To wonder will I be the only Yr 6 parent to buy a teacher gift

[Cherrychocchip]

So last few weeks of primary for me, ever! When my eldest left I bought gifts for the teachers and wrote a lovely cars. I was so grateful for the amazing support they had offered at the time. They went over and above.
Fast forward to now in covid times I don't have a particular issue with the class teachers themselves but am very disappointed with how the year is ended. I'm far from the only one. Someone set up a messenger class chat and the school have been absolutely roasted on it.
No leaving hoodies, no camping on field as a class, no leavers assembly, no other class trips organised. Nothing whatsoever. Despite this if I think about not buying anything I feel guilty but yet if I do I think they could have done more!
Am hearing of other local schools doing trips etc and not just saying no because it's covid!

I didn't know any school did anything special for leavers in year six. When I was growing up we got a goodbye assembly in the morning and had our bibles signed by a TA, a quick speech from our class teacher and a reminder to grab all your stuff, that was it.

DD2 got nothing for leaving her infants school last year (normally the Y2 leavers is a big week of the kind of treats you think are huge when you're that age). I felt so sad for her missing out on stuff - but the class teachers did what they could, had a picnic on the field using blankets to mark out distancing zones, and the school funded customised teddy bears for every child with the school logo on instead of the usual goodbye stuff. The effort to acknowledge things in among the limits of the fuckeduppery of the world was appreciated - and since school was still closed - I sent some individually wrapped cakes in to the staff room as a whole (figured it was the most covid-safe thank you gift - suggested they could quarantine them if concerned and got laughed at by the school office staff at the idea!).

This year I'm really angry at one of my kids' teachers who has just used covid to half arse this year and created an atmosphere of such rules and perceived threat that DD2 is now pretty much selectively mute at school as she's too scared to even speak out (they got told talking could spread covid). The other teacher, working in the same school environment, has at least managed to keep as much joy and fun going in the class as possible - but this one seems to be a simmering bag of resentment toward the entire covid situation and taking it out on the kids - she's really fucked up my little one this year (we're in the middle of moving schools as a result).

I'm a Y6 teacher in a school where nothing had been allowed for the leavers again. It has broken my heart and I (and all other teachers in my school) have voiced my concerns again and again to management to be told it's against guidance etc etc. This confirms my feeling that many parents think it's my fault but I'm obviously not going to blame management and say to the parents (or the children!) that I think it's ridiculous. I also think that management are genuinely worried about getting into trouble as it's so hard to interpret the guidance.
If you don't want to get a gift then don't but please don't blame the teacher for this - they likely have no say but have to be seen to support the school.

At dds school it was the PTA that arranged hoodies and party?

I could not imagine not giving a gift of thanks for the end of the year. Even just a small token gesture. It’s directly to the teacher from your child/family, not to the school.

Covid had made everything very difficult. Some schools have found ways to work around the difficulties, other have found it more of a challenge for whatever reason. I can guarantee you those teacher have done everything possible for the children. Any school i’ve worked in has always been the PtA or a Y6 parent who has done the hoodies. Other activities at the end of the year are usually a mixture of PTA and school.

Gives a gift or don’t, the teacher will appreciate the thought of you do and not bat an eyelid if you do not.

Make a fucking stand?

You will find most things are cancelled due to the LA over-riding the school or the funds not being available. Even as SLT I can't do anything about this.

We have offered to cook the meal for prom ourselves, bake cupcakes, host events on a Saturday, use our own equipment to take photos and pay for printing ourselves and even have staff have a whip round for treats as WE HAVE NO MONEY LEFT. It has all gone on laptops, 4G dongles and bloody masks. Anything external has been vetoed by the LA as it is deemed high risk.

So far we might be able to do something around he results days, meaning that staff will be in for 4 days during a week in August for no extra pay.

What else do you want?

At our school the Y6 parents organise and pay for hoodies.

Apart from the residential trip, all year 6 leavers activities at my kids school are organised by parents! The school don't do any of it 🤷🏻‍♀️

The real question is surely has my child made progress over the last year? Has my child been appropriately supported and tested?

Not has my child got a hoody and a party?

@Cherrychocchip

No obviously but maybe make practical suggestions about how covid safe activities could have gone ahead.

How do you know what the teachers have said or done in relation to all this?

Fwiw as a state maintained school we have to follow our LEA's advice and guidelines which currently rule out most events. We are doing what we can within that but it is limited. But there is no end of year show (we are recording a series of songs/slideshows/etc within school and within class bubbles instead), no end of school assemblies (we will have zoom ones but no parents), no whole school sports day (will have in school sports events that week but without parents watching), so school trips (though have managed to get a visitor or two in) etc. It's not our choice to not run things but they are advised against. Our governor's in articulate are very hot on following all of the advice and guidance to the letter.

It doesn't matter how much individual teachers/LSAs make suggestions if those above them have said no.

Oh, and pretty much every school I know leave things like organising hoodies to parents. I've not known them to be centrally arranged by the school. PTA and parent reps normally organise them, along with 'picnics in the park' type of leaver events.

I can't remember any leavers' activities when I went to school. We did go on a residential but this is presumably now subject to availability/willingness of staff to put themselves at risk. I certainly didn't expect a string of leaver stuff even in normal times. I am still just grateful my kids are at school every day tbh.

Just don’t bother with anything and look forward to senior school.

Sadly we also have a rubbish school here. Poor show during first lock down bit on full pay with lovely gardens whilst a crummy email suggesting BBC Bitesize, second lockdown a bit better. Poor effort and lots of moaning. You'd imagine no one else experienced restrictions

So just to clarify, in normal times school arrange a day trip, do a camping event on the field, sports day, leavers assembly and a few other celebrations including a performance. Not sure about hoodies but that's not the issue I would expect parents to do that.
There is loads of primary schools in my town. Through friends and family of all parents on the chat we know other schools have done similar celebrations so it's definitely not an LA thing.
That aside I agree it's likely to not be the teacher's fault so I will get a gift as I did with my eldest.
I do however think some events could have gone ahead, either in smaller groups or outside. And sports day could be done with each class and recorded/photos taken. Same with leavers assembly. Class is in a bubble anyway so do it and record it.
I won't be suggesting a present to the group chat as I will be shot down! Plenty of pissed off parents in the class who are far more vocal and annoyed than me!

*I won't be suggesting a present to the group chat as I will be shot down! Plenty of pissed off parents in the class who are far more vocal and annoyed than me"

It such a shame the teacher gets the blame for all of this when it's more than likely come from higher up. The teacher won't tell you that though as it shows a lack of confidence in the leadership and they could get in trouble. I know a few teachers have probably used covid as an excuse to be a bit shit (according to MN parents anyway), but every teacher I know has worked their ass off over the last 15 months. My DC are both in secondary and this is the first time ever either of them have asked to get a little something for a couple of their teachers.

We’ve had hoodies(organised by parents), PGL trip to Osmington Bay for the week and party at end of term (organised by parents). Maybe the parents should step up rather than moaning🤷‍♀️

@Cherrychocchip

The school normally do loads. It's all since covid. All parents have organised hoodies and a day out for the class. But I get It's probably not the teacher's fault but if they felt so strongly about giving Yr6 a good send off surely they could have made more of a stand! I'm really torn.

Speaking as a yr6 Teaching Partner, the decision would not have been theirs & no 'stand' would have made the slightest bit of difference whatsoever! So sick of continued teacher bashing after all we've bloody done over the past 15mths!! 😡

@Whyarewehardofthinking

Make a fucking stand?

You will find most things are cancelled due to the LA over-riding the school or the funds not being available. Even as SLT I can't do anything about this.

We have offered to cook the meal for prom ourselves, bake cupcakes, host events on a Saturday, use our own equipment to take photos and pay for printing ourselves and even have staff have a whip round for treats as WE HAVE NO MONEY LEFT. It has all gone on laptops, 4G dongles and bloody masks. Anything external has been vetoed by the LA as it is deemed high risk.

So far we might be able to do something around he results days, meaning that staff will be in for 4 days during a week in August for no extra pay.

What else do you want?

This!! ⬆️ As a fellow educator, I agree 100%! 💗

The present is for the teacher. How has the teacher been? My childrens' teachers have gone above and beyond. The school could probably have done a bit more on the face of it but I've also been privy to the extra workload, and uncertainty of a bubble closure at any time.
School is dealing with families that are really struggling, and a lot of children are behind with basic skills and knowledge so have to prioritise unfortunately.

You are not obliged to buy them anything.

Decisions about visits and trips will depend on so many factors - size of cohort, capacity of venue, whether teachers double vaccinated and the sheer uncertainty of not knowing whether it will be cancelled last minute or even halted during it etc etc. It’s a nightmare. Anyone who has had a trip or residential is very very lucky. My DD school is doing loss of fun stuff in school - she’s enjoying it but some parents still complaining that it’s not enough.

I am a teacher myself and I do not expect gifts ever. The thing that is a little upsetting to me about your post is that you are saying you would normally get one but not this year. Trust me when I tell you this year has been the most draining of my 20+ year career. Any suggestions I make are ignored by SLT and I suspect many other teachers are in the same position. I wanted to do a Nursery graduation which I am not allowed to, I begged for this as I know parents love it.

@TableSetting

Agree with you OP. Sadly we’ve not been impressed with our school during lockdown so no teacher gifts from us this year. Hopefully next year will be better and I’ll be happy to send something in then.

I doubt the teachers have been sat twiddling their thumbs. All teachers that I know have been working their arses off and deserve thanks from the parents as they will have tried their best. It is not a profession you can easily stay in if you don't want to be a good teacher.

@Notonthestairs

The real question is surely has my child made progress over the last year? Has my child been appropriately supported and tested?

Not has my child got a hoody and a party?

This... a million times!!!

Yes, stupid teacher focusing on teaching your dc in the middle of a fucking pandemic rather than risking more isolations with a class trip.
You haven't a bloody clue have you.