Whole class teacher gifts

[NowWhatt]

I’m just wondering how common it is to do a whole class gift?

in my multi academy trust we’re not allowed to accept gifts over £30 so would have to politely decline the “class gift” if it was over this amount.

for those of you who have done a whole class gift did you check the schools policy first?

YABU - we do a whole class gift
YANBU - individual gifts only

How would you know if it’s over £30 or not?

We generally do a whole class gift and I think the whole thing is handled really well. Someone posts their details on the class WhatsApp and you give whatever amount you want (or nothing). No pressure to contribute but most people do because it's easier and the recipients get a better present. Gift ideas are discussed on the group- usually a small more personal present and then the majority on vouchers. This year ds had 2 job share teachers and a TA, I was able to give £10 to the collection but couldn't have bought each really even a token gift for that amount. I always get ds to write his own card and if I feel the teacher has done a great job I'll write one too.

I disagree it's about it being a mostly female profession. I think it's about the personal relationship with you and your child. If that has been a positive it's very natural to want to thank someone in a way you wouldn't thank, say, your accountant.

Incidentally the school used to have a ceiling amount and the parents would work round it by buying two £50 vouchers from 15 kids each instead of one £100 one. I think the school realised it was futile as the rule has now been dropped!

What a silly policy! Your school needs a serious policy change considering that £30 is very small amount. I'm a TA and the class will often give a joint gift- last year they gave me a £70 voucher.

We always do a whole class gift. Teachers get £100 each ( usually 2 per class) and the TA's about £70

Whole class gifts here and quite big too

We do whole class and I love it - usually small personal thing, consumable (that we know they like) and majority in vouchers. We give to an anonymous site and the message on WhatsApp always references that people may not be in a position to give, but the present is from all the children in the class.

For context my eldest went to 3 parties last weekend and the presents for 6 kids plus cards came to more than I spent on teachers.

Surprised how many give less to TAs, we’ve always split equally.

I'm a teaching assistant and I sort a present from the whole class every year. Usually, it will be a card they've all signed, or a poster/picture they've all contributed to somehow. That way no-one is left in the position of not having given anything.

i wasn’t asked to do a whole class gift, but my girls are only in nursery. I got 2 tins of Cartwright & Butler biscuits to share. There’s a number of teachers/assistants so I would feel very bad buying a present for just one person

I've usually received less than the teacher as the TA. Some children only buy for the teacher- many give a larger gift for the teacher. This year I've been in the class with another TA and it's been a bit of a good cop/bad cop situation; several children have bought gifts for the other TA and not me!

Why not divide the amount of the whole class gift by the number of children in the class and accept the gift?

Omg that’s brutal 🫣

It’s all got so ridiculous, I think in that case I would buy 3 smaller tins of biscuits/chocolates.

what a minefield

I do my own thing, partly because I don’t agree with the split (usually around £300 for teacher and £25 for TA) but mostly because I do it for dd as much as the teachers. It’s important to me that she is involved in choosing the gift, making a card and thanking her teacher and TA and understanding what she is thanking them for and why.