Teacher gifts

[eldermillenialmum]

Why is it a thing to give gifts to teachers, TAs and nursery staff for Christmas and end of year and what is an appropriate gift?

It’s purely optional. Seems more of a thing at primary. Personally I prefer a card or letter expressing genuine thanks rather than a mug. Unless you know the teacher really well it can be difficult. I have only bought gifts for a few exceptional teachers my dc had.

Been a thing since I was at school. The 90s, so plenty of tat available. But seemed to be more homemade stuff - of course, that could have just been my mum and everyone else gave the teacher tat, don’t know.

We tend to do a Christmas card and then a nice card and maybe flowers at summer, and contribute to the class present (usually a voucher).

Just the way it is babes! It’s not mandatory. Don’t participate if you don’t think they deserve it, no one is going to ask you for an explanation 🤷‍♀️

I never did. If my child wanted to write a card then they did but I’m not adding to their ‘best teacher’ mug collection. Some of the parents turning up on the last day with a handful of gifts just look as if they’re showing off.

A personal note/card and if you want to het a gift then a £5 Costa voucher or similar is ideal. One class my daughter was in actually got all the parents to chip in £2 and they got a collective Amazon voucher. Cheaper for parents and better for teacher too as they had a substantial voucher they could use for whatever they wanted.

Speaking as a teacher....don't. You really don't need to & most of us don't expect it at all. Honestly.

With the greatest of respect & gratitude, no-one needs a dozen 'greatest teacher' mugs or smelly candles & tons & tons of chocolates!

I genuinely love a thank you card or a picture from the kids - that means so much more & I keep all of them. Having said that, the one 'bought' gift I really am grateful for is a Costa gift card - I'm a coffee addict!

Other than that, a face to face 'thanks' or email is always appreciated - at the end of the year, though - not at Christmas - nothing whatsoever is needed at Christmas!!

Card and 5 coffee shop voucher or box of chocolates.

We’re not allowed to accept gifts of greater value anyway.

I keep the cards and they help on difficult days 😍

I guess it's a thing as people like to show their appreciation. I always arrange a collection for my kid's class, people are welcome to put in as much or as little (or nothing) as they like and we usually get the teacher vouchers of some sort. Means the (woefully underpaid) teacher gets a nice treat, there are no duplicate presents and people can spend as little or as much as they like with no pressure.

Oh no haha I did the mug , in my defence it was to wrap a costa voucher up decoratively