calling all teachers what gifts do you love?

[mam29]

I wnat to do something for dd1s teachers and support staff but not sure what?

Dds old school was very showy with huge collections like 300quid of shopping vouchers, flowers, chocs and wine.

Was horrible.

Last few few years made some pressies.

or brought something small inexpensive xmas was nice notebook and plant.

I dont want to go ott. So any tips /ideas?

Also would be odd to give token gift to head? dont want her to think im bribing her.

Just new school really do extra mile where as old school dident so most unlike me would rather get it sorted early thinking some sort craft project might look on pinterest.

[rabbitrabbitrabbit]

At half term my DD (reception) planted marigold seeds for each member of her teaching team (4). She?s been watching the plants grow for weeks. Last weekend she painted the pots and sprinkled them with glitter. I figure if they are going away the plant would survive in the garden/ outside. I?ve also saved pictures and writing that she has done about reception that we?re going to make into cards. DD has asked to make biscuits too. I figure we are going the disposable homemade gift route. It is well meant, she has had a great year and has really settled into school. I can?t decide if it is too much or not enough, but it has all involved DD.

[elinorbellowed]

I am a secondary school teacher and have loved every gift I have ever been given.
The best are letters and cards showing appreciation though, and they cost very little to do. I have one from a Polish pupil that says "My English is better because you learn me good." I've kept it for ten years.
I wrote a letter to DS' reception teacher last year and she loved it. I'm going to do the same for his Year 1 teacher as it was her NQT year and she was great for DS. Then I'll do homemade cake for the staffroom - which they all eat because they tell me! It always gets eaten in our staffroom too.
I would love book tokens/amazon vouchers/paperchase stationary and I'm pretty sure all other teachers would too. I would also be happy to receive mugs, wine and chocolate - they can be re-gifted.
It isn't necessary to give anything at all, and I hate the idea of collections, but I think it's a lovely thing to do. Primary school teachers work bloody hard and when the pupils respond well it's great to get some recognition. rabbitrabbitrabbit,that sounds lovely.

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

How do you feel about homemade chocolates? We know DDs teacher is a bit of a chocoholic and I thought of making some truffles with dd for her. Do you think they would be ok?

[exoticfruits]

Depends entirely on which child is providing them!

[Charlieb57]

I am a secondary school teacher and have to say that I was shocked to find out that this is standard practice in primary schools and that parents club together to give huge amounts of money/valuable presents to primary school teachers and staff. Let me reassure parents that it is not common practice in secondary schools (you are lucky if you get a thank you at parents' evening). My friend is now feeling under pressure to give at least £20 to her eldest son's teacher for the end of year 'gift' and is dreading the 'request' from the parents of children in her younger son's class

[exoticfruits]

You need to stop the class collection and just tell them you are doing your own thing- e.g a bunch of sweetpeas from your garden would be lovely. My DSs never gave presents to secondary teachers.

[mynameisnotmichaelcaine]

The school my kids go to do a thing where they have a "special person" of the week in KS1. When mine were in KS1 I used to do a "special person" certificate for the teacher and TAs, basing it on what my DD/DS had said were their favourite things about the teacher.

Every time I made one I was told it was going to be framed in their house, and had made them cry. I have no way of knowing if this is true, of course, but they seemed to be genuine!

I am secondary teacher, so tend to get less gifts, and they tend to be chocolate, which is fine by me! The best things to get for me are keyrings made by the kids, I have a large collection which has made my keys quite heavy, but I love them all.

Also second the funky post-it notes - I get through loads.

[mynameisnotmichaelcaine]

fewer gifts! Shame on me!

[starfishmummy]

Whatever you do, do not delegate to your OH.

Last year, a few hours after making my usual choc truffles, I went down with d&v so decided the chocs needed to go in the bin. Being in no fit state to go shopping for last minute alternatives, it was delegated to dh.
Admittedly the jars were very pretty, but dolly mixtures???!!!!!

[Beccadugs]

When I worked in a school I used to love it when parents bought new books for the class library or my story chest. Brilliant as useful going forward, and also totally my thing.

[DollyWhite]

My mother used to get nothing but chocolates in her teaching days. She was very pleased and grateful ('twas the gesture) and my friends and I were allowed to eat them a few at a time until they were gone, which could take months

[redrubyshoes]

A hand made card from the child with a photo and no more. Just enough. Make sure it is signed (legibly) and dated for a teacher to look back at in years to come.

[Phaedra11]

I used to be a primary school teacher and when it got to the end of my first year I couldn't believe how much chocolate I acquired. My favourite gift was a basket of fruit and I always said that was what I'd give the teacher when I had kids. I think I did for one year and then realised a box of Roses was so much simpler. Sorry teachers!

[pennygallops]

I'd love Costa vouchers too.

[zipzap]

I was thinking of a bottle of pimms but I seem to have missed the cheap offers so might have to rethink that! Plus a plant grown by ds and a handmade Christmas decoration in the shape of the class mascot (which she would have got at Xmas except the little bells I'd ordered from eBay didn't come in time and there are lots in distinctly unchristmassy colours so it can hang around the bottle instead).

Liking the idea of a stamp for the other teacher who uses them lots in other DS's book. How long did they take to come - and which eBay supplier did you use?

[PickleFish]

Oh I'd have loved Pimms.

And coffee shop vouchers, even the smallest amount.

Not generally keen on decorative stuff for the house for reasons of space and dusting, but Christmas decorations have the advantage of just being able to use them for a while, then put them away, so they can be nice.

[Periwinkle007]

zipzap - can't help on the stamp because the ones I looked at were going to take too long but I got these stickers from this seller and they came within 48hrs.
compare.ebay.co.uk/like/140920042930?var=gv&ltyp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes&var=sbar&_lwgsi=y&cbt=y&device=c&adtype=pla&crdt=0&ff3=1&ff11=ICEP3.0.0&ff12=67&ff13=80&ff14=65

[nurseneedshelp]

I've never ever given a present!

Although I'm very grateful for their input its their job and they get paid to do it!

If I got a present from every patient I cared for I'd be inundated.

Can't get my head around it tbh.

[Periwinkle007]

I am only doing it for reception and only really because I really feel my daughter's staff have gone above and beyond what they have to do IMO. I would have just got them something each but people were mumbling about a collection so as the daughter of a teacher so I have some insight into things people are less keen on receiving I said I would organise it. About half the parents have contributed a small amount which has then been split between the 3 members of staff.

next year we will probably give the teacher a small thank you individually but I won't be doing another collection (well except for the reception teachers for my other daughter)

[GwendolineMaryLacey]

Those si

[GwendolineMaryLacey]

Bollocks. Stupid phone.

Have just ordered some stickers, they look great and dd1's reception teacher does love a sticker!

DD1 has written in a card (not homemade sadly) and I've put a note in too. There's also a class collection. I think we're covered!

[pennygallops]

My DS and I have finished putting together the presents they will be giving to their teachers, the head and one very special teaching assistant (who also runs breakfast club).

nurseneedshelp my mum was a district nurse and I clearly remember she was given many gifts from patients or their families either at Christmas or a different times throughout the year. And when she died, my family took flowers and biscuits to the staff on the ward who helped make her last few days more comfortable.

i think a lot of public sector workers are there for the love of the job, sometimes get a 'kicking' from the press. The gift is just a little show of thanks for their hard work.

[peacefuleasyfeeling]

I'm a primary school teacher. If you're lucky, your child will have a teacher who shares of him or herself in the classroom, and who isn't afraid to be a real person. Children are naturally curious and will have picked up lots of snippets of information about what their teacher is into. My most treasured end of year gifts have been the ones which reflect that; plants for the garden, seed packets, a pocket field guide to wild flowers.
Ask your child about their teacher, and what they're into. Their teacher will be touched that your child has paid such attention to them as a real person.

[lardprao]

MY worst was a bar of obviously used soap rewrapped in admittedly gorgeous paper and the best was a Spa day voucher. Agree with the post that said a letter specifying the difference The teacher had made...they are the absolute best.