MNers in France - do you buy Christmas presents for teachers?

[LaPetiteCoccinelle]

DS1 is in PSM. French DH has no clue if we should buy a present (and is a bit bah humbug about presents in general so doesn't think we need to). I think DS1's maitresse is fab and has been great with various issues so Id like to offer something but Im not sure what the etiquette is?

When we came to France, DD was just 9 and had been a school refuser in the UK. She arrived at the end of November and went from year 4 to CM1.

Maitre was absolutely brilliant with her, so the first Christmas we gave him a ballotin of rather nice chocolates, and when she left we gave him a book.

It was, in a very large part, thanks to him that she settled in so well and got into the top lycée in the region from her collège. She's now in terminale, doing her bac in Arts Appliqués - the last 8 years have gone so quickly.

I do but only for the 2 in primary. My eldest who is in 5eme would "die of embarrassment" if I even contemplated it. The majority seem to do end of year only, if anything. One primaire class did a collection last year, shock horror.

I asked the same question on FB recently for my petite section DD and the consensus was that some home baked goodies would be ideal.

I give a bottle of nice sparkling wine. Has always seemed to be appreciated...

The déléguées do a collection and we usually give a class gift. Quite often gift vouchers. These can run to €500 or more.

I wondered if the déléguée would something but no email as yet (and we re inundated with emails usually). Will wait and see for a bit then get something for maitresse and the lovely assistante maternelle who has had to clean up a fair bit of DS' sick (he has bad reflux)

In my experience - at college the students organise something whilst at primary it's up to the individual - DD's teachers always appreciated typical English Christmas stuff that you couldn't get in France (though probably more widespread now) - Dundee cake, cheese selection, whiskey, mince pies, pudding, crackers etc... a change from the ordinary (unless there are lots of other British kids there!)

Good idea pasta DS is the only non-French child (well, he's half-French) and conveniently M&S are near us

I'm planning a big tin of m and s biccies for the creche.

Another vote for M and S biscuits especially when they come in a cute London bus tin or such like. Cue lots of appreciative ooh-ing and ahh-ing.

Sorry to piggyback, but would it be normal to get a Christmas pressie for an assistante maternelle? Ours is absolutely wonderful, but sometimes a bit formal, so I don't want to somehow offend/mortify her by giving her a gift! In fact, I've still not had the guts to give her a Christmas card... Any advice would be brilliant; only been here three months, so everything is still a bit new!

I can't imagine she'd be offended. You could always say it's a UK Christmas tradition.