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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

Teacher presents ideas anyone ?

75 replies

Debris · 02/07/2008 14:02

My dd1 is coming to the end of reception, would love some ideas for pressies for teachers and teaching assistants please, they have all been lovely to her and will be sad to say goodbye to them.

OP posts:

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tissy · 03/07/2008 19:55

my parents were both teachers, and I don't remember them coming home at the end of summer term, or even Christmas with presents. Neither do I remember taking presents in for my teachers, and you'd think with 2 teachers for parents, they'd make sure i did the right thing.

We got dd's nursery nurses some presents when she left, as they'd looked after her for the best part of 4 years.

It didn't occur to me that you were "supposed" to give teachers presents, and dd went in to school presentless on the last day before Christmas, although she had done a card. I can only take her to school one day a week, and I was horrified and embarrassed to see the other kids laden down with large elaborately wrapped gifts.

Maybe a list of acceptable presents should be published in the school handbook to save first time Mums the emabarrassment?

Beetroot · 03/07/2008 19:55

all our kids teachers write a think ou note!

last year head and his wife both wrote separate thank yous for the same bottle of wine!

Mutt · 03/07/2008 19:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

mamablue · 03/07/2008 20:00

Honestly, truly, teachers do not expect presents. A handmade card or thank you note is perfect! It is often embarassing to receive gifts for doing your job( which is fab anyway)!

Beetroot · 03/07/2008 20:01

It is not to ddo with expectation

but if you are buying something then don't give tat

simple

Theresa · 03/07/2008 22:58

have always bought something as we've had some fab teachers. Usually wine for teacher & assistant, dc's are getting older and so there's only 1 assistant. when they were younger and there were loads of assistants it was wine for teacher and 'posh' biscuits, 'taste the difference' 'asda extra special' etc for assitants. this year teacher is pregnant so wine seems a bit daft we are clubbing together for a 'pampering' voucher and one of the mums is making a type of scrap book and each child is doing a sheet of A4 anthing they want to put in it. agree no home made stuff (thats for family only) and no 'best teacher' stuff

Chelsie · 04/07/2008 00:06

About 10 years ago, one of my pupils got me a new whistle (acme thunderer - the best!) and put it onto a plait of coloured wool she had made herself. I still use this whistle for every PE lesson and playground duty I do, and think of this pupil every time i do so. Just goes to show it isn't the expensive gifts that make an impact!

If you have a small house like me, then I find the prezzies I most appreciate are either those you can use at school (mug, whistle etc.) or those that you can enjoy but don't have to be stored (I love to receive flowers!)

HappyMummyOfOne · 04/07/2008 09:17

I agree re tat and would steer DS away from anything I know would not be to someones taste. Not keen on charity gifts either, not everyone likes them or supports that particular charity.

This is DS's first year at school and I do intend to get a present for his teacher and TA, even though he will stay with his teacher until juniors. They have always been fab when i've had any worries or questions and never made me feel too over protective.

I did sneak in early to give them xmas pressies when no other children/parents around so may do the same at term end.

FluffyMummy123 · 04/07/2008 09:19

Message withdrawn

ipanemagirl · 04/07/2008 12:19

ds's teacher was overJOYED to be given a nice bottle of red last year.

Plants and flowers and chocs are good too.

PrimulaVeris · 04/07/2008 12:35

Wine and wine only

The v popular reception teacher usually makes sure she has an empty boot in her car for this purpose

slalomsuki · 04/07/2008 12:40

Mine have gone in with sparkling Rose today for all teaches and TA. I have 3 kids so it was expensive by the time you add on the cards and the bottle bags.

Weeteeny · 04/07/2008 12:42

Dont get them anything. It's their job. They are paid. Well paid compared to others. A card will suffice. And if they have done their job properly, the DC can write it themselves.

FrogPrincess · 04/07/2008 12:47

at dd's school we are not allowed to give teachers presents (cards are OK of course), which is great as it stops that dreadful competitive buying thing that goes on sometimes....
In Year 6 though parents get together and buy something for the school (usually stuff for the playground)before the girls move on to senior school.
Otherwise I get wine for her french school teacher.

PrimulaVeris · 04/07/2008 12:49

It may be their job but I can't say I'd call it well paid - TA's certainly aren't. And some classes are bloody stressful.

Gifts not compulsory but it is nice to give a card at least.

HappyMummyOfOne · 04/07/2008 12:56

"Dont get them anything. It's their job. They are paid. Well paid compared to others"

Thats a little mean. TA's are definately not well paid and teachers aren't really considering the impact and involvement they have in our childs lives.

Regardless of salary, getting a little something to say thank you boosts you no end and makes you feel appreciated.

I get the odd bunch of flowers or chocs for "just doing my job" and it's lovely to know that i've helped someone and that they appreciated that help.

streakybacon · 04/07/2008 13:06

I always ask the school secretary what would be a good gift for Mr/Ms X - secretaries know EVERYTHING!

DS has a male class teacher who loves real ale, so we get him four different bottles. He was chuffed to bits at Christmas, because we'd actually got him something he liked.

Original poster

Debris · 04/07/2008 13:48

Some great ideas.I was shocked at Christmas when a mum with a clipboard approached all the mums and announced that she was collecting for a teachers present and asked for 10 pound per mum donation ! This was reception,my 1st child and they had only started full time at the end of Sept, I didnt really even know the teacher yet ! There are 30 children in the class and when I asked what she was going to buy she said Debenhams vouchers. would a teacher honestly expect £300 of debenhams vouchers ?! Everyone duly gave her a tenner, but I braved it and told her that I had already bought something thank you very much, I just thought it was so wrong for the mums that couldnt afford £10.Same mum approached me this week about collection and I just told her that my dd wants to choose individual presents for her teachers, which she does. I want to get something for the TAs as well as they have been so brilliant, and they arent included in this collection

OP posts:

ipanemagirl · 04/07/2008 13:58

I th ink they are better paid than they were, but it's not just about that.
I give a present to acknowledge how hard a job it is. I was an informal TA at my son's school for a week and I have never ever ever ever been so tired. Looking after 30 children day in and day out, let alone the paperwork - it is an extraordinarily demanding job! My gift is just a small recognition of that.

I think people should give what they can afford of course. Collections with a specified amount are not good imo! And a card is absolutely fine too! I often leave my ds's teacher's gift in the school office so it doesn't look all competitive.

They are also a group of people who are constantly blamed for all sorts of things which are not at all their fault but parents like to blame everyone but themselves for certain things!!!! The gov is horrible to them too generally.

(runs and hides under sofa)

LovingBeingAMummy · 05/07/2008 21:10

DS has 2 teachers and 1 TA - we have already made cards and I saw a lucky bamboo plant in a lovely container in our local garden centre. I was thinking of buying a large one for teachers and a smaller one for TA.
Is this OK?
They are reasonably priced and with ten pounds will buy all 3.
Anyone think this is a bad idea?

vixma · 11/07/2008 22:11

A personal card (drawn by you child)from you as parents and the child they teach with appreciation of how they helped your child. If you also want to buy something little, chocs or wine. Im a TA, so I would love this and I know the others I work with would too. Good luck!

reethi96 · 11/07/2008 22:30

Is it really essential? I don't want to buy anything.

nancy75 · 11/07/2008 22:33

do i buy presents for the peopleat dd pre school? she is going back in sept so is going to see them again.
tbh i would quite like to get them something as they are lovely to her, but will it be odd if im the only one?

Dottoressa · 11/07/2008 22:37

DS gave his lovely teacher a tea-towel with a picture of her and his school on it (with invented embellishments such as a water-flume). The tea-towel cost 19p from Ikea, and he decorated it with fabric pens. He also gave her a Ladybird book on cathedrals (99p on Ebay) as he's been boring her about cathedrals for the last year...

She was very pleased with both!

aniseed · 31/07/2008 10:57

Please - no chocs! I am a teacher and the presents I love the most are ones made or chosen by the children. (Flowers and wine are also lovely). Last Christmas I was given 9 mugs and I don't even drink tea or coffee! I told my class that my plastic beaker broke in the dishwasher. The following day a lovely child presented me with a replica version! Another child got me some earrings that she though I would like. The most thoughful presents are personal to you.

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