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Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

Primary education

Start of year gifts

65 replies

MinonsMovie · 31/08/2016 14:31

I love the idea of an apple for the teacher.

Something that says, "I value and respect the role you will play in my child's life this year and we are here and ready to learn".

I'm thinking a little hamper with bits and bobs for the class room, or a voucher for a useful shop.

But something is holding me back. Is this lovely and thoughtful, or is it just too cringe?

OP posts:

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jennielou75 · 31/08/2016 19:17

Ours go barefoot for indoor P.E. I get them to put their socks in their shoes but they still move around!

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MinonsMovie · 31/08/2016 19:38

See, this is why I feel a teacher needs to be extra appreciated! but I'm not doing the gift, don't worry I'm definitely past that!

OP posts:

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jennielou75 · 31/08/2016 19:59

I think just a word or even a note would be appreciated if you want to do something.

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AllPizzasGreatAndSmall · 31/08/2016 20:01

Even when there is a label in the neck with the word NAME and a line to write on loads of parents don't do it.
We have 600 children, our lost property pile is HUGE.

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MrsJoeyMaynard · 31/08/2016 20:08

We were told to label all uniform, including socks in the information meeting for parents. Apparently they do take socks off for some PE lessons so they can get mixed up.

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MinonsMovie · 31/08/2016 20:11

This thread is killing me here!
(Trudges off to sewing machine!)

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MrsJoeyMaynard · 31/08/2016 20:24

Don't forget the shoes.

I got accosted by a parent in the playground last year, because her DS had managed to swap his shoes with another child, and the shoes she had bought were the same style as the ones my DS was wearing. Fortunately I had labelled DS1's shoes, so was able to prove he wasn't wandering around in her DS's shoes.

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jennielou75 · 31/08/2016 20:29

Oh yes shoes too! Permanent black ink on the inner sole is great or I had a parent who did her daughters in swirly red nail varnish... Very creative! Oh and just to let you know it's not just the children. I have bought waterproof named stickers to put on my new drinking mug....stapler.....whistle.....

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KittyandTeal · 31/08/2016 20:56

Oh yes, shoes definitely. You can probably draw the line at pants (although a biro initials in socks won't go amiss)

The number of parents who have shouted at me for loosing their child's unlabelled jumper and demanding I either a) find it right now or b) pay for a new one is unreal.

I now carry a sharpie around with me and label jumpers as they come off the child (and I've been shouted at for that too!)

Doesn't need to be sewn in, just anything clear. Seriously, I love parents who label their kids stuff. I did declare rather loudly to a child that I 'loved his dad' as he labelled everything his child owned (he was also a forgetful child!)

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MinonsMovie · 31/08/2016 22:55

Thanks, and to all the teachers who've commented, thank you for doing the job you do. There's no way I could handle a classroom of 30 kids, AND get them to learn. (Who knows, one of you might be teaching my DC!)

OP posts:

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BeingATwatItsABingThing · 31/08/2016 22:59

Thinking of starting a new thread next week...

AIBU that none of the children in my class bought me a beginning of year present?

OP, you sound lovely but don't buy them a present.

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Idliketobeabutterfly · 01/09/2016 03:44

I've gotta do some iron on labels on Monday, this has reminded me.

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BagPusscatnip · 02/09/2016 17:13

It's really cringe, sorry. If you really love giving gifts why not put together your hamper idea and take it to an old people's home? My MIL works in one and some of the residents never get visitors let alone gifts

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AtleastitsnotMonday · 02/09/2016 21:50

I've had a few parents email after a week or so to say thanks for helping my child settle so quickly or that they are really enjoying their new class. Means so much more than any gift could and to be honest in the first few days of term it's frantic enough without having to write thank you notes for gifts.

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Ditsy4 · 03/09/2016 03:57

One of our staff received a present and one of the Year Sixes brought an apple for his teacher. The teacher was delighted. A pen for marking. Someone gave me a Monsoon one once and it is a lovely pen fo making as they flow nicely and mine is colourful so I don't lose it in my hand bag.
Other wise a couple of snack bars for when you don't get time for break. Really making sure your child is ready and clothes are labelled is enough.