AIBU to ask any teachers what end of term presents they really want

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I always dread buying end of term presents for my children's teachers...not because I begrudge the money, but because I don't know what to get and imagine they always end up with a load of knick-knacks and chocolate they don't really want, or wine when they don't drink. So to save me from the angst this year, if you're a teacher, what end of term presents would you choose for a budget of around £10?

If you’re my son’s maths teacher you probably deserve a present every 7 weeks 😁

Donation to a charity or foodbank

Our school does a teachers favourite list at the beginning of the year (USA) very handy and maybe something to consider going forward.

so ours got favourite candy, Lego polybag and a gift card

I agree. My child has ASD and SLD so cannot yet write or really stay sitting long enough to squiggle on a card, so I do send a shop bought one. Though I do try and show my gratitude very often as teachers, classroom assistants, transport staff and childcare staff are all very much close to my heart in this house. I do buy gifts but all in all have about 11 to buy for so sadly they don't get a ridiculous amount as I'm a lone parent, I just always worry they'll think I'm cheap. You've made me hopeful this is not at all the case.

As a teacher, I never get tired of maltesers or chocolate oranges!!

Or maybe stationery?

I've never bought or given anything for teachers.
Problem solved.

My friend is a teacher she always says the best gift she ever got was a little pot with a hyacinth bulb in it. She kept it on her desk and said it was like watching spring arrive every day. I think she got the kids painting it and stuff.

I just gift chocolate and Christmas cards.
I'd never gift anyone alcohol unless I was 100% certain they didn't have an issue with it.

I had eggs from chickens home made jam and fudge once a lovely present

Amazon voucher.

Just stop with the gifts, there is so much angst, stress and money wasted over teachers gifts every year, what other profession gets gifts all the time for doing their job? Many professions go above and beyond for their clients etc just say thanks and move on.

I've never bothered. I do appreciate the teachers but I CBA and am generally not a big gift giver outside of immediate family.

I like cards the children have made or written, even if it is just a squiggle.

Schools are full of chocolate at Christmas; stick to alcohol unless you know it's inappropriate.

Like the cleaners are allowed in to the staff room to share chocolates hahaha. We had our cleaning cupboard and were looked down on by all but the working class teachers.

@hannonle the majority of teachers I either know personally, or at my DC's school or schools I've worked with have been working class !

We had pretty limited budget when my DC were at nursery and primary. Sometimes I gave to a class collection (and they got John Lewis vouchers) and sometimes we made Christmas biscuits or home made truffles. One teacher was coeliac so DD found a suitable recipe that she could have.
I had no idea before I joined MN that so many people were squeamish about home made food, so hopefully the presents weren't binned.

I am secondary - not many gifts, small box of choclates (the mini lindor box style) always brings a smile.

I have a folder of cards - one was made by 3 of the most unlikely students for me, in my lesson, with paper pulled out of their maths book and a really quick effort - it is treasured as much as a card someone has gone out to buy. A colleague had a Pi card made for her for her birthday today - with 3 rubbish Pi jokes! She has shown it to most of the department. A card is fine.

Oh and for those questioning if others in school get presents - during ofsted I sent a box of biscuits, teas and coffee in to bolster them all, during covid I dropped off fresh strawberries and cream for all who were in. Oh and I speak to anyone who works in my school as if they are my equal regardless of job.

@hannonle we love love love our cleaner. She is very very welcome to share everything we have in our staffroom. Same for our fabulous cook. We're a team. I'm a teacher - absolutely do not need anyone to spend their well earned money on me because I have enough of my own.

@hannonle I'm achingly middle class and my school is not. Don't judge people by their background - we don't all conform to norms.

As a teacher I never expected anything but appreciated the cards. I've kept the ones with personal messages in like other posters.

As a parent I find myself worrying that DC's teachers will think I'm unappreciative if I'm the only parent not doing gifts and only do cards. The parent-to-parent pressure is real.

I got a beautiful tree decoration from a child years ago. Still have it

Vouchers
Chocolates
Candles
i love a handwritten card

I love a Christmas card and I have some really special baubles given to me over the years.

But please don't buy into the hype. Often the children want to give something, they love the act of giving, but it doesn't need to be a big thing. A pen. A lip balm. Sellotape. Prittstixk! A small tube of Pringle's or a bar of chocolate.
They just love the action of wrapping the gift up and giving it to their teacher. The cards are what we tend to hang on to, and treasure...

And never ever give cash in an envelope, as a PP suggested!