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Original poster

What do you buy your child's teacher and her assistant for Xmas

52 replies

mumtwogirls · 04/12/2006 14:26

I need some advice. What can we get for DD1's teacher and two assistants? In the past we usually do a collection but no one is volunteering and I don't have that much time. (Work and moving). Any teachers out there, let me know what are your thoughts? BTW DD1 is in YR1.

OP posts:
Snowstorm · 04/12/2006 14:29

My teacher friend was always very keen to receive wine or alcohol of some sort!

WigWamBam · 04/12/2006 14:29

I bought Lush stuff last year, when dd was in Reception. They do boxed sets of soap and a ballistic for about a fiver.

This year she has two teachers and three teaching assistants, so I'm thinking of something rather cheaper!

Snowstorm · 04/12/2006 14:31

Actually meant 'pleased' instead of 'keen' ... seem to writing all sorts of jibberish at the moment.

Lio · 04/12/2006 14:50

If you want something small (i.e. inexpensive) but a token gesture to let them know they are appreciated, then how about soaps in angel shapes? I got them in different 'flavours' (good jewel colours) for the carers at ds's nursery. Btw I have to confess a bias as it's my sister who makes them Here's her website . You need to click on the purple writing about the soaps, then products or images. It doesn't show the angels but you can call her if you're interested - £2 each and she'll make them in any fragrance/quantity you like. And she's lovely.

Original poster
mumtwogirls · 04/12/2006 15:01

Thanks Lio, had a look at the website. Very useful to know. They're a bit older her teachers, so I'm not if it their thing though. But a bottle of wine might a be a good one.

OP posts:
mitbap · 04/12/2006 15:02

Boots. 3 for 2's. I go for those around a fiver.
The teachers no doubt get besieged with stuff but can pass them on (to the next school fair / mother's day sale if necessary) and it's the thought that counts!
P.S. on 1st December I always send a really nice tin box of biscuits in to the staff room with a card to all the staff from my 2 dds. Even teachers that haven't taught them will tell them they have had one and they were yummy. It's a small thing but no one lumps my kids in with the anonymous masses!
P.P.S Don't forget the lollipop lady/gent - they're very important.

Snowstorm · 04/12/2006 15:12

I thought that I might buy DD's nursery teachers a bottle of red wine each and see if I can find a little mulled-wine satchet thing to go with it. That way they get to drink their wine and if it's not nice (because it's not top rate/the most expensive stuff) then they can bung it in a saucepan and make it into mulled wine ... delicious

elliott · 04/12/2006 15:17

Is anyone like me and doesn't do anything? All a bit gone mad if you ask me... maybe when they are older and can actually take responsibility for this themselves - maybe make a card or something - but otherwise its just one more thing for guess who?

danceswithreindeer · 04/12/2006 15:19

Can I (as a teacher) put a vote in for NOT chocolates. Sounds churlish but one year I had about 10 boxes, I just gave most of them away
Best presents I ever got were two mugs from twin boys in my class, the mugs were nice but nothing spectacular but the reason I remember them is because the boys had wrapped them themselves, the paper was all crumpled and they were COVERED in sellotape, really made me smile and I was really touched. Other one was a box of homemade biscuits that the child had helped to make and then had decorated the tin with stickers and paper (her mum was a teacher though....)

ChristmasisComing · 04/12/2006 20:42

This year the dcs are making fudge and will be presenting it in boxes they have coloured and made themselves.

We are sending wine to the staffroom

crunchie · 04/12/2006 20:51

This year I'll mostly be doing alcohol M&S do a lovely piink sparkling wine Rosado Cava or somthing. I gave them mini bottle with lush bath bomb and cakes for summer, this christmas I have planned a big bottle for the 2 main teachers (£6 each) with a tea light glass the girls have made. Their ballet, swimminga nd drama teachers will all get mini bottles £2.50 each.

I will also buy those mini bottles for 2 secret santas I have to get, I reckon a mini biottle of that, a pack of paracetamol and a lip gloss is a perfect gilrs night out pressie, or a bottle of that a ciggerette, a condom and some paracetamol what do you thnk??

Furball · 04/12/2006 20:57

I've bought 2 boxes of fudge (by ds's requst!) for teacher and assistant and have just this second bought 100 x school dinners from oxfam for £6.

Sheraz · 04/12/2006 21:01

My mate is a teacher - she loves to get- wine/ nice toiletries/ nice pens and stationery/ scented candles. Gets a bit bored of chocs/biscuits and cheap smellies! Doesn't EXPECT pressies though and is happy with a nice card....

TEEstheCEEsontobejolly · 04/12/2006 21:01

For DD1's special 1-2-1 teacher I bought her a personalised candle using the pet names they use for each other. Will get her some stree relieft bath stuff and some foot gel, all linked to how hard she works for my DD.

For the other 3 teachers in her class I bought them a box of chocolates with an Oxfam unwrapped presetn showing them I bought 100 children in Africa a school dinner.

Snowstorm · 04/12/2006 21:32

Other nursery mums have decided to club together this year (£5 each from about 15 children perhaps?) ... but I'm not sure what we're getting the 3 teachers, vouchers perhaps? Do you think teachers prefer individual things from the children/parents or a voucher from the whole group?

lulumama · 04/12/2006 21:33

snowstorm...the last 2 years we have clubbed together as a class and got a load of Next vouchers for the class teacher as there are only so many bottles of wine/ boxes of choccy / bunches of flowers one person needs!

Sheraz · 04/12/2006 21:38

I think clubbing together is much better, but the mums at our school aren't keen - like to do their own thing!

Snowstorm · 04/12/2006 21:41

I wasn't sure it was a very Christmassy kind of thing to do - clubbing together for vouchers - but I guess it does cut out a certain amount of 'tat'.

NorksBride · 04/12/2006 22:05

I didn't really want to get into the whole Christmas present thing so I've chosen to buy them alternative charity gifts from World Vision (school books and library cards for children in Africa at £8 & £6).

DD has made her Reception teacher and TA's Christmas cards.

I might buy them something alcoholic at the end of summer term.

loopybear · 04/12/2006 22:06

A girl I used to work with last year got a facial because the parents clubbed together, which she thought was great. I also think presents children make themselves are great.

Snowstorm · 04/12/2006 22:08

Call me paranoid but I reckon that if I was a teacher and all the parents clubbed together to buy me a facial ...

binkacat · 04/12/2006 23:04

I was just thinking the same Snowstorm

On a teacher's forum I read once that a teacher was really chuffed 'cos the parents clubbed together and got a Gruffalo story sack which was about £60. Not really sure what one is though, LOL.

I think I will make some MumsNet famous lemon drizzle cake!

WonderCod · 04/12/2006 23:08

i ahev got hem very swanky handcream

id not get scented anythign a imo scents are very peronal

am getting male teacher (ds2) a selection of fancy lagers and an itunes voucher

as a teacher DONT give crap home made stuff

Spatz · 04/12/2006 23:12

Last year gave little home-made ornament with picture of DD on it round the neck of little bottle of champagne. Seemed to go down well.

WonderCod · 05/12/2006 08:49

now thats a good compromise!

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