Presents for teachers- help please.

[Tiredmum100]

If you've bought for teachers what have you bought, or if you are a teacher what would you like? Stuck for ideas. Thanks!

We used to chuck a couple of hundred quid into each class for supplies - parents didn’t like it. They prefer the purchase of bigger things that benefit more children for more time.

We do both at our school. Provide classroom bits and pieces and save for larger items. Maybe that's why I was

Oops posted too soon!

Was going to say that's why I was at a gift being classroom supplies.

Anyway... we do a whole class collection every year so teachers and TAs get 1 big present from the whole class and they love it

We do both at our school. Provide classroom bits and pieces and save for larger items. Maybe that's why I was shock

Lucky you. As a small school in a relatively poor area we don’t have the option to do both.

Anyway... we do a whole class collection every year so teachers and TAs get 1 big present from the whole class and they love it smile

We do that in the summer. Eg when they’ve actually had a school year with the children and not just 15 weeks.

Class collection a voucher they can use anywhere, or an Amazon one. Feedback is that they love this rather than all candles/soaps/mugs etc.

The ones that went down best were-

Mini Gift bag hamper containing 1 portion size Xmas cake, 1 portion size Xmas pudding, 1 x chocolate bar and mini bottle of Prosecco. All bought from Aldi.

Or

Homemade Gingerbread mix layered into a glass jar with an ingredients and instructions label and a cookie cutter (stocking or snowman) all easily available from home bargains or eBay.

I bought perfume for my children’s nursery teachers- they were exceptional and had taught all of my children, so when the last one left their class I wanted to give them something special. They are both now friends to me and helped us as a family so much. I also did a card for each of them, thanking them for everything they had done, with examples of times when their care or teaching had really made its mark on my children. They both told me the cards had them in tears- I think the cards will be what they will remember for years, not the actual gift.
I also recently did a letter for my DDs favourite teacher ever whom she had an amazing bond with, and when they went back in September he told me it had made his whole summer, which choked me up too! So I think if they have been really special then writing down what that has meant for your child and including particular memories is something they will cherish and remember forever.
Gift wise I have gone with fancy biscuits this year, coffee vouchers and pink gin for the teacher who I know loves it.

My favourite Christmas gifts have been baubles/decorations. I love hanging them each year and remembering who gave them to me.

Agree with pps who say cards with thoughtful messages top everything though. Especially if something is also said to SLT!

Why do parents feel obliged to buy a gift.
It is their job......they are paid, it is their choice of career.
It's like 'tipping' the bin man, postman or other such service.
These are all paid jobs with paid leave.
My husband is self employed he seldom gets a tip but often gets his quote beaten down to the bone.

Why do parents feel obliged to buy a gift.
It is their job......they are paid, it is their choice of career

I give our child’s nursery staff gifts because I know they go beyond their job description to make one of the most important people in my life’s time there happy. Last year we gave our cleaner extra as she is always so flexible. Gifts at Christmas are not unusual so I don’t see why people ever have a problem with it. Is it because it’s teachers and they’re fair game for a bit of a bash?

Vouchers.
Vouchers.
Vouchers.

Have I mentioned vouchers? I have had so much stuff over the years and while a lot of it has been lovely especially the wine and chocs so much has been "recycled". The best things i have had have been little hand drawn cards by the kids and coffee vouchers. I always think fondly of the family as I sup my latte.

And I don't think Any parents feel obliged, nor do teachers expect gifts. It is what it is, a gift to say thanks for doing a good job.

My dh gets a bottle of wine from his boss and often a little something from some of the people he manages and he isn't in education. It's just a nice thing to do.

Costa/Starbucks/cinema vouchers are things I’d love if you really wanted to buy something, but I’d personally be more than happy with a heart felt card written thanking me, if that’s what you felt. That means more than a present IMO.
Please no “best teacher” mugs, the staff room is full of them and no homemade cakes as virtually all staff I know won’t eat them (you don’t know the hygiene in the home), so they end up in the bin.

For me, a thoughtful card is the thing that means a lot.
Candles and mugs tend not to get used if I'm honest. Coffee vouchers are much appreciated, nice multicoloured pens, notebooks, those desk planners where you have a sheet per week that rips off are good too.

If you must buy something, yes to vouchers!

I used to get so many chocolates and candles that I always gave them away. Amazon vouchers are the best as they suit everyone.

I’d always be careful with alcohol. I’ve been given lots over the years but I don’t drink so it’s always given away. In the first small school I worked in there was only one person who drank alcohol but 2 recovering alcoholics and 3 who didn’t drink for religious reasons (Christian and Muslim).

However, I don’t want or expect a gift. I would much prefer parents’ hard earned money is spent on their own children I did love a card however, with a nice memory from the year. I keep them all and have some that are over 20 years old.

We do class collection and sponser an animal, every class at my DD school does this. It's a very eco friendly school and is a good way to teach the kids to be kind and think of others

Thanks to all the helpful suggestions. I think I'm going to get vouchers and make a donation to the unit. It wasn't a debate as to why we should or shouldnt give teachers gifts. I work as a nurse , we don't expect anything but a tub of chocolates or biscuits are always appreciated in the office. I personally think it's nice to give a present to show appreciation, yes it's their job but it's a hard one! I couldn't do it!

The teachers have been exceptional and as I said he's been with the same staff for nearly 3 years. They are kind and caring, have made him feel very important. He's come on leaps and bounds and I want to give them a gift. I think I might look at the post office vouchers. I hadn't thought of that so thank you for that suggestion.

I am not a teacher but work in a low paid pastoral role. I get some lovely gifts at Christmas and I appreciate them all. It's a lovely Christmas bonus, and means we have treats at home that we wouldn't be able to afford usually.
Tins of biscuits are great (2 kids at home!) And wine that I can take to people's houses for meals & parties saves me a lot of money.
My best present this year was actually an arty card. I shall frame that!

Book token , Costa voucher , amazon voucher , Emma Bridgewater mug, Christmas tree decoration ( belleek or Newbridge silverware) . These are my favourites to gift and to receive .

I’ve gifted the Emma Bridgewater mugs.