To spend this much on presents

[GinTonicOnIt]

So I have 2 DC.

DC1 has special needs. I have bought an Xmas present for his Teacher, morning TA, therapist, second TA (who does afternoons) and the school SENCO.

DC2 I have bought presents for his two job sharing teachers.

Also one for the head.

So in total that's 8 presents. Spent £3.50 on each so less than £30 in total. They're each getting a box of Aldi shortbread biscuits (in a nice tin) and a choc bar. Also a card signed by the dc.

Are these presents a bit crap? I'm considering a dash out to buy a mini wine bottle each to add? I can't express how much these people have done for my dc, feeling a bit cheap? Or am I being mad, they will appreciate the thought?

Relax. My friend's daughter goes to a special school and has about 12 therapists plus the bus driver. She bakes cookies, makes fudge etc and packages them up in cellophane bags with a nice bow. The teachers are very happy with these gifts - time is precious and they appreciate that people can't afford gifts for all. Better than yet another 'best teacher' mug.
In contrast in my kid's school we tend to do end of school year gifts, not Christmas gifts. And since secondary my kids say none of the teachers deserve them (surely not true, but few people give the secondary teachers gifts unless they are leaving).

More important is a card saying how very much you appreciate them
It’s a been a tough term and kind sincere words will
Mean a lot xx

You honestly don’t need to give any presents at all. Don’t buy, bake or make anything. Teachers don’t want it. A card with a lovely message is fine.

Don't buy the wine as well. The gifts you have bought are lovely, you have been very generous. A card with your comments would be appreciated by the teachers more than the wine!

I’m a teacher and the loveliest thing I can receive is kind words/thanks in a card- I’ve kept them all and they mean so much. They mean even more in these times.

So please don’t think your gift isn’t enough, it definitely is 😊

To echo the previous poster, it's lovely words in a card that mean the most, the gift is unimportant (and really not necessary)
What you've done sounds lovely and very thoughtful op.

I am a teacher and would be delighted with that, it really isn't the amount you spend.

I'm a therapist - the biscuits are plenty enough but honestly the card will be the most meaningful thing

Your gifts sound great. It isn’t the case that more expensive bigger teacher gifts are better.

More expensive gifts will embarrass the teacher. They may well worry they need to “declare” expensive gifts and donate them for the next school raffle etc. They are not appropriate.

The thread mentioned with parents spending £20 each if reported to the head might lead to gifts being banned in that school. Small tokens are all that it is appropriate to accept. If you tell the teachers how much their help has meant to you they will be very moved.

My son is making his teachers a salt dough tree decoration 🤣🤣🤣

You're fine.

I received a card and a gift yesterday from a child in my class with additional needs. His mum thanked me for my hard work and kindness in the card. I burst into tears! After an incredibly hard half term being recognised for kidness felt amazing! Your card is what matters...the biscuits are a bonus!

I have an awful habit of spending too much in presents. Becoase it’s easier to be honest.

Your gift sounds lovely and thoughtful. It’s pitched at the right level, and with a card to say how much their support has meant to you and your family I am sore it will be very well received.

My son is making his teachers a salt dough tree decoration

This sounds lovely!

Thank you all so much. I wasn't expecting this response, you've also raised a good point about expensive gifts may actually make the teachers feel uncomfortable.

I'll write a heartfelt card to each of them.

I echo the posters who say to add some heartfelt words to the card. As a teacher that would mean so much more than a mug of a bottle of wine.
As a parent I make a point of emailing my gratitude to the headteacher if a teacher has been outstanding.