Xmas present to help my Dd be one of the teachers favourites

[Justlookatthatrain]

😂Joking-sort of

But seriously, what do you buy your child’s teacher at Christmas?
I worked in a school and there were 100% the mums/kids who bought the flashiest presents-good perfume, champagne, huge bouquets and it did have an effect and everyone knew who those mums were
I’m sure teachers will deny this 😅
A good, thoughtful present does make a difference

Aibu?

I taught because dh worked abroad when the children were young. Meant holidays weren't an issue. Not well paid but it kind of worked. Now the kids are all proper grown ups it's hit me what a dreadful career choice it is - I'm observed weekly by more than one person and it makes me super anxious.

I digress. A lovely card with a hand written message is a fantastic present. I'm paid by the government and don't expect a gift on top of my salary.

The school meals catering team and site manager seem to be forgotten.
I have to say they work really hard providing food and keeping the school clean and warm just saying

The qualifications required for a teacher are a degree and a one year post-graduate teaching qualification. Fairly commonplace qualifications in this day and age. Not a PhD in astrophysics. Many of the teachers I have worked with over 20 years are not people I would describe as particularly intellectual and the standard of literacy among many teachers is poor. So let’s not kid ourselves that teachers are elite in the same way as doctors for example, because we aren’t.

I think teachers are fairly well paid. There are many opportunities for teachers to progress very quickly and improve their earnings considerably by taking on extra responsibilities that carry additional pay points. I have seen many teachers in their 20s and early 30s progress to subject or pastoral leadership roles very quickly and these ramp up their earnings considerably. It depends how ambitious people are.

I have left classroom teaching in the last couple of years because it is definitely a challenging job and behaviour is diabolical in many schools these days. I now do 1 to 1 tutoring which is less well paid but much less stressful.

Yes, teaching is tough, but teachers also love to bleat and moan continually about how hard done by they are. They are better paid than nurses and many healthcare roles, which are equally stressful and require a similar standard of qualifications.

At the end of the day, if people in any job feel they can earn more doing something else, no one is stopping them.

I get a little something for the teachers and teaching assistants 2 of my children have 1-1 ta's they work with them more than the teachers do so wouldn't leave them out.

Ok so I got a lovely gingerbread house gift bag and we put in a gingerbread handmade mug, hot chocolate and marshmallows set, fluffy socks and smelly Christmas candle. I will write a card and Dd will make one & write in.
We got the assistants mini gift bags each with a small candle and mini chocs in and homemade thank you card. Sounds a lot but relatively reasonable price wise and I think it’s something I would have enjoyed receiving

The teacher’s favourites will be the nicest children. Buying presents won’t change that.

The mug was not handmade by us! A nice, chunky one from the shop

I’m a teacher and this would be very much appreciated. I wouldn’t see it as like a tip in any way. In fact, it would be a lovely treat because it would mean I could go out and buy myself something I really truly want and get to choose for myself.

You’re 100% right in that we, as teachers, do not want, need or expect anything. But would a gift card or voucher (even small - enough for a coffee from the local coffee shop etc) be appreciated by some of us? Very much so, yes. So speak for yourself!

I'm hoping she means from the whole class (not just from one parent)

If you don’t know what to say, you probably don’t appreciate the teacher’s efforts.

Teachers can’t be bought. They aren’t remembering the bottle of champagne during every interaction with your child.

Just make a nice card and teach your child to be respectful- that’s more important than sucking up to the teacher/head.

Secondary teacher, so Christmas presents are not the norm, but the ones which stay with me are ones the children have taken responsibility for: the (normal sized, not sharing!) bar of chocolate clearly bought with pocket money and a bit bashed from being in a pocket, the homemade earrings (adorably wonky), the bunch of origami flowers made out of paper from an exercise book. It made me feel the child had put in some thought and effort, rather than a parent buying something (which they might struggle to afford, which would make me feel dreadful). Mostly I love it when kids sincerely wish you a Merry Christmas or admire the tinsel I’ve chucked up over the door!

Very true. Presents are very appreciated, not necessary, and don't change how teachers view the child one iota. In my Y6 class I have some children who radiate defiance and rudeness every day, and some absolutely delightful ones. No present will change how I feel about them, but hey I'm happy to have them (presents, not rude child children in class!)

My son was at mainstream primary, I quickly counted up the amount of staff who were involved and made a cheesecake which we took into school during the last week of term. As the years went by I 'broke' a lot of diets but it was always appreciated and was even mentioned by the head/senco durring her speech about him when he won an award during the leavers assembly. I was so grateful to the staff as they were amazing to him and never regretted my decision to send him to mainstream and not a sen setting.

Ok, I get the idea of end of year small present to show a little thanks and gratitude and for being a lovely person while my child grew another year under their care and education. But I don't think Christmas presents are necessary.
teach your child to be polite and listen, you be a nice and approachable parent, reply fast to enquiries, dont be a unnecessary nag, pay your child's trips&things on time, don't let your child be late without a good reason. Always be nice and polite to your child's teacher. I think that's a really good present for a teacher.

As a teacher, this would be the best ever present!

Can I ask as it's anonymous, do you notice which children DON'T give anything?

We could probably afford one box of chocolates, but that would be it, so not much.

I think my sons teachers get tonnes of them aswell, and wine/ plants/ mugs. I haven't given gifts for about five years
We always send a card saying happy Xmas to the main teacher, two TA's and the school receptionist.
I'm mid thirties and I don't think my parents ever got my teachers a present.
It's also not that I don't want to, just that I can't afford an extra £20+ pounds on chocolates for four people.

Can I ask as it's anonymous, do you notice which children DON'T give anything?

I’d notice no thank you at the end of the year, but not Christmas because Christmas presents are unnecessary. Teaching your child to say thank you to the people educate them at the end of the year is basic manners and parenting. The parents who say/do nothing, even a verbal thank you, are generally the same ones who have a bad attitude towards school and that will have been obvious throughout the year.

Like I said, we send cards at Christmas to his main teacher, the two TAs and the receptionist.
I asked if teachers notice or remember which children DON'T give a gift.
We speak to the staff every day at drop off, and thank them everyday at pick-up.
I can assure you my son has basic manners!

Is it weird to give the presents on the second to last day of term instead of the last day?

Not at all.....

We do a class collection for the teachers & TAs and buy them vouchers for a department store. Always goes down well

I dunno ......I think I'd like that.....you don't have to eat them all at once lol....and they could last you a good few months:)

That’s about £3000 in the bank after deductions. Rent for a 1 bed flat in outer London or the fringe is about £1300 for a small place, not including bills so not a huge amount left after bills, transport and so on. Teachers definitely appreciate gifts, particularly vouchers and cash, even if they pretend they absolutely love yet another mug or candle!