Amazing end-of-year present for a primary school teacher

[Bonsoir]

We are looking for inspiration for DD's class teacher, who is unanimously seen as a star. Collective gift, we will raise lots of money. We don't want to give vouchers. What do teachers want?

DS reception teacher is always chatting to the class about her dogs so I thought I would take DS to choose dog toys for them. I think i will try and get DS to write an explanatory note so it isn't taken the wrong way! I will also give a bottle of wine each to the teacher & TA.

As a teacher I echo what many others have said about handwritten person,a cards being the most treasured end of year gifts. I have lots of mine pinned up around my desk. They make the days when I am sat there trying to plan a little bit easier. I will always remember the face of one little girl as she watched her friends and their parents pass me end of year gifts. She hadn't got one and looked crestfallen...so she went to her lunchbox and gave me her mini Milky Way. That is the gift I will always remember.

As a teacher over the years the things I have treasured are the small, personal little things. Things where people have really thought. For example when I taught full time my class knew that I loved a particular sort of animal. A number of children either made little models or bought little ones of them (not expensive). They now line my bathroom and every time I look at them I think of those children. I also have little framed pictures of them done by the children. Other nice things have been pottery mugs etc painted by a child or hand written cards with meaningful words in. Bound together notes written by the children are so special too.

I love gardening and cherished being given plants. Again when they pop up every summer they remind me of a particular child. Things like rose plants are lovely.

I don't like doing the 'let's club together' thing as a Mum. It's basically an easy thing to do and means other parents don't have to think about it. I prefer to give plants and then get my children to decorate the plant pot.

OP if the teacher loves theatre and has young children- how about some puppets or a little theatre which she can use with her own children? Why is she leaving? Can you link the present to that?

Agree there is nothing quite like a heartfelt message or small gift that has been chosen with great care....

However, I would not mind receiving an iPad/iPhone/Bulgari jewellery/ exclusive backstage tickets to concerts of some of the biggest worldwide artists etc..etc...etc.. that some of my colleagues in international schools seem to be given year in and year out ! No prizes for guessing which countries they work in....

The best present I got was Harry potter 6. The child noticed I didn't have it on my communal book shelf so bought it for me.

In fact I do have it, but though it was a bit grown up for the year group. Very sweet gesture, though.

Speaking as a primary teacher, I would like the money donated to a charity of my choice OR use the money to have an and of term party for everyone to enjoy and pay for lovely food or an entertainer.

But then my fav gifts are the ones the children have made themselves and the idea of a collection would fill me with horror. So many of my children's parent really can't afford to give anything, while some are loaded. Not a good combination and I hate the idea that the is an expectation.

Collections don't have to be pricey for the contributors, though. At my daughter's school, it is perfectly fine to give a pound or 50p if that is all you can afford or want to give, or even nothing at all. We do it communally precisely so that the ones who really can only afford a pound or can't afford even that can still take part in the giving if they want to. Nobody would dream of asking for a set amount of money. Last year I organised the collection and some people gave a tenner and some gave a pound and a few didn't give anything. It was fine. I thanked everyone and the present was from all of us and nobody made the parents who gave less feel bad. But we had enough to buy some little things that were hopefully a treat for the recipients and all the children signed a big card (Reception so some could only manage kisses, but I am sure those were just as happily received as the ones who wrote a whole sentence). Also, people who didn't give anything at all weren't left out either - we still asked their children to sign the card along with everyone else.

I think it is perfectly possible to do a collection without it being a huge thing or making anyone feel bad. We probably had about £60 to spend which was plenty to get a nice present for both the teacher and TA.

Wow, I'm a teacher and a Tiffany necklace?! Wow.. If I was lucky enough to receive such extravagant presents, I love the idea of spa vouchers! Bliss after a long term.
I am very grateful to receive wine/choc/nice smellies etc. Same as someone else said, I sometimes feel bad for those children who don't bring anything in and really wanted to. Once a girl saw someone else give me a present and took her hair clip out of her hair and gave it to me...always remember that.

Also I always make sure I write a thank you card.

I think showing your appreciation is really important but it has got to come from the heart no matter what it is. The best treasures I've ever been given include a book on Lord of the rings from a 7 year old who had been at pains to explain it to me, a handmade clay pencil holder painted in metallic paint with feathers sticking out, handmade cards and letters that I have kept (every single one). One parent regularly bought my nursery nurse and I cartons of smoothies, loaves of freshly baked bread, chocolate bars at the end of the week as a little thank you. It was so wonderful to feel so appreciated. My children will be making presents and writing cards for their teachers. As a leaving gift once I was given travel vouchers and travellers cheques which covered 6 weeks in central america which was amazing but overwhelming! I think conveying how you feel about that person is so important no matter how big or small.

My son has wrote a message...My teacher is special because with a template off I village. As it has been a year long battle to get him to write I know it will be more appreciated than any present I can buy...