Teacher presents

[BettyOBarley]

Sorry if it's already been done, couldn't see anything.

What are we thinking this year?

DS has 2 teachers this year plus 3 TAs
DD has 1 teacher and 1 TA

So that's potentially 7 gifts!

No one does a class collection and I aren't about to volunteer! 😂

In previous years I've done £5 Costa vouchers for the teachers and a tin of bics/chocs for the staff room as a joint thing for TAs so might do similar, although not sure what you'd get for a fiver in Costa these days!

Do the same as you've done before. It's way better than anything mug/candle/prosecco/bauble/hand cream/water bottle etc based. Buying them a coffee, effectively, is perfect.

If you decide on the coffee route, do you have any nice independent coffee shops near you that would do a voucher? Might be worth asking. Costa is so awful - it just seems such a shame to spend £35 on poor coffee and dirty premises.

You really, really don’t need to buy Christmas presents for teachers. A hand written card that is personal and thankful is hugely appreciated, but teachers would much rather you spent your hard earned money on your own family Christmas.

No I know, and sometimes I don't (I didn't at the end of term) but DS has a slight health issue and the teachers have been so good with him, I'd like to get a little something to show my appreciation.

Local coffee shop voucher is a good shout.

Don’t forget TAs are paid almost minimum wage and usually teach at least one afternoon so maybe if your giving teachers £5 gift vouchers, the TAs would probably appreciate a similar gesture rather then a shared tin of biscuits.
give them all the same - either a tin of biscuits for the whole class staff to share, or a £5 voucher each.
just my 2 cents worth

Yes I agree if you have a local place it would be better than a chain coffee place for sure

A large tin of shortbread for staff room and handmade card should suffice.

Urm are you a teacher??

If parents can't afford a gift that's absolutely fine and I always appreciate a hand written card.

But every teacher I know appreciates a present for doing a life draining job - it doesn't have to be big or expensive but it does let us know we are valued.

I'm a teacher and I really dislike teacher gifts, it's really kind but it sort of devalues our job in a way. I'd rather have proper pay and conditions and be treated on a par with other professions. I also don't like the idea of financial pressure on other families
Cards however ive kept for twenty years!

Our daughter- no longer a teacher but studying in another child related speciality - appreciated anything she received.
Deprived area, hand mad stuff (cards with an abundance of glitter, etc. 😁) was lovingly archived. A hand written note by the child was cherished.

I'm a teacher - genuinely (especially in the current climate!) don't spend money. A card with a genuine message/wrote to the headteacher with a positive message (everyone loves their boss being told what a good job they're doing!).

But every teacher I know appreciates a present for doing a life draining job - it doesn't have to be big or expensive but it does let us know we are valued.

Maybe every teacher you know, that's only your experience though. Every teacher I know would rather have no present.

I used to be a TA. Best present I ever got was from a child I’d done a lot of work with - he bought me a tiny box of chocolates and as he gave it to me he said “I remembered that you said you like chocolate.” It really meant so much.

You really, really don’t need to buy Christmas presents for teachers. A hand written card that is personal and thankful is hugely appreciated, but teachers would much rather you spent your hard earned money on your own family Christmas

This

The worst thing to pick is mugs, candles or chocolate.

As a parent I bought for teachers who went above and beyond for my kids. Those who just turned up to work didn't get anything except a card from dd who loved giving cards!

As a teacher I appreciate each and every gift but do hate to see people wasting their money on 'best teacher' crap. It just goes to the charity shops, except for the pens. It's pointless tat.

As I wanted to show appreciation to those teachers who really went all out for my kids, I get why people want to do it so please if you really want to give a present, try to avoid the gimmicky gifts which every teacher has had a shed load of and won't display at home! If you do want to buy something then give something to eat, drink etc or a candle. Something they can use that they enjoy, a wee inexpensive treat. Nothing expensive, a wee £1 bar of chocolate is more than enough!

My dc always seemed to end up with tons of teachers to buy for. I just got a box of chocs for max £3 each (I waited until they were reduced in tescos and bought 10 of whatever was cheapest, generally roses or celebrations).

I also got the DC to make and write in a card.

It isn't much, but the DC loved to give something and I hope the teachers appreciated the thought, even if only a very small gift.

Surely something donated for resources would be well received…we constantly hear about the squeezed budgets after all.

To teachers on this thread, what would you recommend?

Teachers are inundated with gimmicky nick nacks and cheap plastic chocolates twice a year. Just get a card.

I've bought Teapigs teabags and donated for each TA and the teacher something from their website: shoes for a nursery child/ a school book (only a few pounds each). I plan to pop a note about it and a pack of nice biscuits in with the tea-bags. So a cuppa, a biscuit and a little charity. I think they'll like it, or I hope.

Why not a game for the class instead? Wet play is upon us!
Packs of cards for them to play with. Add something to the play box, balls, skipping ropes, and the like.
Or even a bag of stuff they need in school but they forget, headache tables, deodorant, mints, chocolate bars and biscuits?
Bag of snacks for the kids who go hungry?

All things teachers normally buy and don’t claim back.

I’d suggest a class collection on WhatsApp in the hope someone else will pick up the baton. TAs are tricky as they work across multiple classes. In previous years we’ve clubbed together with another class or two to purchase ta gift. If not nice biscuits/ teabags for staff room and a card.

These threads are always split with half the teachers suggesting don't buy anything and the others saying they really appreciate a gift. My DD loves to give her teacher and TA something so I usually wrap an Amazon voucher in the hope that they treat themselves to something, or buy class supplies they would have purchased anyway if they prefer that.

Our class usually club together to buy vouchers for the teacher. This year the school has requested parents make a donation to the school voluntary fund instead of buying gifts. We usually raise £200 per class collection so will be donating directly to the school instead. Please consider doing this as school budgets are even tighter this year.

A class set of whiteboard markers for the kids to use on mini-white boards? Pritt sticks? I’m sure these resources would be appreciated from Ks1 to KS4 as often sourced from teacher’s own salary.

Another teacher piling on to say that in the current climate I would be concerned with children (families) spending what little spare money they might have on a teacher gift. Can you bake? A quick batch of fairy cakes the day before term ends (with parental supervision for hygiene reasons and a list of ingredients for allergies) would go down a treat in the staff room! My DD is a dab hand at scones and sometimes does a batch which we send in with a big pot of jam and a tub of clotted cream (and a note from me to say that she was heavily supervised so no spoons were licked etc!)

Notes and cards are absolutely the best thing in the world. I have a folder of every note, post it, drawing and card I have ever received, and they are like a tonic on a shitty day! I would save that folder from a house fire!