Nursery gifts etiquette

[Caspianberg]

Ds has recently started nursery. It’s going well and he’s settled in nicely.
He has 3 teachers in his class.

Is there some kind of unwritten rule of what to ideally give, value, amount?

I was thinking of a small jo malone candle, and card ‘drawn’ by Ds. Ie £30 ish each.

or do they get millions of candles?

That sounds very generous. I think a B&M candle with a card would be more common.

I've always gone for vouchers - normally Amazon ones as that seems to be the most convenient for most people. They always seem very happy!

That’s a very generous budget but I’d get them an Amazon or JL voucher instead maybe. Sadly most nursery workers aren’t paid that well and I can’t help but think that they’d prefer £30 to spend on something they need or want rather than a luxury candle.

Sorry reading that back, I hope it doesn’t sound patronising to any nursery staff. I’d just consider £30 on a candle a waste of money and I’m certain that someone in a nursery would work far harder for that £30 than I ever would!

I do a big box of biscuits or similar for "the teachers" collectively and then a £25/30 voucher for my DDs key worker.

Thanks.
I could do a voucher instead.

I figured if someone buys you a nicer item ie candle that’s more than usual, then you use. But with a voucher you end up using on essentials rather than nice stuff?

I know my maternity vouchers gifts to ‘get something nice’ from people I ended up buying reusable nappies and butt cream for baby Ds instead. Handy, but not for me.

I buy them a couple of boxes of chocolates! A candle is a bit extreme!

You will use it if you like candles but a lot of people don't. I have also lived in rented accommodation where candles weren't allowed. Better a voucher they can choose what to get.

A candle would be regifted or thrown away as 99% are not suitable to have in our house, it causes migraines for my husband. Not everyone is keen on candles.

I would go for a voucher, childcare is a badly paid job, I would think that it would be more useful to have the option to spend it how you like than having an expensive item you may not like or can't have.

Oh wow! I would love a Jo Malone candle!! Just shows how different we all are!
£30 very generous, I used to gift a bottle of wine (knew what they liked!) for main key workers and some treats for the staffroom.
A costa voucher might be nice, I got one from a child once and I really appreciated it as I can't normally afford to go to Costa so it was a real treat.

I would go for an Amazon or Costa/Starbucks gift voucher for your child's key worker and then a box of chocolates/biscuits and maybe a nice tub of hot chocolate or coffee syrups that can be shared in the break room.

I wrapped a bar of chocolate and box of maltesers like this. DS who was 3 at the time did the face. Also a crochet Christmas pudding cover on a chocolate orange. I had 10 teachers to buy for so I couldn't get really expensive things. I figured chocolate will always get eaten!

I used to be a nursery teacher. Gifts were mainly Prosecco, chocolates, candles. £30 each is way too generous....tbh I liked the more personal things, mugs, key rings etc. and handmade cards.

We’re going to do Costa vouchers, some biscuits/chocolate and homemade cards.

I take a case of Prosecco and a big box of biscuits

Apparently no cash or vouchers allowed

Wont do alcohol, not uk and it’s not a very big alcohol gifting culture

I could make brownies? But do you get bored of all the sweet stuff over Christmas?

Theres no key teacher in his class just for him. One main, and two assistants but they all equally care for him.

I give everyone in DD's room a chocolate orange and give in a tin of sweets for the staff room.

If vouchers are not ok, then how a mug your child can decorate with porcelain paint pens? A potted plant in a decoratd pot?

Dc4’s key person is now with him in the preschool room and she cared for my 3 older Dc in preschool. We get her a box of her favourite chocolates, there not fancy ones but not the usual Christmas ones. If more than one to buy for I would buy a collective gift, nice biscuits or coffee/tea that’s useful whilst at work.

Goodness that's very generous! I've always just given a tin of biscuits/box of chocolates for the staff room.

DD1 is now at school and apparently the gifts that have gone down best with the staff have been Costa vouchers and handwritten cards.

Oh I think that sounds a bit too much to be honest but lovely if you want to.

I buy sweets/chocolates for the room she's in, same for the office with mgr and assistant mgr in and a present for the key worker. I know sometimes the key worker changes or they all look after child too but just makes it easier. Last year Gift was probably around £10-£12 and then about £8-£10 on chocs.

At end of term last year when my eldest left the nursery. I gave similar plus £20 in a card towards their night out. I think this was a bit much but dh said we shld 🤷🏻‍♀️

This year I think I'm going to scale back the key worker present do something smaller/cheaper and just give money in a card towards night out again with biscuits/chocs.

I like the idea of a plant in a pot also, I will take a look in local garden centre

porcelain paint pens and my toddler sound like a nightmare I would rather avoid this year.

Nursery is now free here, only recently. So I’m now saving €€ every month, hence why I don’t mind spending a bit more as thanks.

Wow very generous.

Things I’ve done

Single Sunflower with small box of chocolates wrapped with ribbon (summer gift obviously)
Homemade cards, got DCs to draw a bath with a teabag with fancy bath salts slipped inside.
gift bags with mini bottle of wine, chocolates, skincare products
Big sharing box’s of chocolates when lots of staff
Tins of Christmas biscuits

When ever I’m given skincare, bath products I keep them and pass them on to teachers, nursery staff as I never use them.

Im not sure I will be giving anything this year, 3 DC each with teachers and TAs, it’s just too much now.

My daughter had hundreds of candles and hand creams often they go to charity as she just can't use them. Chocolates and biscuits come in droves and get shared out. A lovely hand made card is a favourite and a gift voucher always useful.

One of the nicest presents I ever got was a smallish sunflower in a pot. It could have been 20 years ago but I can still see this child carrying this sunflower in. Another family had chickens and gave me some of the eggs. Wonderful