to think this donatation is a bit much?

[crazylizzy]

DC goes to pre-school, the academic year is finishing next week. Had a letter off the other mums this week saying a few of them have agreed to go a collection and buy a little something for each member of staff.

They are asking for a donation of £20 from each parent. Of what I could see, all the other mums have already payed up.

I am going to pay, because the staff are good to be fair but mainly I don't want to be the only one seeming like a tight arse who doesn't take part in this arranged collection.

We are incredibly tight for money as a family, we barely remain afloat each week so £20 really is a lot of money for us

AIBU to think its quite a lot to ask for a donation?

I work in a pre-school nursery and would be at parents doing a collection like this.
Personally, I prefer something a bit more personal, a handmade card or a small photo of the child in their new school uniform.
I hate collections as you always feel obliged to donate or risk being judged.

misssunny.... i paid 61 euros for 50 sterling last week so it's not that far off... the differance is increasing again

i spent about a fiver apiece on each of dd's three playschool teachers and she made them cards.... no way would i be willing to have spent more, in fact i really wished someone had organised a collection as 10 from each child would have brought in E180, E60 which would have gotton very nice gifts.

may have to get off my arse and organise that myself at christmas!

Twenty quid is way too much! Esp. if you are on slender means (as we are, too) But even if you aren't on slender means..it's too much.

OK, MissSunny, I was caught in the past, e10 is about e8.50!!!

too much IMHO someone at dc pre-school has decided to do a collection for one of the teachers who is leaving and not the other. The children have all only been there for a year

I want to know gorionine got her holiday from that's cheap!!

i was wondering that too 1dilemma

YADNBU. I agree with crazylizzy in that parents, if they want to contribute and not do their own thing, should be able to give an amount they are happy with and can afford. Mad amount!

"I am going to pay, because the staff are good to be fair" which is what you already pay them their wages for.
I know child care usually isn't as well paid as it should be but an extra £20 is BU and taking the piss

Too much money

Every year I leave ds1's pressie giving until late, then soemone wills end me a aletter (varies who does it) begging for a group buy and I give in. this year sod it, can't afford two gifts, and TBH think last years £ next voucher was OTT.

They do actually get paid after all.

I'd like to think my thre ehours voluntary work reading is worth more than £20 out the boys holiday cash 9which it would be) anyhow

(that was £500,number lock switched off- damn those kids!)

(plus... imagine.... £20 for teacher, 2 1-1 support teachers, I did put a tenner in head's collection as he is retiring.... X 3 for each child.... would make around 3.5 weeks carers allowance PMSL- er no_

I would say it is quite a lot to give. If it were being donated to the pre-school as a group, so they could use it to purchase new resources, then it may be more appropriate... but by the sound of it, the money is to be used for presents for the staff.
Staff would probably much prefer a unique gift from your child, than something brought from a shop. For me as a childcarer, it is the handmade gifts from children that I treasure.

It's always difficult when not everyone is consulted

At ours we have done £20 at Xmas & £20 at the end of the year but this is split between the 4 teachers

Yanbu it does really seem more expensive than what you would expect, and if you can not afford it then you are putting yourself in hardship just because someone decided on the figure of 20 quid.
Best idea is decline to do it and chose your own gift of some chocs or whatever, as others have mentioned

OK. I'm going to be the one dissenting voice here.

We have a collection which covers primary teacher, assistant teacher, music teacher, language teacher and sports teacher. Every parent had to chip in 20 pounds total. I know that it did cause a fuss with some parents, who refused to pay this. For me, I found this baffling. the 10 pounds for the principal teacher was less than 1 weeks Starbucks habit for most of the yummy mummies which dominate the school (very cushy private school), and to balk at giving more than 5 pounds to the assistant (who works just as hard as the primary teacher), was very mean in my eyes.

I can understand if the people who were complaining were having financial difficulties, but I guarantee you that they weren't.

I thought the point of a collection was to give something really nice to the teachers to show our appreciation, instead of 20 sets of scented candles. Yes, it is the thought which counts, and I agree that amounts should probably be discretionary. However, in this specific case, I was a bit cynical.

sofaqueen but 20 children at £20 each is £400 - divided between 5 teachers is £80 to be spent on each teacher. I think a lot of people would find that excessive.

After my bills, petrol, shopping etc have been paid I actually only have £20 disposable income each week - and I count myself lucky to have hat as a lot don't.

nbee, I understand what you are saying, and I am not denying that it is a substantial amount of money. However, the school is populated by very affluent people. For school social events, parents contribute 20 pounds per couple for drinks alone. In such context, I think that it IS tight to be shocked by a 20 pound contribution (total) for the end-of-the year teacher presents.

Why can't people just donate whatever they can/want to donate? I wouldn't like to be told the amount I have to put in although I would be happy to contribute. IYSWIM