End of Term Presents for Teachers

[IDismyname]

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

[Mummysurfer]

IMHO??????

I'm new to this!

[Tinker]

In my humble opinion

[Claireandrich]

We got DD's nursery 'teachers' a Lush bath bomb and bath bar - a special relaxation one - and wrapped it in a nice box. They really liked them.

I have had some lovely pressies at my last school. This school not so many, not suprising really though as I do teach at secondary school. I have some lovely bath things, wine, chocolates, etc. When I got married my form got together and bought me a book about Kenya (where I was getting married), wrapped up with confetti inside - and a fantastic bunch of flowers, very sweet of them. I had a beautiful bouquet when I left from some pupils too. I always appreciaite any gifts given and I am always taken back by receiving any at all!

[Frenchgirl]

I'm getting dd's nursery teacher a book about Chile where he's going on Hols with his wife this summer! But as his birthday is on the same day as my dd (next week), I'll get all the kids going to her party on saturday to do a little drawing and write their name on individual pieces of paper, I'll take a picture of them and put it all together to make a nice birthday card from all the kiddies (only about 12 of them). It will be special as he's going back to France (brilliant teacher!!!)

[WideWebWitch]

I'm glad someone brought this up again since it hadn't occurred to me at all for the end of this term, despite the fact that ds will be moving classes. His teacher is a gem and I'd really like to thank her so I'm going to go for a card and a bottle of wine again.

[codswallop]

chickens Mums should ve had a after it..

[Ghosty]

When I was teaching I loved getting pressies at the end of term ... although I didn't feel that I particularly deserved them or that the children/parents were obliged to do it.
Here are some of my thoughts about what goes down well:
a) Obviously wine is a favourite ...
b) Chocolates are nice but if you get 10 boxes of quality street and you are a life time member of Weight Watchers then it is a bit hard to eat them all although DH loved it when I brought the chocs home
c) Smellies and bubble bath stuff was always a nice touch too ... I never had to buy things like that as I always had a good supply from kids.
D) THE BEST PRESENT IMHO is always something home made or something that the child has had a hand in choosing. Home made biscuits in a box decorated by the chile ... picture frame decorated by the child ... I once got a vase that was a plastic coke bottle cut in half and painted with shiney sweet wrappers stuck to it with glue - the child had made it with such care that I was chuffed to bits
My mum used to make things like Lemon Curd and put it in nice jars with a doily on top for our teachers ...
If the mum has gone out, bought something, wrapped it and given it to the child to give to the teacher and not told the child what it is then it is obvious that the child doesn't know and they are usually a bit embarrassed so INVOLVE your child.

Lilibet ... I understand your point about teachers getting long hols etc and so why should you give them presents etc ... it really isn't necessary and teachers don't expect it but now that I am a Mum I will give my DS' teachers presents (homemade ones) a) as an appreciation of what they do for my child ... they do work extremely hard and often it is a thankless job ... and b) the children really enjoy that bit of the end of term ....

[codswallop]

I would have given you one ghosty...

[kmg1]

One of the mums from ds1's class is organising a collection for the teacher, which I think is great. (Especially as I am not organising it). Everyone can chip in whatever is appropriate for them.

[miggy]

I find the replies from teachers that value things children have made really lovely. I always remember reading something by a nanny that said the worst present was something made by the child or a photo of the child and assumed teachers would think the same. lovely to hear otherwise! Better get making now

[emsiewill]

Last year we decorated photo frames with a sort of 3D paint thing and put a Thank You card in the frame. This year, I was thinking of buying some cheap glass vases (Ikea do one for £1), and painting them. We do it because we are genuinely grateful to the teachers concerned.

[Claireandrich]

Just like to add that I don't ever expect oor feel I deserve presents, but I do obviously apprecitae any thought that I might have done something right for a child. The best thing is often just a heart felt 'thanks' from students when they get their exam results!

Just a point though, we aren't the only profession to get pressies from 'clients'. DH gets alsorts. He's a solicitor. Last week he was given £50 worth of Odd Bins vounchers - very nice!!! And he is forever being taken out on golf trips, to the cricket or rugby, for lunch - from clients or people he passes work on to.

[judetheobscure]

As an ex-teacher too, I agree with susanmt (home-made card, no pressie)

[SueW]

Just wondering how many teachers here give the children presents?

DD always comes home at the end of term with a small gift from her teacher (the whole class, not just DD, BTW!)

[hmb]

Suew, my two do, and have done in all the childcare 'facilities' they have used. I also give small sweeties to the kids I teach at the end of term...the funsize bars.

[kayleigh]

myself and a couple of other mums have got together and bought a beauty voucher from local salon for the teachers in our kids class. thought it would make a change from hand cream and bubble bath

[eidsvold]

SLINKY perhaps for the teacher emigrating - something from the area where she lives/works that she can keep and look at fondly when she feels a little homesick or a nice address book for those new friends she will make and the old ones left behind.

Being a secondary teacher - I rarely get presents unless I am leaving or from seniors who are leaving. I have had some very nice presents where three or four senior students got together and brought me nice things which always gets me all choked up.

But I love homemade things that people/students have put a lot of thought into. Had one class take photos, put them in the book and write small messages when I left to come and live in the UK. That meant a lot to me.

Love notepads and nice pens - found a great shop near me that does them. Very cheap but figured when things get tough ( when I go back to work) I can look at that notepad and realise it is not that bad!!

[Claireandrich]

Sue - I did at my last school to any classes I had on the last day before Christmas and the summer. I only took a box of chocolates or sweets in but then I am secondary and it would be a heck of a lot to but for otherwise. I also treated my form in the same way too at end of term and Christmas.

Not done it at this school and no plans for this year either. The majority of the classes have caused nothing but problems - school going through nightmare time, failed OFSTED for appalling pupil behaviour and no parental support, and lack of management. So, I just don't feel like treating them this year, sad I know

[cid]

I dont always send something but if the dd's have had a really good enjoyable year because of a teach I send them a homemade chocolate cake - I bet they havent had time to bake at the end of term, and if they have afamily it always is appreciated. Thanks for reminding me to buy the chocolate

[Claireandrich]

cid - I think that is a lovely, fab idea. I know I would definitely appreciate it!!!

[MBB]

I find all this really interesting, as until a couple of days ago I didn't know it was 'the done thing' to take presents for the teacher (DS not at school or nursery yet). However, my best friend teachs 6 year olds and was proudly showing off her collection of pressies when I called round to visit. She had 3 bottles of wine, 7 boxes of chocs, 4 shop-bought bouquets, mugs, desk pads, various 'best teacher' teddies/cuddly dogs etc, a FCUK makeup bag and a silver bangle - and these are just the bits I can remember. I think this is absolutley ludicrous. At the beginning of the last school year she was complaining that she would have top up with extra pencils, felt tips and craft supplies as the shcool can not afford them - is it just me that thinks a 6 year old arriving at the school gates clutching a bottle of wine is wrong? If parents want to show their appreciation, why not buy something that will help - books/special glittery pens etc. (Nice things that are not essential but which help makes things more fun). I think it is wrong for the head teacher to allow this to continue and indeed encourage it. The worst thing is that my friend and her colleague looked a little shocked when i asked if they would be sending a thankyou note to the parents involved. This, it seems, is not deemed necessary from an adult, although my son and his friends seem to manage it ok when they recieve presents.

[WideWebWitch]

MBB, my nearly 6 yo turned up on the last day of term clutching a wrapped bottle of wine for his teacher and I don't think there's anything wrong with it. I like her, she does a fantastic job and I wanted to say thank you. If I want to help the school in terms of providing pens, equipment etc I'll join the PTA or Friends of the School and give my time and energy that way. I don't see anything wrong with giving a teacher, or indeed anyone who provides a great service (I sent the midwives a case of wine when ds was born too) a present and a card to show appreciation. The teacher said thank you to me and to ds at the time so no other cards/thanks were necessary IMO. If you don't agree you don't have to do it though, not everyone does.

[bayleaf]

MBB - I don't understand your problem with the presents at all.
Admittedly I'm a teacher - (but secondary so far less presents!!)but as I do a job with not great pay/conditions and I work WAY over and above what could ever be expected of me it's really nice to be appreciated in a 'physical' way.
OK, yes a note would make me feel just as good but to be honest the students who want to give presents wouldn't themselves understand that a note could give the same satisfaction to an adult as a present could - and for the 11 year olds in my tutor group who give me hideous ornaments each Xmas or the 16 year old who have done well in their GCSE due to extra help - it is because they like me and WANT to give me something, THEY want the feeling of being able to ''make me happy'' ( which to them means a present not a note) and the feeling of being 'special' when I write the thank you notes ( which I always do).
I don't think parents should EVER feel obliged to buy presetns - but if the CHILDREN want to ( ok, so the parents pay!)then I really don't see the problem.

[codswallop]

My sons teacher is getting a bottle of whisky. I really rate him and feel he is fantastic. He always write a thankyou note.