Question for Nursery workers

[GingerBeverage]

Do you receive tips/thank yous from parents when kids graduate?

'Tips' ? No

Gifts? Sometimes. There is no need / expectation, but quite often parents do like to buy staff something to say thank you.

I get a lot of cards at Christmas and the end of term in July, I keep every single one! Tips absolutely not, a few parents of my key children might get me a small gift (chocolate, a candle, a keyring). Most treasured are little items like a little trinket box painted by the child, or a laminated bookmark designed by the child!

My fav gifts are framed photos with the child; or something they help to make.

I’ve never been given a tip and wouldn’t accept money from a parent.

I have had lots of gifts, usually small token gifts like chocolates or similar. My favourite things I’ve gotten are cards that have a personal message inside, especially if it’s a child you’ve done a lot for.

Thanks for replies. I'm assuming you're all in UK?

And you'd be quite offended if someone got you anything more than a token treat?

I think in the UK a cash gift wouldn't be allowed.
I think also, the culture is "I am doing my job, and I am paid for doing my job - you do not need to pay me again" but, but writing something nice in a card or letter, you are personally thanking someone for doing the job well, which, in terms of childcare, probably means personally going above and beyond for your child / for the children, so it is nice that someone has noticed that - even if it is the way they greet the child in the morning and make them feel welcomed / really noticed. It is nice when someone gives you some chocs or nice hand cream or somethings, as, well, who doesn't like getting a little treat, but "more than a token" moves it into awkward territory.

Anything more than a token gift needs to be declared. It would be quite inappropriate and an employee may not be able to accept anything more than a token gift

Ditto what others have said, a lovely card with some nice words from the parents or picture drawn by the little one is precious, absolutely enough and I keep them all.

It may be a bit different for me as I work in a school nursery setting but most parents contribute to a group gift at Christmas/ Easter / summer break - usually vouchers and then others add individual gifts such as chocolates or fizz. I wouldn't feel comfortable accepting cash, though some parents have tried but a little something at the end of term is a lovely morale boost.

Thanks for replies. Good to know school nursery could be differently organised.

Chocolates, biscuits, cakes and cards are often given (and much appreciated!), usually to the whole staff, rather than individually, but sometimes key workers get given chocs/flowers/cards from ‘their’ children when a child leaves. If anyone wanted to give a gift of any significant cost, it would be as a present to the school e.g. a piece of equipment, books etc. Maybe ask if there’s anything they need, if that’s what you’d like to do.