Gifts for teaching and nursery staff

[Eldermileniummam]

What do you give at the end of the year?

If you work in a school or nursery, what are the gifts you honestly appreciate the most?

Honestly, a card with a message from parents who think I’ve done a good job, acknowledge all the extras like (unpaid) residentials, thanks for being part of the team taking care of their child - whether that’s in Reception or Yr6. Or even an email to the Head mentioning my name. If parents don’t want to, that’s absolutely fine! If a child is capable, a little handwritten card from them is lovely.
‘Best’ presents have been vouchers, as a class gift, but it really isn’t necessary.

My cousin is a TA and says she does not need or want any more mugs or key rings.

Thanks @Saucery Voucher could work for the DC in primary as we have a WhatsApp group for the parents and we all know each other but for nursery we don't have that so I usually do a card and some chocolates but I'm sure they get loads of chocolates and sweets.

We do a class gift but my daughter likes to make something individual too, this year she's making bookmarks. As a TA myself, pens are always the best gifts I get!!!! With bookmarks/notebooks a close second.

I’m going to be honest (not a teacher or nursery staff but many family members and friends are)

They get so much wine, mugs, keyrings, chocolate. - sometimes I’m lucky enough to be regifted some of these from them haha!

But they love gift cards or lovely cards with kind messages about how much they are appreciated.

To my CM a very generous amount vouchers or cash, luxury chocolates and wine. Handmade cards

Why do they need gifts? Teachers didn't get gifts when I went to school and it honestly seems odd to give them a present. Is it not their job to teach/look after your child? They chose to do that profession and get paid like everybody else. You pay for your child to go to nursery. Is this the expected norm now? I understand appreciation and maybe a leaving/retirement gift that people pitch in for, but to gift every year for a job they do is odd. Surely there are also rules about accepting gifts like in other jobs. This modern trend is strange and seems to come across from America, the ultimate consumer land.

When everyone (who wants to!) clubs together for some cash for a voucher. A friendly parent has come to ask me which shop and then I am able to get myself something special and think of the lovely generous parents.

I’m past the age now where we buy gifts as both children are in secondary, but nearly all the way through school, a group of us would club together and get vouchers for the staff. They were always very well received.

We do a class gift but my daughter likes to make something individual too, this year she's making bookmarks. As a TA myself, pens are always the best gifts I get!!!! With bookmarks/notebooks a close second.

Stationary is a good shout

They get so much wine, mugs, keyrings, chocolate. - sometimes I’m lucky enough to be regifted some of these from them haha!

I don't really give people useless tat like this anyway!

To my CM a very generous amount vouchers or cash, luxury chocolates and wine. Handmade cards

I think a CM is different as it's one person and you can give them a nice gift but at nursery there are at least six members of staff in the room plus a manager and office staff then at school there are 3 teachers and 3 TAs as they all work part time and I don't have the budget for 12 generous individual gifts.

Why do they need gifts?

I know what you mean but it does seem to be the norm!

When everyone (who wants to!) clubs together for some cash for a voucher. A friendly parent has come to ask me which shop and then I am able to get myself something special and think of the lovely generous parents.

I agree

I’m 34 and I always got my teachers end of year and Christmas gifts. It’s not a new thing!

When our last dc left their nursery we got them a pod coffee machine, i think it was a Tassimo that did things other than coffee. Went down really well.

Dc at school now and they make a card and I get vouchers. One class we pool together for one voucher.

Surely there are also rules about accepting gifts like in other jobs

Gifts over £25 in my LA iirc. That’s an individual gift, whole or part class collections where each family gives less than that is ok. Anything else has to be declared. Safeguarding issue.

Sounds amazing

Surely there are also rules about accepting gifts like in other jobs.

We’re talking chocolate, wine maybe, biscuits, vouchers, pens, not large sums of cash. There are no restrictions there. As a nurse we’re allowed to accept any of those.

When my eldest left his preschool last year we got his key worker a gift voucher. We give our CM vouchers and usually wine or bath stuff for Christmas each year (she is incredible tho and regularly helps us out / goes above and beyond). My eldest is at school now and has 4 teaching staff in his class so not sure what I'll do. At Christmas I gave some handmade fabric baskets (I sew). I might do tote bags or something for end of term but it's already near here so I better get a move on. 😬

🙄

@OneBlossomBee Every teacher will tell you that although gifts are nice, what they value are cards and messages. Does it really seem unreasonable to you to give a card to someone who has worked with and helped your child throughout the year (or 2 years for my year 11s)?

Papier is gorgeous for stationery (just discovered it since my previous fave Paperchase closed!)

And to the PP who said why should you get them gifts, you can't compare them to most jobs, they're looking after and shaping the most precious thing in the world to you! In any event I have a 'normal' job and people get me cards/gifts sometimes which I love, especially when it's a nice card expressing gratitude, it really lifts your spirits!

We normally have a class collection and give vouchers with a few small generic gifts - flowers/chocs/wine and a small keepsake from the class e.g. a book all the kids write a message/do a drawing in. Vouchers are split with a proportion going to teacher, TA (if there is one) and office/support staff.
Gifts were always a thing for teachers at Christmas and end of term, although when I was at school, most gave individual gifts.

So my nursery has 12 staff

One year I got them all a mini bottle of prosecco or some bath salts, a face mask and a chocolate bar each

Another time I did chrimbo mug filled with celebrations

Once it was a small gift from Lush each

I know they normally do a big meal out together so might just put some money in an envelope and say to buy a couple of bottles

I do like the idea of getting something for the nursery though maybe some gardening bits and lots of seeds with a cute note... thank you for helping me grow...

Karaoke booth vouchers 😆

I used to work in a school and loved John Lewis vouchers,

It is their chosen profession. I understand gratitude and getting a gift like a retirement or leaving one, but giving a gift every year seems OTT. I never said about a card that is thoughtful, but it seems excessive to give gifts and one person said they even gave teachers Christmas gifts. A student gifting teachers is very odd to me. Parents gifting a teacher is 1 thing, but students doing it is not. I just do not see the need to buy gifts and have read about it and some parents at posh schools love to compete and want to show off giving the "best" gift. It is a chosen vocation and yes, it is hard and unpaid overtime, but many jobs do that like nhs staff and they cannot accept gifts. I'd never have wanted to gift any HS teacher a gift.

When dd was in nursery she painted some decorations ( flat bauble type), made a card and added some Thorntons smiles. She gave one each to the TA that was her key person, and the reo that did the onsite afternoon extra session that we paid for. I also gave a box of biscuits to the head for the staff room. When they left one of the parents organised a collection and they got vouchers for all the staff to have afternoon tea.

In primary I think she made something one or two years ( would have been her choice) , and we put chocolates with it. Other years I did Costa vouchers, which seemed to go down well, for both her teacher and the classroom TA/s.

We included biscuits for the staff room each time too. That way there was a chance staff that were less likely to receive gifts could also have a share ( lunch staff, caretaker, secretary etc).

There were a few years she chose things such as keyrings themed with something she knew the teacher liked.