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Primary education

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

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Original poster

Buying presents for the teacher........................what's the general consensus???

33 replies

StaceyBranning · 04/12/2007 11:56

DD is new to school this year, we didn't do teacher presents at playschool and I only mention it because I overheard two Mums this morning talking about what they were buying the teachers this year.

I didn't actually know we had to??? Is it frowned upon if you don't?? How much do you spend? Do you buy for the teaching assistants too?? Not sure what the done thing is so any advice welcome

OP posts:

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cazzybabs · 04/12/2007 11:57

yes - wine!

cazzybabs · 04/12/2007 11:58

(But you don't have to - think of it like a bonus)

Original poster

StaceyBranning · 04/12/2007 12:01

cazzy - do you mean like brownie points???

OP posts:

cazzybabs · 04/12/2007 12:02

No no for the teacher! (I am biased though as I am a teacher...).

Original poster

StaceyBranning · 04/12/2007 12:04

Oh I see!!! Wine is a good idea, should I buy for the teaching assistant too???

OP posts:

cazzybabs · 04/12/2007 12:05

Some do some don't...depends on how rich you are?

fireflyxmasfairylights2 · 04/12/2007 12:09

This year I have bought them both organiser/journal things with pens. I bought them last year when they were BOGOF in Easons

alexandre · 04/12/2007 12:14

I let my daughter choose and she also makes them a card herself. She has chosen a trendy keyring this year. In previous years we have bought soaps, candles, wine, champagne, chocolates, vases, purses, photoframes etc. We did buy for the teaching assistant too where she was full time in the classroom.

foofi · 04/12/2007 12:18

As a teacher, wine or chocolates were always my best presents. Cheap toiletries are rarely what the teacher actually likes! A book token is a nice idea. Some classes club together to buy one larger present rather than lots of little bits, but personally I prefered to have lots of smaller presents as it made me feel more special!

EmsMum · 04/12/2007 12:21

If you're buying for the teacher then definitely should also do it for the TA

We mostly club together, about a fiver each.
some mums do their own thing; one lady always brings flowers.

IIRC we hadnt got to know each other well enough for a whip round in reception year - DD chose a nice tree decoration for the teacher and TA.

My mum used to be a teacher and in those days it was almost entirely bath cubes and Roses chocolates!

aintnomountainhighenough · 04/12/2007 13:28

I think nice hand cream is a nice gift. I don't like giving chocolates as I think everyone does this and if I were a teacher I wouldn't want all that chocolate!!

Do you have to? No I don't think so but your children might like to it and it doesn't have to cost anything if they make something.

Smithagain · 04/12/2007 13:40

Hijacking here - DD1 is in a class with two teachers and two TAs, and I've also had a lot of help from the Assistant Head and the School Administrator this term. So I'm contemplating buying them all a nice box of biccies for the staff room - to arrive at about the time of the Nativity Play when they will be getting frazzled.

Is this a good idea - or do staff rooms get innundated with stuff like that?

HollyBerrie · 04/12/2007 13:55

I wouldn't do biscuits for the staff room. Staff don't always see who they are from, just eat the biscuits which go in seconds! I think a nice message of thanks to the people who have helped is nice enough, could also include a very small chocolaty gift for those people.
I always found, cliche or not, that it's the thought that counts rather than the extravagance of the gift. My best present was a gift wrapped packet of chocolate hobnobs as I used to joke while pregnant that the baby liked them.
You don't have to send a gift. I never think about who has not sent one but am grateful and touched by what I do get.

seeker · 04/12/2007 14:00

I get my dcs to make a card for each of the teachers and TAs they have anything to do with, then I make a donation to charity and produce a little printed slip and put it in the card saying what I've done. I really think teachers can do without another World's Best Teacher mug. They probably think I'm a sanctimonious git - but I can live with that!

mollymawk · 04/12/2007 14:01

My DS1 has just started school and the mother of one of the children in his class has started a collection for the teacher and TAs - so we all give some money and she gets some nice things for them all.

Hulababy · 04/12/2007 14:03

You don't have to buy a gift unless you want to.

I do buy a gift for the teacher, as a thank you from us and DD. This year I have bought an Oxfam Unwrapped card (text books) for the teacher and class, and will get the teacher a small present this weekend - not sure what yet but will most likely be wine or food based.

nametaken · 04/12/2007 19:13

The Oxfam gifts for teachers are fab, I agree.

Gifts definately not expected though

DarthVader · 04/12/2007 19:22

Sorry but I think Oxfam Unwrapped gifts fo anyone who hasn't specifically requested them are out of order. If you want to give to charity, great. No need to publicise the fact, and don't pretend its for somebody else if it isn't their choice.

Why expect credit from other people for your own gift to a charity of your own choice?

stealthsquiggle · 04/12/2007 19:27

So - teachers/TAs - consensus decision please - DS and I have made some mini (4" square) Christmas cakes and were planning on decorating them for his teachers - would that be OK or would you be thinking "WTF?" ? I was thinking of wine to go with it [ingratiating grin]?

Peachy · 04/12/2007 19:35

I give the oxfam ones to teachers, with a bar of fairtrade choc- Teachers don't ahve a right to expect after all, even the chocolate should be a bonus! Did this last year and the LSA at DS3's Nursery wrote us a lovely letter saying it ws the nicest thing she had received.

I kinda think, if ots something like a Teacher, then if you object then YOU'RE the one who is bang out of order!

We get gifts for teachers, class assistants and any eprsonal LSA the ds's (2 SN) might have. choices range from choccy to wine, diary, flowers- whatever. Its about saying thank you not 'getting it right'

nimnom · 04/12/2007 19:40

Wine went down very well with teachers and TA's last year.
I should think they need it after spending five days a week with my ds1

lucykate · 04/12/2007 19:41

personally speaking, i don't give dd's teacher and teaching assistant a present at christmas, can't afford to, simple as that. i'm already making as many presents as i can, and don't have enough time to make anything either this year. i did try and make up for this last year by making them both a brooch at the end of the school year, so will do the same this time, time and money are less stretched in july.

perpetualworrier · 04/12/2007 19:43

I think the cakes are a great idea. You don't need to do the wine too imo.

Last year DS's and I made jam from the Autumn Blackberries and the year before they decorated plant pots and planted hyacinths at Oct half-term.

This year I didn't get organised early enough, so they've got hand cream.

stealthsquiggle · 04/12/2007 20:09

Thanks, pw.

Now I need to get DS to "help" make decorations (bearing in mind I am a perfectionist when it comes to cakes I predict tears before bedtime!)

UnquietDad · 04/12/2007 22:47

My view is that it's a nice idea in theory but in practice just leads to Alpha Mums trying to outdo one another in the present stakes.

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