To not want to contribute to this madness? Christmas teacher gifting experiences

[lostintherhythagain]

DD is only 4! And not yet reception age

Her little nursery has about 15 in total who are her age.

Parents in the WhatsApp group have been discussing some people not paying up for experience day for teachers AND the staff take away

They want £15 each per family from us so the teacher and support staff can have a spa day. And then money for a take away (they’ll just give them cash in a card) for the end of Christmas school time, before they break up, to have a take away delivered as the staff don’t go home same time as the children obviously

AIBU not to contribute? I never said I’d do it. Not sure if there’s anyone else not contributing

One parent has got the teacher and her child’s TA a personalised bauble. With her DC’s face in it?!?! Utter madness

I have gifted a box of chocolates and didn’t plan to spend anymore.

Naice biscuits for the staff room. £5.00 max.

I don’t do Xmas or end of term money contributions to teacher presents. Fair enough if they have gone above and beyond the requirements of their job description I might individually buy them a box of chocolates or something but endless numbers of teachers on job shares / supply teachers / TAs - parents are constantly asked for ever increasing money donations on the parent groups to chip in for gifts for what can be 3-4 staff members per class

In addition There has been constant requests for money from the school for weeks now in the lead up to Xmas - fun runs, Christmas fairs, donations to this that and the other, tombola donations, hamper donations, raffle money, school run Xmas Store donations and then Money to kids to go in and buy gifts from the Xmas Store, pantomime visits - the list goes on

Just give what you want to give, I wouldn't be contributing £15

No you can post anonymously and on collectionpot.com it doesn’t ever show how much money each person has contributed, it just shows the total. There is no pressure to contribute either. A lot of parents say they would rather do this and transfer £5/£10 then have the hassle of doing an individual gift! (I wouldn’t use a donation platform where the individual donation amounts are public for everyone to see). I also wouldn’t ever buy group voucher presents like a takeaway or spa days etc. I ask the teacher which vouchers they prefer and do that

(I’m assuming the £25 contributions people mentioned are from private school. We’re in a wealthy area in the south east, state school)

Baubles are a silly idea.

Spa day - not everyone likes that so I’d steer clear.

At primary school, we always did a voucher for the teachers - everyone contributed what they could and no judgment - then they got a voucher for something like M and S where everyone can find something they like. Always addressed as from the whole class regardless.

Yes same, ours is always from the whole
class, no names mentioned

That’s too much IMO, I’d be torn between wanting to keep the peace and providing the funds or saying I’d rather sort out my own contribution (a home made card from your child would be appreciated I’m sure). That’s the horrible thing about wattsapp groups - shaming people, written down for all to see. It’s not on really. I’m very glad wattsapp wasn’t around during my kids school years. Collections used to be requested face to face and was much easier to smile sweetly and say you’re doing your own thing.

I have two boys in nursery and a mum tried to do a collection asking for £20 each per teacher.

4 teachers in each class.

£160.

Are these people high?! I did £7 per teacher which I still thought was silly overall!

Utter madness!
we did a gift for the class teachers in school but only at the end of the year..
Christmas my DD just took in a £1 chocolate Santa for her teacher. Dint!

Done (not dint) 🤣

Teachers have well and truly had enough of the kids by the time holidays roll round last thing they want is their faces on the Christmas tree they tech hundreds if not thousands of kids throughout their career they dont give a shit once they go home 🤣
I've been a parent 21 years and never have increased ever gave a gift.

I have had baubles as gifts, some quite fancy but not in my colour scheme so I usually give them away. Never had one with a photo- that would be a good laugh in the staffroom!!!

These keep us going all year! Had some lovely posh soap and hand cream for the staff toilets last year and that was nice.

It’s very odd to give a wedge of cash.
and yes there will 100% be a policy in the nursery about not excepting cash gifts.
Giving a teacher a picture of your kid is so creepy!

Never did I contribute more than a box of chocolates to nursery. Spa day indeed - ridiculous!

We all put £10-£20 in and get a gift voucher, each teacher gets around £150, with smaller vouchers for teaching assistants, sports coach etc

We only do it because previously we were all buying candles, flowers and chocolates and carrying these in with cards and gift bags so it works out cheaper and less bother.
I don’t really know why this gifting started at all. We do it at Christmas and end of term, never really thought about what the teachers etc actually think.

Christmas face bauble is hilarious…

Each teacher gets £150 ..... what madness is this!!!!???

In what terrifying parallel universe do teachers want the faces of ALL THE CHILDREN they are paid to work with dangling from the Christmas tree IN THEIR HOME?! Jesus wept,

It was only one 😂

Yes but it's fun to imagine a creepy tree with ALL the faces. 🎄

I just took an order for £500k from a customer. If he gave me a gift voucher for £150 and i accepted i would be in deep trouble with my employer. Teachers should be no different. They are in unions to protect their income.