Christmas gifts for boarding staff

[ureterr1blemuriel]

This is our first year at boarding and wondered what others usually do for Christmas gifts for the staff. DD is looked after by 3 different matrons, Head and Deputy Head of House plus about 3/4 graduate age trainee teachers who also help out in the house. They are all fantastic and do an amazing job.

As I don’t really know them yet, do you think a big hamper of treats dropped off at the office would be ok so they could choose, or should I buy individual?

Big hamper of treats to divvy up would be perfect for the matrons and gappies. I would probably give the Head of House something individual and a card. It can be bottle of fizz or a gift card to John Lewis or similar if you don't know them well.

How would a hamper be divvied up?

We normally do individual gifts for house staff, gappies and key teachers, but they don't need to be super expensive. Christmas fairs often have packages of flapjacks or handmade gloves/christmas ornaments for just a few quid.

We may dig deeper for the headmaster and head of house! 🍾😁

One person takes some biscuits and a chutney, the person with the sweet tooth takes the other biscuits and the truffles, the next person who doesn't like sugar gets the cheese straws and the olives and pot of stilton, etc. You just need to make sure it's got enough individual things so that everyone gets to choose a couple of bits. You can also give it to the head of house to distribute as they see fit.

If you're doing presents, a really good idea is to club together with the parents in your year group then divide up between Head, deputy, tutor and matrons. It's also a really nice idea if you can get the cleaners something small. They always get forgotten yet can be a big part of your child's school family. And have a really hard job!

👌🎄🎉

Or just get them all a bottle of wine, most supermarkets do 25% off 6 bottles around this time of year.
Believe me. They need wine

We usually get a case of wine and do a bottle of wine for everyone in house (matron, deputy etc): I add an extra small gift (box of chocolates/small candle etc) for the house parent.

Thanks everyone - I think I’ll go for a big hamper with a variety of sweet and non sweet treats plus some nice bottles of fizz for the key staff.

Great idea re the cleaners too. I’ll ask that they’re included in the distribution.

Lovely to remember the cleaners and also school nurses who often get forgotten.

I do individual presents for Matron , head of house , deputy head of house and tutor ( the students are assigned a tutor when starting at this school ) plus any teacher my children would like to but a present for . I aim to spend £25 / 30 per person . I try to buy in the sales and put things away for Christmas & end of year , this way the presents are often worth more like £40/50 . I have done Large Neom candles , champagne, very good wine , big box of chocolates , etc , this year I am doing a smaller candle plus a medium box of chocolates , all in a Christmas bag with a card . I also do a very large present ( like a very big hamper ) for the head of their main sport as she is truly amazing , and really looks after my children , and smaller presents for the other instructors. It’s a lot , but what they do for my children is simply amazing , especially the head of their sport . I have had children boarding for 8 years , I can tell you that they REALLY appreciate it . Some parents do less , some a lot more ( use of holiday homes for instance ) , but just to give you an idea . I hope it helps

we don’t have gappies , we have residents ( teachers ) sometimes my children do a preset for them too .

I think it’s very sweet that you want to thank your child’s boarding staff. As a teacher, the best thing is always a thoughtful thank you card, especially when the child and parents have all written a nice comment 🥰
Anything else is greatly appreciated but not necessary 😊