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??

It's very thoughtful, but unnecessary, as all gifts for teachers generally are.
A thank you when you get back will be the most appreciated. I just got back from mine and got three from a group of 18. That boils my blood just a tad, when I've cared for their kids for the past 72 hours straight.

My child is also off on residential soon. He’ll be taking something for the teachers to enjoy. I know they’ll appreciate it as I’ve been one of the teachers on residential in the past

This is simply not true.
There is no obligation to take children on residential and teachers do not get paid extra. It is outside of their contracted hours and relies on goodwill.
People like you are the reason some teachers don't do it. The same goes for after school clubs, sporting events, school fetes on a Saturday....the list goes on.

We got a hamper once mid year. Can’t remember why but there was something extra going on. We definitely felt a bit overwhelmed in an oh you shouldn’t have sort of way as we know some of our parents struggle but we also found the gesture incredibly sweet and felt very appreciated. Nobody laughed at all it was really kind and thoughtful.

Also I guess all schools are different but we do not get paid for residential. Not even in time. We do find we can enjoy it too, we can see the kids personalities so much better when we aren’t stuck to strict schedules of learning and we can sometimes join in activities. Bed times can be hard 😂

I would prefer it if you donated a similar amount to an educational charity, or the school PTA.

As a former teacher, I think it's lovely, and you definitely won't get lots of parents doing that. How kind!

I think that’s a REALLY lovely idea. Most parents just complain and you don’t even a thank you after a residential. A box of chocolates / packet of fancy biscuits or something is really kind.

Aw I think it would be a lovely idea if a parent did that, but a box of celebrations or something would do the same. And the thank you would mean a lot - you’d be surprised how many parents/kids don’t say thank you and either complain that the bus home is late or that they’re having to pay for the teachers to go on a jolly etc, it’s nice to just be thanked!

Agreed. It's a very nice idea but gives the impression of sucking up.

I was quite tempted to give our teachers a bag of gins in tins for the coach. Thought better of it.

Some of you live sad lives if you think a thoughtful gift is sucking up. What benefit do you think the OP or their child will get?

Actually it’s not. Residentials would take teachers well over their contracted hours. They do it for free - without them doing that - it wouldn’t happen. Often at expense to themselves, childcare, partner off work, etc.

I’m a teacher who does residentials and whilst I think you are being really kind OP, I honest don’t think it’s necessary to give a gift before or after the trip. To be honest just a “verbal” thank you or even an email after the event would be brilliant and rare as a purple unicorn
To those of you saying it’s “sucking up” or worse, you sound like the Year 10 mean girls. I mean, you’re entitled to your opinion of course but the way you’ve expressed it to OP is really nasty.

Bit OTT really

Not a teacher but volunteer leader in Girlguiding. We don’t expect anything but I have been given a bunch of flowers or some chocolates on return and appreciated it, most don’t though.
We take cheese & biscuits or chocolate to eat when girls finally go to sleep. A parent saying here’s some nice biscuits to enjoy with a brew on pack holiday would be well received it’s a nice thought.

I remember when my dc were at primary school some of the parents would make traditional food for the teachers on their return if it was late afternoon/ early evening.

I overheard one of the teachers saying they appreciated and looked forward to this so it must’ve been a regular occurrence.

Agree with you.
Having only done a minibus day trip with students I can confirm it’s exhausting! And overnight trips must be incredibly so. Any sense of appreciation from parents/ students gratefully received but not at all expected.

I think it’s a nice idea. In my experience the admin staff don’t have anything to do with organising trips, the teachers do it and it’s stressful. If they have children they are away from them for residential trips so I’m sure they’d appreciate the thought.

I used to work in a school,.I'd have loved it when we did residentials.

We were so busy in the day that we'd literally eat on the go whilst supervising. A few treats in the evening would have been greatly appreciated. My experience of primary school residential trips was that the kids would usually take a while to settle, so we wouldn't be off duty before 11pm. A snack box to keep me going would have been great .

Go for it.

If you did that in our school everyone would say horrible you were. There's absolutely no need to be so ungrateful.

Box of chocolates/tin of biscuits is a lovely idea with a jokey note attached "rather you than me, thought you might need some treats to get through the week" and a smiley face.

Obviously referring to the comment you quoted, not you!

It's not something I would have thought to do but I think it's an incredibly kind gesture, good for you. I wouldn't say it is sucking up just being thoughtful.

By snack box you mean miniature gin and fizz yeah?

lovely idea, it would go down a storm - super thoughtful of you