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 was a teacher in a former life.

I ran a few Y6 trips to France. They were a week long and by the time we got back we were COMPLETELY exhausted. Some parents picked their kids up and didn't acknowledge, didn't thank. There is a middle ground between what you are proposing and the parents I have mentioned, one which I think it's best to stick to. E.g. an appreciative thank you card at the end of term and a bunch of flowers and/or bottle of something. If you had presented me with a box of snacks at the start of the trip, I'd be nonplussed to be honest, and I'd think you wanted to suck up for some reason. Yes your kid might also be laughed at by the others, sadly.

As for the admin staff, a card for them at the end of term too if you want. They mostly do an amazing job.

Find out if they drink first. Not sure if anyone else has said it but I don't drink and have given away lots of nice bottles of plonk, including a bottle of Möet, which seemed a shame.

Speaking as a teacher, that would be MUCH appreciated. Most parents don't even bother to say, "Thank you," after a residential.

It is not a teacher's job to go on residential trips. It is entirely voluntary- we are working 24 hours a day (yes, we get woken in the night) and do not get any extra pay for doing so, hence why teachers can't be forced to go on these trips. The lack of gratitude from parents whose views clearly align with yours often makes me wonder why we bother...

Weird response. The op isn't making anyone else do it. She can afford it and has time to arrange it herself.

Other parents are irrelevant.

Do you not do anything unless every other parent can do it? Some parents can't help their kids with homework or reading either. Or feed them breakfast.

Wow. I'm glad I don't work at your school... Where I work, this would go on the WhatsApp group as a rare example of an appreciative parent- no one would be laughing at the OP!

The OP is absolutely right, @BeeCucumber. Taking children on residentials is NOT what teachers are paid to do- it is entirely voluntary and the many extra hours are done for no extra pay.

Gosh OP, seems like you have a mixed bag of comments here!

I’m a teaching and have run many many residential over my 20 years in teaching. I would never expect anything from parents (apart from a thank you, which doesn’t always come anyway!) but if a parent gave us a treat box as a token of appreciation, I would be nothing but thankful. I’m giving up my time, time away from my own kids, to look after theirs for 24 hours a day. Yes I volunteer and yes I enjoy it but reality is, if teachers didn’t volunteer then these experiences wouldn’t happen. I’m sure the admin staff would not expect anything but equally would be really grateful - they often deal with a lot but with little thanks!

I'm a teacher, and I accompany students on a 4 night residential once a year. A gift is totally unnecessary, but would not be sneered or laughed at. However, whilst I'd be appreciative of the gesture, I'd be unlikely to actually eat or enjoy the snacks, as I'd already have plenty of my own packed!

I'd stay out of it. Just do what the letters say and that's it. Thank them afterwards when you pick your child up.

I would absolutely love it op. I would feel very valued and appreciated. School trips are absolutely exhausting for teachers. They take up hours of our time and impact hugely on our families. With the extra child care to pay out they actually cost us money.
Definitely do it, you’ll put a smile on everyone’s face.

I do scouts (including camps) and work in a school, so I go on residential trips.

I can absolutely promise you that we'd all be chuffed it a parent chucked a box of celebrations our way before either excursion.

Bit arse licky

Also the Admin staff at school!??? What would you do - arrive in reception with your sachets of hot chocolate/biscuits/ chocolates or whatever else is involved in a 'snack pack' and thank them like they have just just cured a disease rather than book a 3 day PGL trip!

My dh is HT of a large primary school. It is really lovely to acknowledge the staff who are giving up their time (and family ) yo support your child. I dont think a snack pack would be expected
My dh buys (own money not school budget) a 'teacher survival pack' for every residential trip . With crisps, sweets, chocs etc.
A thank you to all the staff when you collect him, or a card would be lovely or a written acknowledgementat the end if the year if you do a card then.

Since when has showing your appreciation for someone who is doing something nice for your children been 'arse licky'?

As a teacher this would go on the work WhatsApp and everyone would laugh at it. Sorry but true.

That's really mean. Laughing at someone trying to show their appreciation? I truly hope the teachers at my kids schools weren't like this.

I think it's a lovely idea. There would definitely be no eye-rolling, laughing or any of the negative things from me and my colleagues. We would be so touched. It would be the thought and appreciation though, more than the actual gift - a couple of packets of jaffa cakes or Pringles would have the same effect. Teachers are not paid for any of the over-time or extra responsibilities of running trips, so although it is part of the job in a sense, it's an extra.

Once, during Covid times, a parent sent in sandwiches for lunch for us from a local cafe. It was one of the nicest things that's ever happened to me at work and we were so appreciative.

That is really lovely and as their boss it is very different to a parent doing it.

Whinge · Today 09:53

Imagine if every parent / carer sent some biscuits, hot chocolate sachets, box of celebrations

Why do some posters come up with the huge escalation of 'imagine if everyone did this' scenario?

Clearly, not everyone is going to.

I’m a teacher and think it’s a lovely idea. Often people don’t see how exhausting the overnight trips are for teachers as they’re in call 24/7

lt makes other parents that can’t feel shit. Just say thanks.

But they’re not paid to go on school trips!! And it’s not exactly voluntary either , it’s pretty hard to say no , you’re not going to go on the annual P6 residential or whatever , it’s pretty much expected of you .

Although I agree, a thank you when they get off the bus and a card is much appreciated

This is such a ‘thing’ just now isn’t it? I’ve heard of people making up ‘little bags of treats’ for midwives, air hostesses and even staff members at Disneyland Paris. It’s all a bit strange, especially since it must be pictured and posted about on Insta or X. I would find it so weird if someone gave me a random selection of food.

Anyway the thought is nice but a box of chocolates would be enough surely, if you do loads of little things they may not even like half of them.

I doubt there's many parents who really can't manage a £3 box of celebrations. Anyway no one else will be doing it so they won't feel bad.

Why do you think this one thing will be the one to stop parents feeling bad and not the million other inequalities?

Also, lots of other parents don't say thanks. It's not a race to the bottom