End of term gifts/cards for teachers

[Spirael]

It's getting towards that time of year when I'm starting to think about what to make/buy with the DC for them to give their teachers and teaching assistants.

Both DC were able to attend school for some of the summer term and the school also did a brilliant job with home learning provisions. However I didn't do any gifts or cards in the summer term, due to not wanting to send anything unnecessary into school and expose the staff to more risk.

So I'm kind of torn at the moment whether to send in something as a token of our appreciation for all the hard work the staff have been doing throughout the year in difficult circumstances. Or, whether it would be safer and more respectful not too for the moment, then arrange something more substantial next summer.

I don't know the contact details for other parents, in order to club together to get vouchers or anything. Due to working hours, DH and I utilise wraparound care so don't get opportunity to be at the school gate at the same time as other families.

DD1 is in year 6 now and, to the best of my knowledge, gifts/cards have always been something that each family has arranged for themselves throughout her primary school time.

We are in England, and in a High risk area, if that makes any difference.

So I guess my question is... What are other people doing? What would any MN teachers prefer?

What's your budget @Spirael and how many staff do you need to buy gifts for? We plumped for gift vouchers this year for staff. We will probably do the same again at the end of term, due to it being quicker/easier for us. Maybe check directly with your DC school what the policy is for gifts and whether they will be accepted or not.

We sent a box of wine in at the end of the summer term, with named teachers on it - including the head. Wine is always good. My best ever teacher present was a load of cash (we were moving to Europe) - it bought me a pair of skis. I'd rather have nothing than tat, but a John Lewis or Sainsburys voucher is nice.

Not a teacher, but a school secretary here. I've just had my hours cut and am on next to no money (same workload of course!) The atmosphere in my school is weary but we're all still trying hard to keep things normal and happy for the children.
My personal view is I'd be reduced to happy tears if a parent sent in a thank you card and a £1 box of Matchmaker chocolates. Just to be appreciated would be so lovely. I know my teaching colleagues feel the same way. If parents really want to treat them, gift vouchers are excitedly received by my teaching colleagues.
Just to be clear, nobody expects any gifts and would hate to think anything was being given if money was tight. Even a home made card is truly lovely and would be cherished.

Following... I've never given anything besides a card & a £5ish box of chocolates... feel like a miser now

It’s not even half term...
A hand made thank you card from your child (if primary) Or a spoken ‘thanks miss/sir’ if secondary. It’s all good. If you really want to do something, a box of chocs/biscuits for the staffroom gets you legend status (at least in all the secondaries I’ve worked in over the last 32 years).

@ohthegoats - wine isn't always a good present. Many people don't drink.

I'ver always given hand creams, but this year I will give biscuits/cake for the staff room. All books etc are being isolated for 1 week before being marked, so I'm sure they won't want the bother of doing this with gifts.

My ds has SEN. From March to June he has regular calls/contact/encouragement from his teaching aid. I think she went above and beyond for him so at the end of term I bought an email voucher and then emailed it directly to her.

I'm not sure about Christmas though, I picked up some of the wax lyrical candles mentioned on the xmas bargains thread when they were reduced, but in all honesty I dont think he will be allowed to hand over gifts due to covid. I will probably have to get vouchers.

@PJFlasks

Following... I've never given anything besides a card & a £5ish box of chocolates... feel like a miser now

Don't feel that way, you'll have made someone's day by doing that Like I say, I think the home made cards are the absolute best. So cute. On the wine front, I don't drink, but my family would enjoy it greatly. Obviously I'm not important, I'm only a school sec not a teacher, but hopefully that helps, as I see teacher reactions. Without being ungrateful, even pre pandemic, the only thing that would get a bit of a wide berth is baking coming from home. I hope that doesn't offend anyone, none meant. Shop bought biscuits are preyed on by all staff like locusts! Really appreciated.

I never expect a gift but obviously I always deeply appreciate any thanks offered. Cards and hand made stuff is always lovely and I now appear to have a lovely little display of 'teacher " wall hanging ornaments which are on the ends of my curtain rails in my bedroom

As for extra risk by sending stuff it ; it wouldn't bother me in the slightest - if I'm with your child all day anyway I wouldn't be thinking about there being a risk from a gift or card!

Thank you, OP!

Anything is appreciated, I keep all of my cards in a drawer at home . Just a note that staff rooms may be closed (ours is), so shared gifts such as biscuits may be tricky this year.

Agree with home baked stuff, we had a lady who used to make us curries but we knew the family had a GI infection (nhs). We always thanked her, said please don’t go to this effort, then sadly had to bin out of sight.

I took in chocolate at the end of term, my only COVID consideration was that it was all individually wrapped so had not come near human hand!

amazon can send chocolates for you, I think that minimizes person to person contact (I'd wait till nearer Xmas though probably)

We have made fudge, peppermint sweets, or our own chutney in the past. A bottle of decent wine for head and teachers that have really stood out. Last year my daughters head of year for the last four years left so she got a really nice bottle of flavoured vodka because she was very helpful during some health issues.
Same child would say her teachers do not deserve a gift this year (full online learning. So they have been working hard). I also tend to only do gifts at year end, not Christmas.

@PJFlasks

Following... I've never given anything besides a card & a £5ish box of chocolates... feel like a miser now

A £5 is far from miser-ish. Would be much appreciated by me, or even something smaller. Wine is not my thing (I don't drink it) so we end up with so much unopened booze at home as dh also a teacher and while he does drink it he won't drink a whole bottle. Tbh I'm happy with just a card.

Oh and please no more mugs. Our cupboard is groaning with them.

Vouchers for local coffee shops have always been well received by our dc’s teachers.

The best cards are the ones with a message from the child on one side and a message from the parents / guardians on the other stating why you’re appreciated. An email to the head to praise the school / staff goes a long way too.

Definitely something edible for the staffroom. At one school I worked in, we had a pupil and his parent who would always bake something delicious at the end of every term and deliver it for the staffroom. Appreciated by everyone!

Failing that, just a thank you card is lovely. I keep all the ones I'm given and have some touching messages inside that are great to read when I'm feeling a bit blue.

To the pp who thinks a five on a box of chocolates isn't good enough - it absolutely is! I am grateful for anything given by a child/adult. Even when it was a pack of 'sticky ninjas' from the poundshop (apparently they reminded the boy of me! Great present)!