to give teachers a 'snack pack' for trips?

[WhatGoesHere]

so - my son is due to go on a school residential for 3 nights.
Do you think it would be weird to send him with a box/bag of treats for the teachers - to help them "get through" the ordeal long days? I'm just thinking some biscuits, hot chocolate sachets, box of celebrations - that kind of thing.

I think it might be better than a thank you of the same thing after the event? I will ask DS to write a thank you card too - as teachers are giving up time and i gather it's actually really hard work taking kids away on these things?

do you think the admin staff should get a few treats too for their office? As they presumably did lots of prep work too??

Better I was wondering.
And I was absolutely 😲 at the name calling ... Honestly thought, it has just made me dig my heels in about more. And enough teachers have replied saying they'd appreciate it, so I'm doing it.

As a teacher I would love this. I've taken 100 students skiing to France before. Didn't arrive back until 4am due to delays on the ferry. 1 parent came up to us teachers to say thank you. I've not given up my time for free again since, parents don't appreciate the 24/7 nature of taking children on a school trip. They will love the thought and appreciation and it won't even occur to them that you are 'try hard' or whatever other things you've been called previously on this thread, just a lovely supportive and appreciative parent.

"A bit" 😂

It is major sucking up territory! ds would have been mortified to give them to his teachers in front of his classmates while at the residential and the other kids would probably have given him stick for it. They would probably have come back in his bag saying he "forgot"

Write a thank you card/email after if you want saying how much your dc enjoyed it and you appreciate the effort they put in, it is more than enough and will be appreciated.

I've been on residential trips and whilst I would appreciate the thought of such a gesture it's unlikely it would get used as the staff went fully prepared with chocolate and treats aplenty to 'get them through' the week!

TBH a simple thank you after the trip is all that's needed- you'd be amazed how few parents express thanks, even after a full weeks residential!

It sounds a little infantilising to give the teachers a snack pack. It’s something you would do for a child. The adults have presumably already got their snacks with them.

A big thank you would be nice I think and maybe something for them to have once they are back at work, but I don’t think you send them off with a packed snack.

If you want to get a tub of chocs, get Roses, Quality St or Hero's as they're gluten free (apart from one Hero), Celebrations, unfortunately, are not! I always get given Celebrations and have to give them away.

I think parents often believe the staff get paid extra for going- they don't! I usually work 9.00 til 3.30 and have never received a penny extra for going on a 5 day residential trips where it's up at 6.30 am, getting children organised for the day activities, assisting on outdoor pursuits all day, then supervising in accommodation, going to meals with them, attending evening activities, getting them ready for bed and then being available the entire night for any chid that might need you. All for my regular 27.5 hours of pay!

I think its a lovely idea! But for when they get back. A few bits for a nice relaxing evening.

It isnt just a job. Ive assisted on these things and its all hands on deck and honestly - hell.

I think it's a lovely idea.
My y6 ds has just got back from a mon-fri residential today. It was his birthday on Wednesday so I sent a cake in last week with nags of sweets ect, enough for staff too and one teacher is vegan I made sure to send vegan treats as they couldn't have the birthday cake and whilst it was more to carry I'm glad I done it and it went down well. Especially after she had blew up balloons, put up banners, got a signed card ect. Had it not been his birthday I probably wouldn't but my son has terrible separation anxiety and she has been amazing with him all hours of night so I'll be sending in a thank you card on Monday.
They're so busy and probably won't get time to have snacks by time they get to their rooms and relax but if not they will appreciate it once they get home and are absolutely shattered. There was only 3 staff members with them and I said thank you to them all when they got back and they really appreciated that but this one in particular will get a card.
I think it's a lovely idea if it's primary school.

Maybe put some like haribo multipacks in for kids and then say they are for the kids and there's stuff for yourselves. I think I probably would have done similar even if it wasn't his birthday.

I really disagree with this. Certainly wouldn’t happen in any of the various schools I’ve worked in, over 30 years.

I wouldn’t go overboard, but a tub of miniature heroes or something will go down a treat.

A parent once dropped cookies in as a thank you for taking their child on camp (complex medical need) and wrote a lovely card and I nearly cried. Having run many residentials now with very few thank yous, it meant so much! So I think any snack pack/post camp treat is a really kind idea.

Do you give up your own time free of charge??!!
They are going above and beyond, I know of a residential school trip when lots of the pupils were very sick. Some staff didn't sleep for 24 hours.
Also for example some day trips, meet a school for 6.30am and back at 10pm.
I'll leave it there...

What are some parents teaching their children about manners etc if the child will get ridiculed for sucking up. I guess it explains the lack of manners and bad behaviour that is rife in schools

It seems to be those that work in schools agree and a lot of the people saying you’re unreasonable really don’t seem to understand that teachers are sacrificing their own time to supervise children for free.
not many jobs (though I’m aware not just education) expect you to work for free in your own time and most people would be down right offended if they were asked to work their evenings and be on call all night for free.

Speaking as a primary school teacher, that's a lovely idea!!

It is another thing for them to look after or carry so no. What we have done as a group of parents was ring the place and made a contribution to cover their meals. But we spoke to the principal beforehand.

We generally do the same and cover a round of drinks etc at Xmas or summer staff gatherings. It’s a tiny cost to individuals and voluntary but is a small gesture.

I ran a 3 day trip abroad just before the end of the Christmas term, with Yr 7 students, many of whom had never been on a residential let alone abroad. An unforeseen problem at the hotel (the front door wouldn't lock) meant one or two of us had to sit up by the front door all night .... I would have loved some biscuits then.

That's amazing, I'm sure the parents were so grateful.

OP, as a teacher who has run a lot of trips, I think this is such a nice idea and really thoughtful of you.

As a teacher I think this is a lovely idea. Teachers are not paid any extra for residentials and receive no time back for the extra hours they work. They are effectively on duty for 24 hours a day while away.
I have returned from residentials and not even received a thank you from parents and have given up time with my own children to take residentials.
the teachers will definitely appreciate the gesture.

I think giving something at the end of the trip/just after it is really nice but probably wouldn’t at drop off as they might not have somewhere to pack it and be busy focussing on other things

As a teacher, I think this is lovely! I’ve taken many school trips abroad over the years and snacks for the coach are essential!
To those saying teachers are just doing their job, this isn’t always the case. At my school, residential trips have to be done during the holidays. It is voluntary but we do it because the kids get so much out of it. It does cause organisation headaches and costs as we have to arrange childcare for our own kids, boarding for pets etc.
A really thoughtful gesture OP

As a teacher, I would think how lovely and thoughtful. You sound a wonderful human being 🎯

I think it’s a lovely, thoughtful idea OP. I can’t imagine any of the teachers will be anything but touched and very grateful!

I'm a teacher and think this is such a lovely gesture. Maybe get heroes rather than celebrations so there are no nuts in there (allergies). How lovely that you are showing their time that they are giving up being away from their families and home comforts is so appreciated.