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AIBU?

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Original poster

Teacher year end gift

76 replies

Gingernspice · 30/05/2021 22:19

Do you think it be fine to stick a tenner in a thank you teacher card and gift to the teacher. DD 9 prefers I buy a gift. WWYD... Gift or tenner in card?

OP posts:
Crazycrazylady · 31/05/2021 10:51

I always feel a bit sorry for the teachers getting pens and pritt stick etc. My kids teachers are beautiful young things in their twenties that normally look like they've stepped from they pages of a fashion magazine .. I always pick up a little benefit set or something similar that I think a person of their age would like as opposed to posted notes!

ValerieMalone · 31/05/2021 11:19

@Jizzonmy

Gift. Glue sticks and scissors or pencils and pens are life savers. Felt tips too
It’s nice to donate things for classroom use but that is NOT a gift for the teacher. Personally I would recommend a gift voucher to a place where everyone can find something — Westfield or Waterstone’s are great. I’m not one for scented candles or lotions and I don’t drink but I always appreciated that a parent wanted to thank me by getting something that was for ME to enjoy in recognition of my work through the school year.
Wakeupsunshinex · 31/05/2021 11:22

I'm not a teacher anymore but I was a teacher at a SEN school. I kept all the cards I was ever given. Loved them all, especially the homemade ones! No one ever gave me money, and I would have felt a bit awkward about taking money tbh, but gift vouchers were common. My favourite gift I ever recieved was a lovely personalised plant pot with some forget me not seeds, I still have it in my garden and always have forget me nots planted in it. Also a child once drew and framed a picture of us together which was very sweet! It is in my memory box with all my cards. Useful items are always appreciated. I liked getting different shaped post it notes and nice stamps or stickers. Biscuits always went down well too. We're quite easy to please Grin

paralysedbyinertia · 31/05/2021 11:26

Either buy a small gift, as per your dd's wishes, or just write a nice card with a personal thank you message. It would be weird to stick a tenner in a card in my view.

Teachers are paid salaries and don't generally expect gifts, but many do go over and above, and I think it's nice to acknowledge this. For me, the ritual of end of year gift giving was as much about teaching dd the importance of thinking about what others had done for her and expressing gratitude as it was about thanking individual teachers. I therefore ensured that she was involved in choosing the gifts and in writing really thoughtful messages to her teachers.

Liverbird77 · 31/05/2021 11:29

I know your heart is in the right place, but cash in an envelope would have offended me.

Nothing is expected, although a card is lovely. If you feel the teacher has gone above and beyond then a simple box of chocs or bottle of wine/fizz would always have gone down well with me.
Just to reiterate though: absolutely nothing would have ever been expected.

Bogfrog · 31/05/2021 11:36

I do the collection for my kid’s class. Absolutely not compulsory to chip in but most people do. Usually raise about £250 and get a substantial voucher, wine and chocs.

Pinkblueberry · 31/05/2021 11:41

It really is the thought that counts. So I would say a little gift that’s worth less than 10 quid would mean more than 10 pounds. I personally wouldn’t want cash - it would feel like a kind of ‘tip’. A homemade card with an appreciative note is always lovely.

I love gifts, I’m not gonna say I don’t.
Going against the grain also - I would not be pleased to receive classroom supplies like glue sticks just because they aren’t actually for me are they? They would be for the class. If you want to make a donation to the class instead of getting a teacher gift, go for it! But don’t address something to me that’s actually for the children. I just don’t get it 🤷‍♀️

Posieandpip · 31/05/2021 11:46

I'm a teacher and would be secretly THRILLED with cashGrin

Pinkblueberry · 31/05/2021 11:46

Also I think a lot of people feel like mugs and key chains are overdone so no one gives them anymore... I’ve got just a few keychains which I love and never received a mug. I’d love a best teacher mug - I’m starting to doubt my teaching abilities having never received one tbh (it’s been nearly 5 years... should I take the hint and quit?? 😄)

Posieandpip · 31/05/2021 11:46

I'd also be unexcited by classroom items. Agree they're not really for the teacher are they?

Scotlass · 31/05/2021 11:48

I've sent in various things over the years
Wine, chocolate, jewellery if it was something the teacher wore
Costa or Starbucks voucher in a handmade thank you card for a wee end of year treat is this years gift.

WeAllHaveWings · 31/05/2021 11:50

Card if you feel the need, but I have never in ds(17) entire school life sent an end of year card or gift to a teacher. Not expected here.

What I do do is at parents evening give the teacher positive feedback from ds. Something along the lines of - ds has enjoyed English this year which was surprising, he is not naturally good at it so doesn't normally enjoy but it sounds as though you have brought it more to life for him this year and he feels a bit more confident in what he is doing, so thank you.

We haven't had parents evenings since lockdown, only tracking reports so I haven't been able to say it this year, I did think of sending a note in as the teachers have had such a tough time and might appreciate it, but as he is in exam years I didn't want to send a note in now (as it might appear to be sucking up while teachers are looking at giving grades!!!), but might send in something later (depending on if they gave him a good grade 🤣)

5475878237NC · 31/05/2021 13:01

Haven't RTFT OP. Are teachers allowed to keep cash gifts? We couldn't do that in my profession, we'd have to hand it back anyway. Something homemade even a handmade card seems nicer to me.

Pinkblueberry · 31/05/2021 13:15

@5475878237NC if it’s over a certain amount you do need to declare it, I think including if you suspect a gift to be very expensive. Not common place in most schools because parents don’t give huge amounts but it one school I worked there were some very well off parents who were known to put £50 in a card or similar.

Caesargeezer · 31/05/2021 13:40

I’m a teacher and I love receiving gifts, is that wrong?! I’ve also kept every card I’ve received. Vouchers are great (I don’t think you can go wrong here) but I’ve honestly appreciated every present I’ve been given. I also enjoying buying gifts for my children’s teachers.

kittycat863 · 31/05/2021 14:02

I taught that age and never really expected gifts. However, I got plenty that I didn’t really like, and it was hard getting it all back on public transport (I mean, wine is great, but I’ve left a few bottles to sit there over summer). My favourite gift was probably a nice colourful beach towel.

year5teacher · 31/05/2021 14:07

A card written by the child is the best thing you can give a teacher.

InTheDrunkTank · 01/06/2021 07:04

I agree with PP that post it notes are not teacher gifts. They may be useful for the class room but the teacher presumably has alife outside of the class room and isn't going to enjoy use of glue sticks.

ShinyGreenElephant · 01/06/2021 07:12

I actually loved getting stationary! I did SO much work at home and I didnt like to take things out of the classroom to use as there wasn't enough to go round. Wine also appreciated, all the best teacher etc generic stuff you end up with millions of. I love homemade stuff but you can't keep it forever and feel awful binning it. The best thing I ever got was a homemade "movie night" kit for me and my daughter- one of my y6s had asked her her favourite movie when I brought her in for a fun day, then made a hamper of popcorn, drinks, the movie on dvd, sweets (she made sure they were vegetarian too) and a big blanket for us to snuggle up in. I still get teary thinking about how thoughtful it was of her.

sophiasnail · 01/06/2021 07:12

A thoughtful card is always my favorite thing to recieve. I never expect presents, but anything edible is always very great fully recieved in the department!

The very nicest presents are always inexpensive but very well thought out. For example, I once told an a level class I was very upset because tesco had moved the value salmon paste and I couldn't find it.... and they contributed 5p and presented me with a jar with a bow on it next lesson🤣

ticktockriojaoclock · 01/06/2021 07:18

Otherwise, something to use in class, wine or flowers

I get in trouble when I drink wine in class Grin

NeedNewKnees · 01/06/2021 07:36

If there was a particular topic my child enjoyed I’d get a book or something related to it.

“Thank you for teaching me about the Romans” etc - DC1 was very enthusiastic about a number of very specific topics over the years.
When DC3 had the same teacher, she introduced the topic with “Here’s a book DC3’s big brother gave us...” which delighted them both.

EmeraldShamrock · 01/06/2021 07:41

I got them a Starbucks voucher last year maybe it would do DD it is a cash/present.
Thankfully the education board and individual students pays for stationary, it's awful teacher restocking supplies from a gift.

Armi · 01/06/2021 07:42

I’m another teacher in favour of just a card. Although as someone upthread mentioned, an email to the Head saying I’ve done an ok job is also great.

I was once given a beautiful tin, filled with many different types of chocolate bar. That was an amazing gift.

Pinkblueberry · 01/06/2021 07:47

I like stationary to if it’s for my personal use - you can buy nice stationary sets which is different to buying ten new glue sticks for the class and saying to the teacher ‘these are especially for you...’