If you were a teacher what gift would you like to receive?

[cantthinkofaname2021]

Hello,
so my daughter is finishing preschool in July and honestly the staff have been amazing, previously I’ve joined in a group initiative to get gifts but I’d like to buy something more personal for the x2 teachers and x2 assistants, the teachers are around 50 years old & assistants in 20s. What would you like to receive? I was thinking soemthing like a Jo Malone candle. Any advice would be appreciated! X

Coffee shop vouchers have always gone down well

No candles because scent preference is very personal. How about you get your child to draw a small picture/write thank you (if they can) and put it on a little card. You could include a gift card for the nearest supermarket, and write 'put this towards something nice for you because you've been so kind to us'. That way they can buy flowers, chocolate, wine, stationery....whatever they like, or even put it towards their shopping!

A thank you card and some fancy chocolates or a voucher for Costa or M&S so I could get some nice food! Or flowers, I love flowers or a nice plant!
Jo Malone candles are just too expensive and some people don't use or like candles.

I'm a teacher. Nothing is expected and thoughtful cards are treasured. I kill plants 😆 and I'm going on holiday at the start of the summer holidays so would prefer not to be given flowers. A small voucher would go down very well- costa, m&s, next. Last year the parents all put in £2 and bought me a spa voucher which was so kind. You don't need to spend a lot, or anything at all if your child can make a handmade card.

If I was a teacher, I would like wine 😆.

Seriously though, I would imagine most teachers head home via the charity shop on the last day of term to drop off all the mugs and Bayliss and Harding Xmas regifts.

A card made by your child. No gifts.

I read an article by a young guy who had given up being a showbiz journalist to be a primary school teacher. He said the best present were the kind thank messages on the cards.

I would make the effort to write a personal message, and get something nice. We always gave wine and never felt it was the wrong thing!

Oh no, I may be making huge faux pas based on what a teacher actually wants.

It was lockdown when my dd was in reception so we couldn’t really go out and get anything so I asked my daughter what her favourite thing she learned that year was and I crocheted a gift that matched the theme that could live in the classroom. Reception was about the lifecycle of a butterfly so I crocheted a caterpillar with a cocoon and removable wings so it could demonstrate a butterfly emerging after you put the caterpillar in.

I wasn’t planning on doing if again , but Year 1 she asked what we were making this year, so she picked and I just continued every year after that. I always make two, one for her and one for the school and they live with her toys on her bed. They hopefully hold some good memories for her and she talks about her school trips and things she did that year when she sees them. We usually send it as a joint gift for the “classroom” rather than the teacher specifically. Everyone in the class WhatsApp group usually puts money towards a voucher for each person rather than any individual gifts; it usually equates to around £100 in vouchers each.

I think and hope they were well received. They currently all still live in the classrooms and are usually part of the displays for learning that year or used for demonstrations. She writes a letter about why she picked her theme that year and what she enjoyed about learning, to go with the toy. She’s always excited about what we will make this year so I continued. I suppose even if they end up in a charity shop or bin it doesn’t really matter as we got something out of the process too.

I second a voucher. M and s or local coffee shop or local supermarket so they can choose their own gift.

As a teacher, Starbucks and Costa vouchers are a godsend. I don’t need anymore candles/ bears/ mugs thank you. Failing that a voucher for m&s, or one where you can spend money where you would like.
Homemade presents are always lovely and very thoughtful.

A heartfelt, handwritten card expressing how much you appreciate them.

Seriously, buying a Jo Malone candle is nuts.

My mum always appreciated a bottle of wine.

Id like vouchers that I'll actually use, so maybe for takeaways or coffee shops. Candles and other stuff similar often end up being regifted, I have teacher friends.

Mother in law used to come home laden with candles (gave her migraines) , chocolate (can't eat) and flowers (just as she was going on holidays). We used to enjoy picking out what we wanted. Her treasured gifts were notes from her pupils.

Vouchers

I crocheted a gift that matched the theme that could live in the classroom. Reception was about the lifecycle of a butterfly so I crocheted a caterpillar with a cocoon and removable wings so it could demonstrate a butterfly emerging after you put the caterpillar in.

As a KS1 teacher who has taught this many many times, I would adore something like this as a gift-how absolutely lovely ❤️.

I would always steer clear of keyrings/coasters/mugs/water bottles with 'my best teacher on' and go for a lovely handwritten letter (not a card which takes up more space) or wine.

Okay thanks so much for all the ideas! Swaying towards a bottle of wine each (I don’t drink myself so don’t usually give) & gift card for M&S, I definitely was not going down the route of ‘best teacher’ gifts! And a handmade card each. I just thought would be nice for my daughter to personally give a gift to them rather than with the joint one :)

Dd's teacher(s) are wonderful this year. They have been worth more than any gift I could possibly buy them.

My plan is to gift them a handwritten letter for each teacher, to thank them. One from me and one from DD and I'll also get DD to draw them a little picture.

I'm hoping the class will do a whip around again for some vouchers. The m&s went down a treat with last year's teacher. If not, I'll likely just buy the vouchers myself.

Another vote for vouchers.

Yet another vote for vouchers or fancy chocolate. Candles are very tricky, a smell you'd think is nice could cause a headache for someone else.
Stationery is always a hit as well, or you can make personalized planners for the teachers. Again, it largely depends on whether they use things like that, but some people do and they genuinely love getting those (our teacher is exactly this kind of person)

Remember that not everyone drinks wine. When I was in the classroom, I used to pass on the wine to DH.

I don’t think teachers would like 25 boxes of chocolates.

Diptyque is always well received, but gift vouchers such as love to shop etc are ideal.

I asked my mum this a year or so ago. She is a now retired teacher. She said anything but chocolates. Apparently teachers HATE getting chocolates. Imagine if everyone gave them, no one wants 25/30 boxes of chocolates sitting in their house! I’m still dealing with the horror of the kids Easter chocolate floating around and available to eat. I’d do wine or m&S or John Lewis voucher - somewhere with variety

Teacher here 🙋🏽‍♀️

John Lewis vouchers always appreciated but in particular a handmade & handwritten card from your child would be thè best!

To be honest at my school we don’t usually take chocolates home- they go to the office to get shared around 😀