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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Would this be a welcome gift for my daughter’s school?

104 replies

justamumseekingadvice · 10/12/2021 20:41

My daughter has a lot of teachers (she is in a specialist setting and there is 5 teachers and assistants in the class altogether!)

It’s going to be extremely expensive to buy for them all individually - so I’m putting a together a little hamper.

So far I’ve put in my basket (online); nice coffee, nice hot chocolate, some luxury apple and cranberry sauce condiments, some cheese and garlic twists and nut assortments type snacks, a panettone, a selection of different biscuits (Italian, belgian, shortbread), some fudge/honeycombe/brittle/nougat.

Does this sound okay or am I going to be a complete weirdo sending something like this is as a Christmas gift?!

I have never really had to buy for teachers before so I just tried to think of something that I would like to receive around Christmas time…

Is there anything that I should add or remove?

OP posts:
Nillynally · 10/12/2021 21:44

Send at start of the week though so they have time to eat it together x

FelicityPike · 10/12/2021 21:47

Best gift we ever got in my nursery (still talked about 10 years later!) was a make your own strawberry tart kit. It had wee pastry shells, strawberries, clotted cream and strawberry sauce.
I don’t doubt that the staff would love this kind gift. (Although I don’t drink hot drinks). Much better than another box of chocs or a mug. A lovely idea.

Hellodarknessmyoldpal · 10/12/2021 21:51

Sounds like a really thoughtful gift OP. Sure they'll love it. Also agree about taking the nuts out.

headintheproverbial · 10/12/2021 21:55

Lovely idea and good solution to the problem. X

Stomacharmeleon · 10/12/2021 21:55

@Marvellousmadness at my sons special Ed school it is written everywhere that they have children with allergies and they are not to come on site. Also powder based deodorants.

CheesyFootballsAreEvil · 10/12/2021 22:01

By the time you've bought all those bits you could just buy a tub of celebrations for them to share.

whoopy1 · 10/12/2021 22:17

@justamumseekingadvice

I was thinking they could just pick what they each wanted out of the box or keep it in the classroom to eat in their breaks etc?
So first person in gets what they like and last gets what no one else wants! Seriously, if you feel you must give them a gift, just get them each either a box of biscuits or chocolates (or both if you’re feeling flush). Most supermarkets have some good offers on, so would cost less than your hamper, and everyone gets the same.
HolidayTime2021 · 10/12/2021 22:18

@Marvellousmadness

Why is everyone on here so anti nuts. Unless op is planning on just throwing handfulls of loose nuts through the hamper; theyll come in a plastic sealed bag. Hmm you dont get a fatal reaction from just looking at nuts you know ...
Its a special Will be totally nut free
CheesyFootballsAreEvil · 10/12/2021 22:21

So first person in gets what they like and last gets what no one else wants! yep or the one who is bossy enough to demand they get the panettone.

Suzanne999 · 10/12/2021 22:21

Sounds like a really nice idea to me.

DeepaBeesKit · 10/12/2021 22:25

God people on here are picky as fuck! It's a lovely idea OP.

headspin10 · 10/12/2021 22:26

I think it sounds really lovely, why not be kind? Teachers work so hard.

DeepaBeesKit · 10/12/2021 22:28

I think too many people rate a gift versus what they would have freely chosen for themselves for the same £ value "I'd have rather had chocolates/wine/whatever". I always think this completely misses the point of a gift. You should compare it against receiving nothing, and appreciate it for itself.

FabriqueBelgique · 10/12/2021 22:28

I think you might be giving them another job to do OP, as lovely as it sounds.Teachers are busy enough, I imagine.

Separate gifts can just be grabbed at the end of the busy day.

DeepaBeesKit · 10/12/2021 22:31

By the time you've bought all those bits you could just buy a tub of celebrations for them to share.

The point being that OP is trying to do something a bit more thoughtful and special to show her appreciation for their care of her DC, than a cheap tub of basic chocolate to share.

AutumnLeaves21 · 10/12/2021 23:27

@CheesyFootballsAreEvil because celebrations are shit and the op wants to do something special? Hmm

MollyBloomYes · 11/12/2021 03:21

I think it's a nice idea OP. I do similar for Christmas because my oldest has a wealth of professionals involved with him during school time and this year his 1:1 TA is actually two of them on a job share! I really like Harry Specters chocolates because they're a company who were set up by a couple with an autistic child and now ensure they employ autistic people in every area of the company, from factory to marketing as well as providing work experience, training days etc. As DS is also autistic it seems apt.

So it's usually food gifts for Christmas (hamper to be shared in staff room for the last couple of weeks of term or box of chocolates (and they do vegan as well) per classroom and office/therapy group) and then for end of the year I'll try and do something a bit more personal because I've had the whole year to get to know them a bit more and it's not as expensive time of year as Christmas.

liveforsummer · 11/12/2021 07:42

Most of that is not stuff that will be likely to be eaten/used in school so they might be a bit puzzled what to do with it/how to divide it as a sharing hamper.

liveforsummer · 11/12/2021 07:45

@WatchMyLips

It sounds perfect I don't think the negative Nancy's realise that everyone stays behind to strip boards, clear trays, and generally tidy up for next term. We don't leave any earlier What a lovely thing to do
We definitely don't. Everyone out the doors ASAP. The board striping can wait til the inset days when we return
liveforsummer · 11/12/2021 07:46

Actually we've got nothing on the boards currently due to covid fogging anyway

panicpidgeon · 11/12/2021 07:46

I don’t think it’s too much - we did something similar for nursery staff last year but with candles, chocs and smellies to help themselves from. It’s been an incredibly difficult couple of years and it’s a way of saying thank you. It went down really well at our nursery. It’s a lovely thoughtful idea - I don’t really see how it can be too much!

Retrievemysanity · 11/12/2021 07:51

My daughter is in a specialist setting so I totally get where you’re coming from about doing something nice. To make it a bit more personal, I usually bake Christmas cupcakes with DD and wrap individually in cellophane along with handmade card by her and a note from me. She gets transport so I do the same for her driver and guide. I’m sure whatever you do will be massively appreciated.

Lovelydovey · 11/12/2021 07:56

Put in stuff they can eat in the staff room (so no nuts or condiments) but the rest sounds fab!

CheesyFootballsAreEvil · 11/12/2021 07:57

[quote AutumnLeaves21]@CheesyFootballsAreEvil because celebrations are shit and the op wants to do something special? Hmm[/quote]
I hope teachers don't think chocolate boxes are shit. They should be gracious whatever gift or no gift is received.

heather2908 · 11/12/2021 07:57

I think it sounds lovely OP. I’m a teacher and my school have received gifts like this before. We’ve got together at the end of the day to share them together like an impromptu buffet. It’s a lovely opportunity to sit and relax with colleagues after the madness of a day/week/term and just reconnect with each other!