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Original poster

Christmas gifts for teachers and TA’s

44 replies

HolyMoly24 · 27/11/2025 18:18

What do you all give as gifts for teachers and TA’s?

I’ve done chocolates in the past but they must end up with sooo many I’m wondering what else to give. Was thinking a gift card each? Would it be awkward to give more to the teacher?

OP posts:
MN2025 · 30/11/2025 12:15

HolyMoly24 · 27/11/2025 18:18

What do you all give as gifts for teachers and TA’s?

I’ve done chocolates in the past but they must end up with sooo many I’m wondering what else to give. Was thinking a gift card each? Would it be awkward to give more to the teacher?

I’m a Headteacher and I’ll be honest we discourage gifts to teachers! It puts pressures on families who have a tight income who feel that they need to buy a gift because everyone else in the class is doing so! We don’t do our jobs to receive gifts… whilst every gift is appreciated it is something that certainly isn’t expected.

If you feel like you really need to do something though, a card will more than suffice.

Newsenmum · 30/11/2025 19:43

MumChp · 27/11/2025 20:48

Cost of living. None. I see no reason. It's a job.

Basically saved my kid’s life. More than than ‘just a job’ for me.

Spookyspaghetti · 01/12/2025 21:20

P0PP · 27/11/2025 20:49

And saying ‘oh I can’t afford a coffee’ nonsense. Teachers earn plenty of money compared to most people

Edited

Imagine if everyone in life went around only putting in what they got in return or less! Race to the bottom much. You do you but I’m not going to be dictated to on how to treat others.

mrsskater · 02/12/2025 07:46

What about getting parents to club together? We did this a few years, collected for both teacher and ta split money down middle and got two gift cards. Also it ment people could put in what they wanted some gave £5 some gave £10. Think teachers ended up with about £30 -£50 on an amazon gift card. We did it a few years so it was different everytime.

reluctantbrit · 02/12/2025 07:58

DD's primary school asked for a gift for the classroom and most years the parents clubbed together and had around £100 for 30 children

We did board games, books, art and craft supplies, toys.

Parents often gave a card separately, DD wrote to all teachers, TA and the dinner ladies with a chocolate coin in the card.

Ophy83 · 02/12/2025 08:01

The school was thrilled when I donated some of my son's old books as apparently they have no spare budget for reading books this year. So I've bought a pile of books for my dd's class book corner. I also got her teacher/TA a small gift from the local "made in [Town name]" shop.

Upsetbetty · 02/12/2025 08:03

Turkeylurkey1 · 27/11/2025 20:34

We do a whole class gift card. I think its a really nice option.

Yeah we do this, 5 each as it’s not breaking the bank and they get one good gift rather than a whole load of chocolates.

Overthebow · 02/12/2025 08:06

We’ve got a class collection which will be split between the teacher and TA. Then I’ll send in a box of Christmas biscuits for the staff room in the last week of term and hand made cards from dd.

ChilliMochaCoco · 02/12/2025 08:07

Wow- some people are tight here- £5 Costa card for someone who pours so much into your child??!
We do class collections and get vouchers from One4All - from the Post Office.

RedToothBrush · 02/12/2025 08:11

A mini bottle of wine or a miniature alcoholic drink (from a multi pack split up and shared our) and a small edible treat (box of chocolate or savory alternative) together with a handmade card from DS.

Never spend more than about a £5 and I don't worry if it's from Aldi or not - budget stretches further.

RedToothBrush · 02/12/2025 08:13

ChilliMochaCoco · 02/12/2025 08:07

Wow- some people are tight here- £5 Costa card for someone who pours so much into your child??!
We do class collections and get vouchers from One4All - from the Post Office.

I do it at the end of the year and it's a token appreciation gift rather than it being about monetary value. It's too easy for it to be misread as trying to 'bribe' or show off to the teacher otherwise.

Being appreciative doesn't mean you are obligated to spend £££.

Genuinely it's about the effort and thought.

Jemma8 · 02/12/2025 08:17

I'm a teacher. Nothing is expected but all gifts are appreciated. Honestly my fave is a card written/drawn by the child with heartfelt words if you think I've made a wonderful impact. An email to my principal with any particular kind feedback is worth a lot to me too.

PrioritisePleasure24 · 02/12/2025 08:19

A card with a message/picture by the child.
A gift card is a lovely idea just a £5 if you want to buy something
Nothing too personal, no mugs.
No one should feel obliged and i’m sure the staff don’t expect people to be spending money.

But i agree with the notion of same amount for TA and teacher. My sister is one and works her socks off just as much as the teachers ( probably more when 1:1) for such a crap wage.

ChilliMochaCoco · 03/12/2025 23:08

RedToothBrush · 02/12/2025 08:13

I do it at the end of the year and it's a token appreciation gift rather than it being about monetary value. It's too easy for it to be misread as trying to 'bribe' or show off to the teacher otherwise.

Being appreciative doesn't mean you are obligated to spend £££.

Genuinely it's about the effort and thought.

Show quote history

And this is where you are wrong about gift giving. If your intention is to bribe a teacher, they would see right through that.
Gift giving is to express gratitude and believe you me, I am incredibly grateful for my dc's teachers.
Further, in a group collection, the teacher/ TA doesn't know who gave how much.

Crochetandtea · 03/12/2025 23:16

Join together with others parents and buy a gift voucher? No waste and they can buy something they’d want. Teachers often spend their own money on items for their class so I think a small gift means a lot.

Crochetandtea · 03/12/2025 23:23

MN2025 · 30/11/2025 12:15

I’m a Headteacher and I’ll be honest we discourage gifts to teachers! It puts pressures on families who have a tight income who feel that they need to buy a gift because everyone else in the class is doing so! We don’t do our jobs to receive gifts… whilst every gift is appreciated it is something that certainly isn’t expected.

If you feel like you really need to do something though, a card will more than suffice.

Show quote history

Do your staff have to spend any of their own money on supplies for their classroom or is it covered by the school?

HolidayPlanningAgain · 03/12/2025 23:25

I wasn’t a teacher but used to get dozens of boxes of chocolates and bottles of wine/spirits, it was always appreciated as it saved me a fortune in gifts, anything branded/personalised used to end up in charity/landfil. I still have a couple of random “certificate of awesomeness” emails saved though!

mothra · 04/12/2025 01:34

My DS doesn't attend school, but he has a handful of adult therapists/mentors that I give a gift bag to (I don't write on the card, so they can re-use the bag if they wish!), with a miniature panetonne, a box of nice tea and a fidget toy that has relevance to their relationship with my DS, and can also be used by them in their various clinics. Costs me about 12 pounds each, and I need to give four bags, which is a lot for our budget, but it's Christmas.

AnneButNotHathaway · 04/12/2025 11:08

A handmade Christmas card from the kid would be so nice than a bunch of stuff that's usually given - and I've heard it from a friend who is a TA herself.

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