To ask what's reasonable as a teacher/ta Christmas gift?

[isolationhelp23]

DS started at reception in September. There are 2 teachers which job share and a full time TA. So 3 gifts, equal amounts appropriate?

We would like to be generous without being OTT - how much would you spend? And voucher or gift?

We only give token gifts. Tescos have boxes of celebrations for £2 each this week, so that is what I have got. The dc will do a card too.

I give equal gifts to teachers and TAs.

Nothing. A nice gift would be a card from your child or a letter of thanks from you.

depends on your budget and how many you want to give for. Box of chocolates was always my choice.

I've always given a Costa voucher or similar. It's so hard to know peoples preferences and most people would appreciate a coffee and cake in peace.

Thanks all - Costa voucher sounds good idea!

You see, I wouldn’t want a Costa voucher. I don’t drink coffee and I’ve never been to a Costa. I’ve no idea where the nearest one even is and wouldn’t make a special trip to use the voucher. That would be just wasted money for me.

@daisypond thanks - I had also thought maybe a John Lewis or Amazon voucher...do you think this would be more generic?

The school have already emailed saying staff would still really appreciate any gifts, even more so this year, and have put in place a quarantine procedure.

I usually do some M&S Belgian truffles and a hot chocolate bomb.

The school have already emailed saying staff would still really appreciate any gifts, even more so this year, and have put in place a quarantine procedure.

That’s surprising!

I tend to get my kids to make something to give...
Is an activity to kill time and doesn’t cost much at all. This year it’s a loo roll made into a snowperson with a homemade card.

I would do Amazon over Costa, purely because many people still aren’t visiting stores or eating out due to the risks.

We either do a voucher or a gift depending on how well i know the staff. The DC often like to pick their own things for them.

@isolationhelp23

The school have already emailed saying staff would still really appreciate any gifts, even more so this year, and have put in place a quarantine procedure.

WTF? 🤨

How Grabby of your school! To actually email parents about wanting gifts is so so wrong.

Oh well at least they appreciate the gifts I suppose. My sons pre school has asked for donations to be made to a local food bank this year.

Wine or chocolate, or a good book are my favourites

Token gifts like good biscuits, chocolate or wine always go down well.
Homemade by your child, especially cards drawn and or written by them. My mum had cards like this that she kept and looked at every Christmas remembering the child that had given it some 15 years after she retired (and a long teaching career). I have my own, valued collection too!

Biscuits and chocolate are a good choice as they can be shared with their own children etc, many people don’t drink though so I only buy alcohol for people I know who do and know well enough to know the preferred brand.

@isolationhelp23

The school have already emailed saying staff would still really appreciate any gifts, even more so this year, and have put in place a quarantine procedure.

That's incredibly cheeky!

If parents really wanted to give something, a card would be nice. Even better if it included a thank you. :o

Maybe a nice tin of biscuits if you wanted something to wrap?

You just can’t win in these situations unless you know the teacher well.
If you get chocolates, someone may be allergic or dairy intolerant.
If you bake something at home, someone will say they never eat homemade stuff and it goes straight in the bin- not that they will tell you that.
Candles bring on migraines.
Hand cream brings them out in rashes.
Alcohol to a teetotaller.
Amazon- for ethical reasons they won’t buy from them, etc etc.

I’m vegan, so unless the chocolates are vegan, they are wasted on me. My sister-in-law is a teacher and won’t buy from Amazon on principle, and all alcohol - except vodka -gives her severe migraines.

I’m really surprised that a school has said they welcome gifts. John Lewis voucher might be your best bet, IMO.

I work in a nursery and any chocolates given to us would be put in the staff room for everyone which defeats the object plus 2 of the staff in my room are vegan so would much prefer toiletries or a little individual present.

I don't give equal gifts in your situation I would. I buy DS teacher & his sna the same his resource teacher gets a smaller amount.
Similar with DD she has 2 FT teachers in the classroom and pt resource.

Or I'd give TA extra as she is fulltime.

I love a Waterstones / W h smiths voucher that I can spend on books. We have a (affluent and generous) family with 5 kids in school that always give Waterstones vouchers. Usually I choose one to share with my class but sometimes I get one that’s just for me!
I have one of their children again this year so if we get the usual I already know which 2 books I want for my class!

My children’s classes have always had at least 3, sometimes 4-5 adults in them between job shares, part time, various TAs.... I can’t sensibly buy that many presents. I write a nice card each, my child might write or draw something too, then I buy something edible and individually wrapped for the staff room like biscuits or chocolate. This year I’m told school has asked for no gifts etc so I will write a “Christmas card” email to the head - I know he reads out parental messages in staff meetings sometimes or prints them for the staff room wall.

@Tiredforfive45
The book voucher is a brilliant idea! I’m a TA, and if I got a voucher I’d definitely use it for my class (I do read a lot, but on my kindle) - it gives the option for personal or school use.
Regarding the school ‘asking’ for gifts, it depends how it’s worded. Ours has said that it is allowed, and that staff do appreciate the gifts, but that it is important that families do not feel obliged, or spend more than they are able. This was in response to parents asking can they still give gifts, rather than an out-of-the-blue ‘please give us presents’.