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??

I think it’s a lovely idea. I’ve just done a residential and only a handful of parents said thank you for taking them on the trip. Just a message after saying thank you is enough.

My husband is a Yr6 teacher who often has to brave these trips and they are blooming exhausting! This is a lovely, thoughtful idea and will be very appreciated. Thinking of the admin staff too is lovely - they do all of the prep and organisation for these trips. I can guarantee that no one at school will be offended or annoyed by this.

If other parents are being odd you could offer to organise a hamper and people could contribute something small?

Just check the policy for nuts if you're including chocolate etc.

All of this plus sometimes you're greeted with a complaint!

You must have one of my childhood friends kid in your class! She always has a complaint about the teachers of her “angelic” kids. Last time she was actually emailing the school to complain about something her daughter claimed a teacher did/said (her kid had texted her while on the trip to “report”
the teacher) on the trip, while her kid was still on the trip 😵‍💫imagine getting back to a written complaint About why you gave a kid detention for their behaviour

No don't it looks like your trying to suck up to the teacher,!

Wow, just wow. Yes, if it is a day trip within school hours, fair enough. Although any trip takes a lot of time and effort to organise beforehand.

Most of the trips I have taken in all my teaching years were in my own time, week-ends, and even whole weeks at half-term, going straight back to work without a break. With a huge amount of preparation first, in my own time- ensuring I find the best value so to include as many children as possible, from more disadvantaged backgrounds, fundraising, etc.

YOU HAVE NOOOOO IDEA.

Is this your first child who is going on a residential or are you of an age/ culture where you have to make everything an occasion?

I think its lovely. I'm a teacher and a lovely mum used to come and give me snacks on parents evening it was such a sweet thought

Thank you for remembering the admin staff x

As a teacher who has taken groups on residential trips, I think this is a lovely idea and very thoughtful. It would certainly be gratefully received by the teachers I work with and would definitely be a lovely treat during one of the evenings. One year a parent sent doughnuts for myself and my colleagues and we all thought it was such a lovely gesture.

I used to give them a bottle of wine, bath foam and a candle on their return.

The army cadet leaders, we used to take a crate of beer and let them share it between them.

As ex school admin the staff would love it. It is a huge undertaking to be responsible for other people’s children on residential trips.

Residential trips are an unpaid extra, so no, it’s not their job.

I think it’s a lovely idea. And as a teacher I’m speaking from experience of going on residential. They are tough. Constantly on alert. No proper rest. A treat box would be so appreciated.

But it is not their job, it is extra looking after your children 24 hours a day!

I think people who comment on the lives of school staff should do the job for a month, including trips, events, sports days, parents evenings, lack of funds (we haven't had pens or Maths books for 4 weeks) awful behaviour, vile parents - then you can comment freely!

I’ve been that teacher, and am in the school of ‘Don’t give me one more thing to carry, please’.

Admittedly, my more recent experiences are with taking undergraduates to NY on trips, when I’d rather be assured they won’t get arrested or find themselves at a house party in a rough part of Queens at 3 am with no idea how to get back to the hotel in Midtown. But that’s another story…

Obviously it's different at different schools. At mine the parent that gave a selection of Waitrose crackers, cheeses and other 'treats' to the staff to take on the year 6 residential was very much appreciated, particularly when she did the same a couple of years later when her second child went.

Jesus what bitchy ungrateful bastards you work with! My fellow teaching colleagues would be touched at the kind gesture. It’s nice to be appreciated. We would enjoy them too. But we’re nice!

Coming from a teacher who has done many residentials, I think this is a fantastic idea! Honestly this will boost the teacher’s morale so much to know they are appreciated.

You’re a lovely human 💞

Actually, teachers are not paid for residentials. It goodwill and love for the job only.

Wow…I’m glad I don’t work at your school.

What a toxic, hateful environment your school must be.

I hope you don’t treat the children in the same way.

Honestly, they will appreciate this so much! I’m glad you’re sticking to it ☺️ It’s scary to see people’s attitudes towards teachers nowadays.

My husband goes on the school residentials and takes a load of snacks for him and the other staff so I know that he and his team would really appreciate the thought. he wouldn't see it as performative, just a really nice thing to do.

I think that’s a bit much TBH. The teaching staff are also paid to be there don’t forget. I’d save gifts like this for the many volunteers who give so much of their time to better their community - brownie and scout leaders for example run residential and weekend trips all in their own time for free. Also a lot of the committees for allotments/ WI’s/ sports clubs etc all give so much to society and are very rarely thanked.

Lol, teachers are not paid to be on the trip... Many teachers on this thread have confirmed they're giving up their free time, often paying for additional childcare, bad have no extra time off to catch-up on the (also unpaid) work missed by not being able to do marking, lesson prep etc whilst away on 24 hour duty!!