Teacher/TA presents

PinkJam · 2021-09-06T15:56:56+00:00

Hi, Any ideas? What have people gifted in the past? I assume they like consumables so they haven’t got to find space for lots of things.

Veryverycalmnow · 06/09/2021 16:59

I always like chocolates and prosecco when they're given. The cards made by children are lovely.

MrsRhysand · 06/09/2021 17:22

As above, I love cards made by the children - so sweet. There are no expectations for gifts, but I have really appreciated receiving chocolates, £10 costa gift cards, and candles. It's just lovely to be given a gift.

Iwantthesummersun · 06/09/2021 18:20

This is said every year but honestly, there’s no need. I very appreciate of the gifts I get but I am also overwhelmed by it too. Don’t ever scrimp on your own loved ones to buy gifts for school.

EcoCustard · 06/09/2021 18:28

I don’t do individual gifts anymore (only did the first year of eldest dc). Teacher and Ta gets a card. The staff room gets a very large selection of biscuits at the start of the last week of term. (last year was Cadbury fingers and several boxes of M&S biscuits). That way all the teachers, Ta’s, midday supervisor’s, cleaners and caretaker get something too. They seem to go down well, and I get palpitations when I see all the stuff being bestowed on them every Christmas, and end of term.

GameSetMatch · 06/09/2021 18:58

In Sainsbury’s today I saw in the alcohol gift section, a mini bottle of Edinburgh gin with a candle it was so lovely and only £5 I thought about it for teachers etc.

Ponoka7 · 07/09/2021 00:53

The best thing is of a class collection can be organised. Everyone throws in a couple of quid and a Tesco/Asda gift voucher bought, so they can choose their own wine etc. But I agree in consumables. If not really wanted they can regift.

Suzi888 · 07/09/2021 03:34

I always wonder what the hell they do with it all.

Nandocushion · 07/09/2021 04:04

They struggle to find a place for it all tbh. A card made by the kids and a gift card is best, if the class isn't doing something all together. Do not get them an individual gift, please! I can tell you that the charity shops in my MIL's not-small town eventually refused to take any more mugs from teachers. I can also tell you that our deputy head mentioned once or twice that he liked whiskey, and so got gifted 15+ bottles a year... the part he didn't mention was that he and his wife were 99% teetotal and he only had a glass of whiskey on his birthday.

HungryHippo11 · 07/09/2021 04:35

I wouldn't get alcohol. Quite a lot of people don't drink these days and those that do, will have certain drinks they like. I wouldn't drink any spirits or red wine. I also think its sort of inappropriate as a gift from a child.

Kakser · 07/09/2021 04:39

@HungryHippo11

I wouldn't get alcohol. Quite a lot of people don't drink these days and those that do, will have certain drinks they like. I wouldn't drink any spirits or red wine. I also think its sort of inappropriate as a gift from a child.

Disagree with this totally. Wine is easily regifted if not to taste. Every teacher I work with is pleased to receive a bottle of wine.

Nandocushion · 07/09/2021 05:39

Again re my MIL - she was teetotal too (no idea why I know so many teetotallers, it's the polar opposite in this house) and she had about two cases of wine lying around for several years because so many people thought either that everyone likes wine, or that wine can easily be regifted. My MIL's friends didn't drink either! She did manage to use a few half cups for cooking but nowhere near enough to make a dent. If we lived in the same country she could have given it to us but alas no.

coodawoodashooda · 07/09/2021 06:05

@Iwantthesummersun

This is said every year but honestly, there’s no need. I very appreciate of the gifts I get but I am also overwhelmed by it too. Don’t ever scrimp on your own loved ones to buy gifts for school.

Exactly

Redlorryyellowlorryblue · 07/09/2021 06:27

We do a class collection for Christmas and Summer for the teacher, TA and lunch Supervisor, each raising over £300! They get John Lewis or Amazon vouchers.

Cluckycluck · 07/09/2021 09:11

Organise a class collection. A giftcard is definitely more appreciated than chocolate and wine. If each parent puts in the money they would be spending on a gift that may not be wanted it quickly adds up to a sizeable gift card amount.

Redsquirrel5 · 07/09/2021 11:12

@Redlorryyellowlorryblue

We do a class collection for Christmas and Summer for the teacher, TA and lunch Supervisor, each raising over £300! They get John Lewis or Amazon vouchers.

Oh my goodness that is a ridiculous amount. I worked in an area of deprivation and got a few gifts. Some parents were very inventive and I loved the bags of mixed things. Small bottle of wine, scented tea light, coffee or tea bags and a few lovely biscuits- a go home put your feet up bag. Another parent put a large free cardboard cup filled with a tea bag, coffee and hot chocolate single packet, marshmallows and some shortbread with a home made card. It has stuck in my mind the thought that went into that gift when they were on a low income. I have quite a few of those Christmas small soft toys and they come out every year and sit in front of the TV unit. I have enough candles to last me quite a few years but I love them. I have never put anything in a charity shop that I have been given.

I would say vouchers for a bookshop or a cafe just for a coffee would be well received and can be used in the holiday. Agree biscuits, sweets etc for the staff room go down well but don’t last more than a day as you fuel yourself on those to carry you through the last weeks in Primary. Please let the children write the card and homemade is best. Love them.

FizzyDibdab · 07/09/2021 11:16

Gifts are required but if you do want to get something the club together with other parents and get vouchers. Or even better something for the class room as most teachers I know subsidise equipment from their own salaries.

Stompythedinosaur · 07/09/2021 12:34

I do a small box of chocs every year and the dc make a card. I figure if the teacher doesn't want them they will be able to pass them on. It's more about recognising them and because my dc want to give something. Once I add in all the job share teachers, TAs, music teachers etc it ends up being quite a few people so I dont want to spend a lot.

Akire · 07/09/2021 16:40

I think it’s nice give something can use in classroom even if 6 pack of pritt stick or nice white board markers, great pair of scissors Things end up buying for their classroom use but come in handy.

MrsRussell · 07/09/2021 17:26

The Junior Engineer painted and varnished a terracotta plant pot, and we grew a scented geranium cutting to put in it when he left Year 6.

We wanted something that was personal to him, and also personal to his teacher, who he was very fond of.

IWantT0BreakFree · 07/09/2021 17:42

I'd also steer clear of alcohol as not everyone drinks. I always get a few bottles and end up just giving them to other colleagues on the last day.

Some of the things we tend to get that go down well are chocolates, biscuits, sweets, little homemade gift bags with face masks (skincare not PPE ) candles etc, gift vouchers for a coffee shop or department store, hand cream.

To be completely honest my colleagues and I tend to just get rid of things like personalised or "best teacher" decorations/baubles/teddy bears/mugs straight away. I always feel so, so guilty throwing them but I have too much “stuff” at home as it is and they inevitably end up in a box in the loft or under the bed. So now I just think it’s better to get rid of them straight away rather than take them home and put them in a box somewhere only to chuck them out next time I’m having a clear out. It’s a horrible feeling though.