term. We get paid a salary and I'd hate my pupils' families to feel short of money because of this.

The scouts / brownies leaders who VOLUNTEER hours of time and don't get paid - now they deserve gifts.

I do end of year gifts but Christmas I have enough family to buy for so teachers get a card. Can't get stressed about it. I have 3 dc and dc have various teachers and TAs that even £5 each would be £50, which imo is bonkers

I have only ever bought gifts for Teacher and her TA TBH! Never occurred to me for anyone else.

Chocs and nice biscuits.

I’m a TA. Some parents buy gifts but really do not worry about it. It gets a big deal when there are TAs and 1:1 TAs and several DC. What is always appreciated is a box of biscuits for the staff room -honestly. Spend your money on your DC, we get paid!

If you feel the teachers and other staff are really great at school and you wanted to.show appreciation then a box of biscuits for the staff room would be fine.
Presents aren't compulsory so don't feel bad for not forking out for every single person at school individually or indeed not buy anything all.

I was a teacher and loved a homemade gift/card. If you wrote in it a teacher could keep it as evidence for appraisals etc.
Had a lovely coaster made of those heat up beads.
Other teachers got bracelets etc.
Choc is always a winner.

I know we shouldn't expect gifts but I always felt sorry for the children who didn't get to give a gift. They always got a Xmas hug/handshake

@FloppyBiffAndChip yeah I know.
A couple of parents messaged the WhatsApp group asking for bank details to do a transfer saying they couldn’t get the site to work. I wonder if it’s because they didn’t want to do the £20 and didn’t want it known.
I think using a site where you have no choice but to publicise the amount against your name is poor form. But as I said, we have one of ‘those’ class reps. I wouldn’t want to challenge her.

I'm a tutor not a teacher but I always treasure a nice card written by the student with a message inside. I do sometimes get presents and while I'm touched by the gesture I tend to donate them as I can't get through so many chocolates/bath products etc. I would hate for someone to buy a present for me if they were going to miss the money over Christmas.

I haven't RTFT but came on to say that actually teachers really appreciate a wee note or card saying "thank you for all you do to support/teach xxx we really appreciate it" because mostly they are not appreciated and, working as a support assistant in a primary school I see first hand just now committed and hard-working they are.

Chocolate always goes down well too, of course but there is no need to spend much; a box of Maltesers from the pound shop is perfect.

My dm is a teacher. Gifts always get re gifted. A hand made card from your child is appreciated.

We got a lovely letter from School: please don't buy us Christmas presents... here is a list of charities we support ... please give to them.

Former primary teacher here - there’s honestly no need.

You don't have to give a present at all. If you did chocolate would be fine.

Teachers don’t expect presents

Christmas is hard and a demanding time. I fully understand that. I didnt give anything for teacher appreciation day.. so gave special wine for christmas to our 4 teachers, head and reception staff plus £10 into the pot for class wide gift, with cards from us and ones from us &
our ds, because he genuinely wanted to (first time I didnt need to ask). Sometime it neds to be done because the children want to say thanks

The best gift you can give a teacher is a nice review on the school website or email The Headteacher. It really does help reset the balance when you’re dealing with the more difficult parents.

It’s pretty standard at my dcs’ school (and seems to be what happens at friends’ dcs’ schools too) to all put money anonymously in an envelope. Then a class card and voucher is given so the teachers have no idea who put £20 or nothing in. I know the dcs’ teachers get a salary but I know they work well beyond what that reasonably covers so I am happy to give them something to celebrate Christmas.

Ahh. The Christmas echo chamber thread that never goes away.

1. Teachers expect nothing. It is fine to not even send a card. Just be polite and pleasant to your child's teacher. That is enough.
2. Letters and cards are much appreciated.
3. Presents are much appreciated. Anything is lovely but not necessary.
4. It is never the teachers idea to do a class collection.
5. Yes, teachers are paid. But teachers also do plenty for no pay. Because they want the best for their students. No one is looking for reward for this but equally no one particularly likes it when it's used as a way of justifying not buying a gift that was never expected to begin with.
6. Get a present, don't get a present. No one cares. Especially not the teacher.

Teacher here. Just to let you know we have a spreadsheet recording value of all presents, and clearly only focus on those children who have given us acceptable gifts.

Seriously, don’t feel guilt tripped into buying for us. I would say that at least in the infants the children who come in empty handed feel sad - they shouldn’t. But they do. A Poundland box of chocolates can be shared between any number of teachers and TAs, so can be a good option. We are tolerably well paid. I teach in a deprived area, and I actually hate getting an expensive gift- and expensive is relative. £5 is a significant amount of money for some of my families, particularly if they have more than one child.

And the spreadsheet is only advisory