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??

As a teacher, I’d think that was really thoughtful.

As an ex-teacher with many residential trips under my belt, I can honestly say this is a lovely idea which will be very much appreciated. Go for it OP.

I had to tell my friend this. She had an awful attitude to her kids teachers (which I’ve challenged her on before) and in 2021 her kid was in year 6 and she couldn’t understand why the school couldn’t do the usual residential trip 🙄 they probably didn’t want to increase the risk of catching /spreading covid.

I was like you do they know they don’t have do it at all right?!

How miserable are you. It is far and beyond a teacher's job to be on duty 24/7 with no overtime pay or TOIL.
OP it's a lovely gesture.

OP, my other half is a teacher and on a residential trip soon and would absolutely love your idea. He’d come home raving about how thoughtful it was

I'm sorry but I wouldn't want that if I was a teacher. It's so OTT and like you are sucking up.

In addition I would feel it's treating me like a child if someone bought me those to "help me get through". I'm an independent woman who is capable of deciding for myself whether or not I will need snacks.

Sorry if this sounds harsh but I really don't like that sort of thing ... I rented a room off a relative for a while, at the going rate, and they made me a packed lunch for work every day. I absolutely HATED that!!!!

Bit cringey in my opinion but I see you've had mixed responses.

When I ran my first ever residential trip, if you'd handed me this as we were leaving I think I would have proposed to you on the spot. I was frantically busy in the run up getting the risk assessment, staffing, permissions, and supplies ready, so I barely had time to chuck a few pairs of pants in a bag. I would have LOVED this! instead I got zero thanks from kids or parents and three complaints about wet trainers and lost towels

Me and my colleagues would have loved that!

Many evenings were spent sitting on the floor in corridors keeping the kids in their rooms and it would have saved us supplying our own (and having to share with the staff that didn't come when we go back!)

Crumbs!

It's just someone being thoughtful!

It’s a nice idea but it could be perceived as being a bit try hard like you’re sucking up to the teachers.

No. They can bring their own drinks and snacks, I'm sure.

No they won't!

The kids wouldn't have thought twice about it (apart from wanting to scrounge the contents!)

Agree, it's patronising.

@WotchaDoing so you are not a teacher

Completely unnecessary

last year one of our children had to leave mid year due to Dad going overseas for work. The family made up a hamper of goodies for the staff room - teabags, coffee bags, fancy hot choc sachets, biscuits, chocolates. We all declared it was one of the best gifts ever!

I’ve been on school residential myself - some goodies would definitely be appreciated! We always focus hard on making sure things are great for the children and forget about ourselves.

Stop trying so hard. The teachers are doing the job they are paid to do. Let them get on with it.

They aren’t doing the job they’re paid to do. They are NOT paid to look after children 24 hours per day whilst being away from their own families. This year one of our PART TIME staff went along as first aider - they usually only work mornings and are paid only for mornings. Staff on these trips do not get a single penny more than their usual pay. There is NO overtime pay, there is NO time off in lieu. All they get is grateful thanks from the children and any parents who don’t think that it’s only fair for teachers to take care if their children for a solid 24 hours a day for 3 days or more.

Lovely idea. They won’t have easy access to extra chocolate and they’ll love you! It’s so rare to even receive a thank you at the end of the trip.

I'd just give them a bottle of wine when they got back.

What a lovely thought!

I was a teacher in a five day residential once, and o would have loved it. I think maybe better when home though

Also, what about the support staff? They always get forgotten. The dinner ladies doing the packed lunches. The caretaker, the driver of all those noisy kids. These people are so unappreciated.

Don't these people deserve a little care package too?

I assume if OP is doing a gift for staff going on the trip the teachers aren’t going to hog it to themselves!

As a teacher, and having just come back from an exhausting (but fab) residential, I would certainly have appreciated your gesture - but would have saved my 'treats' until I got home and collapsed 🤣

Also...if you're considering this OP, remember that all teachers don't like chocolate/sweet treats and may prefer savoury 😉

(Me...I'm that teacher...I'd trample over hot coals in my flip-flops for a bag of cheese and onion kettle chips 🤣)