What to get a teacher for Christmas

[Mumblingmum]

Just that really, there's 3 of them at my daughter's preschool and they really are a life saver and I don't know how they do it! Would you get them something at Christmas and last term in summer or just one? I was wondering about making them a cake. Any teachers out there that can tell me what's the best gift theyve received? thanks😁

I've worked in a few schools, from wealthy areas to hard, inner city areas.

It's always lovely to receive a random bottle of wine or even better a tub of chocs to share, but the gifts that I've really treasured and kept have been the cards with a personal note and handmade tree decorations that still go up every year. I've never had the huge JL or M&S vouchers and would be horrified if I ever felt that parents felt any kind of pressure to contribute to such a gift.

Every teacher I've met does the job because they want to improve the future for kids. A few sentences in a card is such a simple way to affirm that at the end of a bonkers term

Not everyone drinks. Why is alcohol always the go-to? Every year I end up giving all my wine presents away. I would say a nice, heartfelt card and a tin of biscuits for the staff room.

Another non drinking (and currently 11 weeks pregant anyway) teacher here, so I never drink the wine I get. DH always enjoys it on my behalf though 😅

My personal favourite gifts are anything chocolate. I once got a personalised tote bag with my name on it and thought that was both lovely and practical.

Thanks everyone for your input 😁
I've brought a craft set for DD to make 3 cards with and will get something for them all to share. I wasn't trying to compete and I don't even know if any of the other parents get gifts, I just genuinely appreciate what the teachers do, but must admit as she hasn't been there long I don't know what the teachers like/dislike.

I am a non drinking teacher but I often can regift wine/ take to parties etc

truthfully, the nicest present is a card with a really lovely, detailed message and an email saying the same to my headteacher.

I'm not being pious- I have had some lovely gifts- M&S vouchers, Costa cards, lovely candles etc - but all my cards are on my office wall- the messages are so lovely

I wouldn't give homemade food items tbh as it will often get left. Not everyone is comfortable with eating homemade food items from people they don't know - I know teachers know you're child, but they won't know you all properly.

Food items fine, but ideally from a regulated shop/bakery, etc is better I think.

I drink alcohol so wine, etc is always welcome. I know not everyone drinks.

It will be impossible to,get it right every time due to personal tastes, allergies, etc.

And remember no gift is necessarily. A homemade card with a lovely message inside will mean far more.

The poster probably means she got each me,her of staff in the child's class a gift rather than the entire school staff. So maybe 2 or 3.
And a bottle of Prosecco can start at £4/5.

Whilst a nice gift for the staff I don't think it's 'show offy' or something the poster needs to be shamed for daring to buy!

To be fair there is no reason why the parents should particularly know you or your personal tastes.
I wouldn't expect the parents of children I teach to know if I drink alcohol or not, or if I prefer milk or dark chocolate.

@Greytea fair enough, in that case I'd drive through on my way home from work (but I don't need much of an excuse for a coffee 🤣) .

That’s a lovely idea op! The things I’ve kept from long ago are the homemade cards a funny little hand sewn teddy bear brooch, a little lizard hand made out of beads and a wooden bowl made by a dad who did wood turning. I agree that an email to the head would be amazing!!

I've said it before but:

email/letter to head teacher and/or head of dept. describing how brilliant the teacher is and how much s/he has helped your child and cc to teacher.

It's free for you and an invaluable bonus for the teacher to be directly praised to SLT/management.

box of biscuits/chocolates + copy of email/letter as above.

I don't expect anything but I do enjoy getting cards. When I get presents then biscuits/chocolate always goes down well or an M&S voucher!

I sometimes do the charity gifting thing, particularly if it relates to school/education. Think that would be well received

I still have the tin for string made for me a long time ago - probably a Blue Peter idea. And have sadly had to say goodbye to a lovely mug from the same child with the 12 Days of Christmas on it. I had inflicted a series of homework worksheets exploring the maths in that song - lots of colouring in. It lasted a long time before cracking. And my bathroom windowsill is covered with Aloe Vera from another child. I still have the tin from the cake from the same family. Eaten with no problems.
Retirement gifts were embarrassing - as well as the school's organised stuff, class parents had got together - a small ironwork statue of a teacher and blackboard, money to buy art materials, and a ticket to the Tutankhamen exhibition at the O2.
When there are things related to the teacher's interests or lessons, that's great, but so are those homemade cards.
I remember with sadness the children who would tell me, when the gifts arrived, that their mother was bringing theirs after school. I knew she wasn't. A card would have been so good.
Sudden idea. Homemade bookmark. I can never have enough bbokmarks.

Tochairchop - if i was told that someone had donated to charity as a ‘thank you ‘ for me I would find that very odd - great that you donate to charity but how is it connected to the teacher unless you know they are fundraising for a particular charity? Otherwise it’s just you wanting thanks for giving to charity, which hasn’t cost you more than a gift but is a lot easier! I’d rather you quietly donated to the charity of your choice and your child wrote a little note in a card.

I've emailed a few times when I've been impressed with school in general, or singled out a particular teacher. I wouldn't wait til Christmas though or do instead of a gift

Nothing means more to me, as a teacher, than a note or picture written/drawn for me by a pupil.

A card from your daughter, with a little picture, is genuinely amazing.

I love anything and everything I've ever been given. Home made biscuits/sweets are fab.

I don't mind if I don't get anything at all either though. I would never want a family to go without to get a gift for me. I find the children from the families with the least money are often the most excited about giving a gift because it's such a big deal for them.

I'd suggest that those parents who would like to buy a gift all contribute £1 to a gift card. It's affordable for lots of people and those who would like to buy a gift but really can't afford much might be able to manage £1. If there are between 20 to 30 pupils in a class that is a very decent amount and would be very much appreciated. Also a card with a lovely message also goes a long way!

@Fieldfly it's one of those set up charity gifts and like I say I usually link it to education as I assume being a teacher, they care about such things!

I can't imagine they'd be offended at a donation to charity over a box of chocolates...even if it's not one of their 'chosen' charities?

Tocahair - I wouldn’t be offended if you did a charity gift, I don’t expect gifts from students, I’d much rather they didn’t spend money on me. I’d think it was weird though, like am I supposed to thank you for deciding to give some money to charity? That would be like thanking you for something that is basically nothing to do with me as I am in way expecting or assuming that pupils would or should be getting me something. You’ve decided to make a charity donation and you’ve decided not to get the teacher a present, great, you just don’t need to tell anyone!

There is huge pressure to give £10 per class for a collection for teachers at my DC's school, as DC names don't go in the cards unless I contribute. I'm grateful for teachers but would rather spend the money on my DC.

Now I think that’s strange. People donate to charities they support. If you make a donation it’s from you. There are charities that I do not support and actually my values are in opposition to theirs.

Celery- there may be pressure from the pushy mums but the teachers will appreciate an individual handmade card more!

@Fieldfly but it is a gift! Maybe you haven't seen the type of thing I'm talking about? Anyway, I think it's a nice gift and knowing the teachers I've given it to I'm sure they would too. Like I say, I link it to schools/education in countries where there are perhaps a lack of resources so it has relevance.