Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Education

Join the discussion on our Education forum.

Original poster

End of Term Presents for Teachers

98 replies

IDismyname · 02/07/2002 10:05

Ds will be finishing his local playgroup next week, and has loved every minute of the last year there.

I'd like to give all the teachers/ helpers a present, but there are 8 of them in all.

Does anyone have any ideas? I don't want to spend more than, say £5 each, but am willing to hear of any ideas that include ds making something.... trouble is, not much time!

Thanks

OP posts:
Fegs · 02/07/2002 10:26

As a former junior teacher, I always found receiving gifts a little awkward and never liked the idea of parents spending a lot of money on them. Although it's a little dull, wine, chocolates and flowers usually went down well.
One of the best presents I ever had was a calendar made by a child - he'd made the picture on the top of a sheet of A4 card and a calendar had been stuck on the bottom. I was touched by the effort he'd put in. I have also been delighted to receive simple folders decorated by children in my charge.
Any use?

PamT · 02/07/2002 10:26

How about buying some cheap photo frames and decorating them? You can usually slip the glass out to paint the frame, then stick dried flowers or sequins on. Inside the frame you could put a little note saying thank you with DS's signature. If you didn't go over the top with the stick ons they could look quite tasteful. Ikea do some really good plain frames - about £1 for 3 small ones, they also have some lovely postcards to put in the frames.

Alternatively you could buy some plain gift boxes (Ikea do these again), decorate the boxes and fill with sweets. I think the personal touch means so much more to the teachers than the size of the bouquet or box of chocolates. My SIL is a Non Teaching Assistant in a primary school and she came home with enough chocolate and flowers to start a market stall as well as pens, jewellery etc from the children in her class at christmas.

Another thought - decorate a candle. Artificial flowers in a little ring around the base and perhaps a ribbon tied around the candle or sequins stuck on. You can also buy some really nice, cheap candle & holder or bowl sets these days.

oxocube · 02/07/2002 10:37

My kids recently painted a portrait of their teachers and I framed each in a simple and cheap clip frame. The teachers loved them and hung them in the hall at school. Only problem is that 8 teachers is a lot of work for your little one!

Fegs · 02/07/2002 10:39

Thinking about it, the other 'gifts' I really appreciated were cards, decorated by the child with a message from them and/or their parent(s) inside. As I didn't have a lot of room at home, I have been able to keep these cards and messages for years.

susanmt · 02/07/2002 16:59

As a teacher, I'd say dont bother with presents. A card, made by the child, is the best thing.

threeangels · 02/07/2002 20:31

How about buying a plain white coffee mug for each and special paint (that wont run) to decorate. You can be creative with them.

threeangels · 02/07/2002 20:33

Another thing might be making some type of magnet for the frig. Maybe a tiny picture frame magnet.

winnie1 · 04/07/2002 15:14

Like others here i think a handmade card is the best thing but I would suggest that a book token (of any amount however small) would be a very good idea to give as a gift to show ones appreciation. I cannot imagine that any teacher would not have a use for it. Several gifts of tokens would be much more useful than ten boxes of chocolates and twelve bottles of bubble bath...

SueW · 05/07/2002 14:46

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at OP's request.

bayleaf · 05/07/2002 20:26

Yeah - as a teacher I'd say go for the wine everytime!!!!!

mint · 08/07/2002 23:17

I bought some plain wood frames from ikea, my three old painted on the frames with glue and then sprinkled colourful sprinkles and. it only took an hour to make three frames for her teachers. Goodluck!

Mummysurfer · 02/07/2003 17:36

Just thought I'd bring this up again.

Like the idea of 10 chickens from World Vision that I saw on another thread.

£17 for 10 chickens but it would be a collective gift from my ds & his 2 pals.

How do you think it would go down????

lilibet · 02/07/2003 18:00

Sorry but I don't do it. Always feel guilty when I see other mums laden down with flowers/chocolates but they are paid an awful lot more than me with loads of hols and no worries about what to do with their children. I'm not saying its an easy job, it's not, but loads of jobs aren't easy and other people don't get gifts every year. In fact where I work we have a very strict no gifts policy - not that we get many, but everything has to be donated to a raffle which takes place once a year for children in need.

Mummysurfer · 02/07/2003 18:21

We really WANT to do it. Not because it's expected or because everyone else does, but they are a really good team. They not only do a good job but do so with GREAT enthusiasm which is vitally important when working with 3/4 year olds. I know it's what they should be doing but not all early years practioners do it enthusiastically. They never seem to have an off day. They must do, we all do, but you it is never obvious to the parents and children. 10/10

cazzybabs · 02/07/2003 18:25

WIne everytime!!!! (we finish on fri and I have been dropping hints to my children ;0) or what about just a box of chocolate/biscuits/fruit to go in the staffroom rather than individual presents.

mrschips · 02/07/2003 18:26

Can I tell you all a secret?

Teachers have favourites! Yes and I am sorry to say I had some and they were the ones who looked smart did their homework tried hard were polite and always brought in notes/sponsor money on time...

They may have also chosen to bring me presents which I loved. However it didnt matter if they didnt. So, in conclusion , what you do all year long is vastly more importanat than an easily bought present at the end of the year.

BTW Home made presents may be really nice - But think - HOW MANY do you think they get of theses?!

I would go for choccies every time.

expatkat · 02/07/2003 18:26

This may be a terrible idea, but I've bought for ds's (young) teachers a lip gloss each, in a neutral colour. I try to go for (1) things I'd like to have myself and (2) things which can be used, as opposed to things which are purely decorative and may not be to their taste. One thing that went over extremely well one year were some special olive oils I picked up during a trip to Spain for £5 each.

How lucky to have some teachers/former teachers on mumsnet to give us the lowdown .

codswallop · 02/07/2003 18:28

I give them a tin of Quality Street towards the end of term to keep their sugar levels up.. I am a governor too and I have a vested interest in them being happy

miggy · 02/07/2003 18:29

last term I gave kids teachers a DIY relaxation kit- bought cheap but nice mug,put a few quality street in the bottom, then a teabag, then a cellophane wrapped bath bomb, printed a label to tie on "run bath and add bomb,make cup of tea in mug, eat chocs and drink tea in bath". Cost about £3.50. kids can decorate labels
Otherwise what about a few big boxes chocs- they probably share them all out between themselves.
Sometimes all mums club together,put in £5 each and raise a decent amount for voucher eg beauty salon/theatre/next etc

codswallop · 02/07/2003 18:31

Like the Mug thing...
Mugs are generally good because in the Public sector Mugs are a PRIZED ITEM..!

Slinky · 02/07/2003 18:43

Thank you for this thread!

I have been pondering this week for end of term presents - but this year is more special because DS1 Reception teacher is emigrating (she also taught DD1) and we're all very fond of her. Her wonderful classroom assistant is retiring.

And...just found out that DD1s Year 2 teacher this year is taking early retirement, which is a shame as I am very impressed with her and was hoping DS1 would have her when he got to Year 2.

Anyway, keep the suggestions coming

Mummysurfer · 02/07/2003 18:54

miggy, love the mug idea, could perhaps be adapted with mini bottle of wine, mini box of Pringles, bath bomb and little candle.

Mummysurfer · 02/07/2003 18:56

What do you reckon to the chickens idea .. the silence is telling me you're not keen!
Just thought it may be appropriate as Nursery does a lot of charity fund raising and is linked to a Bosnian nursery.

codswallop · 02/07/2003 19:27

In that case - yes...otherwise might you always be remembered as the chickens MUm?

janh · 02/07/2003 19:44

I think the chickens idea is great, Mummysurfer - no worries about being "the chickens mum" - they'll last much longer than a bottle of wine or box of chocs and it's always better to be memorable than not IMHO!