Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Education

Join the discussion on our Education forum.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

MNHQ

What do we think about teachers' end of term gifts...

76 replies

JustineMumsnet · 25/03/2010 22:31

... is there too much pressure to spend large amounts of wonga - apparently (according to teachers' survey) some mums give opera tickets!?

Do you give routinely? Is it a burden? Any other thoughts?

(txs)

OP posts:
GypsyMoth · 25/03/2010 22:34

end of term gifts? or end of school year.....

we give do if they are changing teacher

LadyBlaBlah · 25/03/2010 22:35

I hate it but succumb every time. TAs too. And that includes the crap teachers.

Sometimes I feel like doing it because they have been lovely and it is nice to say thanks, but more often than not it is so I don't feel like a loser and conforming to social norms.

BelleDeChocolateFluffyBunny · 25/03/2010 22:35

You don't have to spend loads, I am very grateful for them taking ds off my hands for the term, I don't think there's any need to go OTT though or the poor thing will end up with cupboards full of mugs/chocolate/smellies. We normally get them something for christmas and the end of term, chocolate for christmas and a book for the end of term with a card from ds to say how much he has enjoyed being in their class, it depends on the teacher though, if my child's life has been a misery because of them then I won't bother. Opera tickets are OTT though.

CarGirl · 25/03/2010 22:37

I feel there is a lot of pressure to give them something., very hard when you can't afford anything worth giving - I mean who wants to recieve another mug/box of chocs/bottle of wine etc etc

Usually at some random time of year I buy a huge box of biscuits or similar for the staffroom instead.

Slartybartfast · 25/03/2010 22:37

not end of term, no way, perhaps at christmas?
but at the end of the year, unless i can get away with it - which never happens, even if the dc forget, i feel the guilt and rmember.
presents getting smaller as my children get older, oldest 2 at senior school so no more presents yipee,
end of last year was a nice packet of borders biscuits

kennythekangaroo · 25/03/2010 22:37

I give something at Christmas and July to DSs teacher and TAs (2 teachers, 4 TAs as DS attends both special and mainstream). Nothing expensive (

hmc · 25/03/2010 22:38

I rarely give gifts. Hopefully teachers are too professional to exact vengeance on my children because of my parsimony.

Teachers, broadly, do a good job and I am appreciative (they could be a bit more proactive with dd's dyslexia though!)However I like to give presents because I want to, not because I feel obliged to - and I rebel against the current orthodoxy that presents should be given to teachers at Christmas and end of academic year. I've never been one to do what I ought to do. Also, I like to maintain a certain distance from the teachers and don't know enough about them on a personal level to buy them a meaningful gift that they might like. I am sure they have enough chocolates and favourite teacher mugs to last a lifetime.

Slartybartfast · 25/03/2010 22:39

but perhaps you don;t want to metnion the B word

deepdarkwood · 25/03/2010 22:39

This is the one term you're allowed off, imho - end of year = gift, and Xmas = token something (handmade is fine)

Opera tickets for easter term sounds like one of those 'one person has bought ever' type things that's been thrown up in a pointless survey

hmc · 25/03/2010 22:39

Eh?

SuperBunny · 25/03/2010 22:40

As a parent, I give nursery staff a gift at christmas and at the end of term because they have worked hard and I want them to know I appreciate what they do for DS. He is happy and safe and that is exactly what I want.

As a teacher, I get a box of chocolates and sometimes a few other bits. I don't expect anything but if I get something it makes me smile and feel appreciated. I am always grateful.

Clary · 25/03/2010 22:40

I usually make something (sometimes with the DC esp as they get older) and everyone get sthe same.

Last Christmas it was rocky road - small bag for each teacher.

Even easier and prob better received is a bottle of wine.

I would certainly spend no more than £5. And I only do it at Christmas and then summer - nothing next week in other words!

I also feel it's nice to give to people like Brownies and Cubs as they are not paid. DS2 (final child) leaves his lovely lovely infant school this summer and we shall certainly be marking the occasion - maybe buy a plant for the school garden or similar?

cargirl that's a really good idea, biccies prob muchbetter received half-way thru a long term than on the last day!

Shaz10 · 25/03/2010 22:41

I am a teacher and don't expect presents. Although I teach in a deprived area and would prefer the parents spend their money on food and heating and things like that.

hmc · 25/03/2010 22:42

Now the Brownie leader - that's an idea, she is a volunteer and I am tempted to get her something. Even though she is a terrifying old tartar

Clary · 25/03/2010 22:48

Ah you see hmc I am full of good ideas - who knew!

LOL @ tartar. Our Brownie leader is the loveliest person ever ever ever (and at one stage she was also DS2's teacher so she prob got 2 gists from us that year )

Wolfcub · 25/03/2010 22:48

Way too much pressure but I think it comes from other parents - DS is at nursery not school but all the other parents are loaded and buy big presents, they also donate huge brand new presents for raffles etc. For the first two years I didn't buy anything at the end of term (xmas and summer) but it felt very awkward to have ds as the only child on the last day of term who didn't take a present whilst all the other children were walking in with their little arms full of gifts and getting kisses and cuddles and praise whilst he was left out so I have succumbed. Last year I bought wine for all the staff (thank god for tesco vouchers). This year I bought a tin of chocs for the staff and some books for the nursery but this didn't seem to be appreciated.

StewieGriffinsMom · 25/03/2010 22:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

hmc · 25/03/2010 22:51

Ours goes puce and froths at the mouth a bit if we forget to bring paperwork in Clary!

2old4thislark · 25/03/2010 22:57

Christmas and end of school year I always gave a bottle of wine cos I thought they'd bloody need it!

Lotkinsgonecurly · 25/03/2010 22:57

We give small but tasteful gifts. DS was in reception and as my PFB was new to this I gave candles (thinking this was original). I then read somewhere that a teacher hated getting candles as she could add them to the additional 15 she gets twice a year. So I stuck to wine in the summer and a pottery decoration at Christmas. Am tempted to send him in with Cream Eggs next week but not sure if they'll make it to the teacher.

Spidermama · 25/03/2010 22:59

I feel the pressure but I don't routinely buy present for just any old teacher. I see parents trouping into the playground with armsful of clearly expensive stuff. Flowers, choclates, home-baked stuff, potions, teddies with 'World'd Best Teacher' t-shirts.

It makes it meaningless. It's too much.

Last year another mum marched up to me in the playground and practically demanded £10 to contribute to some luxury spa type arrangement for a teacher. £10!! I thought she must be having a larf. I have four kids at school. I've never been to a luxury spa in my life and I'm not about to let go of my hard earned just to keep up with the playground Joneses.

BicycleBelle · 25/03/2010 23:03

There is strong pressure where I live, and as someone else has said, the kids who don't come bearing gifts feel left out. Its not just teacher, its also the TA, the Head, office staff, lollipop lady, guy who sweeps the path . . . .With 3 kids its VERY expensive and I resent it. I would rather a home made card which said thank you and meant it. Got away with some small xmas cacti this Xmas, and am planning for the summer to pot up some home grown pansies into pots decorated by the kids. Pence each and much more personal (tight fisted you see!)

LadyBlaBlah · 25/03/2010 23:05

Just a small point. I never get a thank you. I think that is rather rude.

popmum · 25/03/2010 23:06

we do a collection - entirely voluntary - for xmas and end of year where each child parent gives £5 to be split between teacher + teaching assistant - they get about £60-£70 each and we get them gift vouchers (usually ask the other one which store the other one would like) + a small plant or something
I think it's good - it's not much £ from each parent + the teacher gets a reasonable gift rather than loads of smaller ones.
Seems to work well I think? I do find it hard to ask for money though (am link parent so my "job")

Caz10 · 25/03/2010 23:10

I am a teacher - presents are lovely and very much appreciated but not expected. I always send a thank you!