Classroom gift instead of teacher gifts?

[TitsalinaBumSqoosh]

Normally I buy the standard nice box of chops or biscuits for all the kids teachers and then put a fruit hamper and a tray of donuts in the staff room at christmas, this school has done wonderful things for my kids after an awful school experience so I’m happy to treat the staff and show thanks, we also do a homemade card and write a personal message with the things we have particularly enjoyed and appreciated this year.

This year my youngest son has started the school, one of my other children are in their last year and my eldest left the school for high school last year.
The children in reception wen to a toy factory for a class trip and the whole class fell in love with a range of unique toys that would be great for the classroom.

I was thinking if I still do the staff room bits and the cards, do you think one of these toys would be a welcome gift for the class room or will the teachers feel unappreciated because I’ve not got something especially for them as individuals?
I’m sure they get loads of wine/chocolates/candles/gift cards etc so I don’t think they’ll miss a gift but equally I don’t want them to think we’ve not been grateful for the amazing job they do with the children.
Am I overthinking it, I’m over thinking it aren’t I?

Any good teacher would be absolutely over the moon with a gift for the classroom. I'd MUCH prefer anything the children would benefit from than receiving anything myself!

I had no idea you were supposed to give teachers Xmas presents

I am sure they will be grateful and i think you know this!

I’d love it. How thoughtful.

Much better than a box of chops

standard nice box of chops

Nice choice!!

Just do it!

A box of chops is something I can't say I've ever received.

Bastard iPhone autocorrect .... maybe they would like chops??

Serious note, thanks. I’m going to get DS to chose one of the toys and give it as a classroom gift.

I’m a secondary teacher so we rarely get gifts but I would be over the moon with that type of gift!

Love this idea.. but what though & where could I get it??

That’s a really nice idea. I’m a bit of a grump at Christmas because dh is also a teacher and we often end up with ridiculous amounts of chocolates that I resent having to deal with. I love cards and keep any with nice messages. A single toy for the class is a good plan.

Saying that, a box of chops-wow! Would love that...

Purple I'm a teacher but permanently on slimming world and I always put chocolate presents in the food bank basket at the supermarket. The kids will never know and someone else who would appreciate them more benefits!

I would be over the moon with something for the classroom.

I had a parent a number of years ago who worked for a company that made stationery. My Christmas present was a box of 100 whiteboard markers. Best present ever!

Glue sticks! I'd kill to receive glue sticks.

Personally I would love it. Things are so bad in our school - cleaners and TAs wages being cut, peoples contracts not being renewed so we have minimal staff and bigger classes, barely any department budget etc, that I often end up buying things little bits out of my own money. Not sure we can even afford to get some scissors and glue at the moment! So I think anything for the classroom would be amazing.

Glue sticks! I'd kill to receive glue sticks.

Seems very common amongst teachers

Mine came home saying there was no glue and all the whiteboard pens didn't work well so I sent an Amazon parcel full of things they would need in class. The teacher nearly cried. They appear to spend a lot of their own money on supplies and extras.

I was thinking of getting stationery for the classroom/teachers, as I know things are really tight at our school.
What kind of things would be best? Would like to get something small ish for each teacher/TA plus something for the classroom.

I already give books here and there to the school library (we have so many at home, so are regularly gifted duplicates). But I was wondering about some book tokens or similar? Or is stationery best? Or just some vouchers and they can decide how they are used?

I feel bad that the schools budget has been cut the very same year that the 30’hours free childcare has cut my costs for younger DD. So keen to give a bit more back this year (as well as helping. PTA when I can)