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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

If you are a teacher, what present would you like to receive at the end of term?

99 replies

MrsSylar · 16/07/2008 11:52

Am totally stuck and don't know what to buy.

Toiletries and chocolate - too boring?.

Are vouchers too clinical and not personal enough? If not, from where? M and S is all I can think of.

Please help!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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filthymindedvixen · 17/07/2008 18:48

my children have 8 people (teachers and TAs etc)between them. if I spent £10 each that'd be £80!!

filthymindedvixen · 17/07/2008 18:49

ds2 has painstakingly written ''thank you for teaching me this long year'' pmsl

LynetteScavo · 17/07/2008 18:51

M&S are doing candels for £3.50, and £5.00.

That's what I went for in the end for DS1's teachers. I think (hope) the words in the card will mean much more, though. I cryed when I wrote it. [grateful emoticon]]

LynetteScavo · 17/07/2008 18:53

We wrote a card for DS2's teacher.

I wrote "Thank you for teaching DS2 to write his name."

DS2 wrote "DS2"

[proud mummy emoticon]

foofi · 17/07/2008 18:53

One family in our school bought a desk for a child in [poor country - sorry can't remember which one] instead of buying their teachers presents. Quite a nice idea - the teachers get a card of thanks and a photo of where the money went.

LynetteScavo · 17/07/2008 19:05

Y'see, although I like gettin those as pressents my self... it seems a bit "look I've given to charity" to me.

I give to charity sperately.

Herecomesthesciencebint · 17/07/2008 20:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

olivo · 17/07/2008 20:34

I am a secondary school teacher and rarely get presents, maybe a couple from my form group at christmas and end of year. I have to say though, that the best for me was definitely a lovely letter from the parents of a boy who was in my form for 5 years and I saw through a few wobbly times. It made me remember why I do my job and acttually made me cry, they were so lovely. They also sent a copy to the head which can't have done my reputation any harm!

funtimewincies · 17/07/2008 20:38

I'm obviously dead easy to please, as I'm really chuffed with a little homemade card with a picture drawn by the child and a message inside.

Mind you, wine is always nice .

Squirdle · 17/07/2008 21:20

I have millions of teachers/nursery teachers/TA's etc to buy for...well 12 in all DS2 has 2 teachers, a TA and another child in the class has a LSA but she is soooo lovely to my DS, so I can't leave her out. And DS3 has 8 nursery teachers/assistants.

I couldn't afford to spend £5 on each of them, but did want to send in a small token so have bought 12 bars of posh chocolate.

When DS2 left nursery last year I bought lots of small terracotta pots for him to paint a picture on and we planted flowers in them and wrapped them prettily with florists wrap and ribbon. They were really lovely and as the nursery staff were so lovely we wanted to something special. I'll do something similar when DS3 leaves next year.

beck71 · 18/07/2008 13:18

I don't want to sound tight but I think the world has gone mad! I have never bought my kids' teachers presents because I don't feel as if we should have to. I have always encouraged them to make the teacher a card and write a nice message inside. When they left playgroup, I bought small gifts and when they leave juniors I will buy a small gift for teachers but I think it has all got out of hand. My dd and ds ask me every year if they can buy presents and I say no. I can't really afford it and I know there will be lots of kids who definately can't afford it and will feel awful. I actually think that the school should try to kindly discourage it because it's not fair for those who can't afford. However, I do understand that if a teacher has gone the extra mile to help your child then a gift would be appropriate. Don't get me wrong, I really appreciate the hard work that teachers do and am very grateful to them but people in other walks of life work just as hard. Am I just a misery guts or does anyone else think I am talking sense?

marmalady · 18/07/2008 13:24

Hmmm...... reading this thread with interest. my dd will be leaving nursery and I'm not sure what to get. Obviously there is the teacher and nursery nurse who dd talks about a lot. I'm not sure how many other TA's there are. I was wondering if I should get a book for the nursery to link to one of their topics- rather than individual presents?

Aniyan · 18/07/2008 14:37

marmalady - when ds left his nursery we bought a wall clock for a leaving gift.

ds was obsessed with clocks and telling the time, and the nursery clock was a bit old and unreliable, so it was the perfect gift - and the nursery staff loved it.

A 'general' gift for the nursery that maybe links in with one of your dd's interests would, I'm sure, be very welcome, if you don't want to get individual gifts.

mumzy · 18/07/2008 19:06

I think the golden rule of present giving is to give things which you'd be pleased to recieve yourself. So no cheap toiletries/pottery animals/nasty wine. After much thought ds is giving each of his teachers and ta's a couple of travel sized molton brown bath gels/lotions and I asked for them to be packaged up in nice boxes with ribbons on in the shop. Sorted!

marmalady · 18/07/2008 19:09

Thanks aniyan!

funtimewincies · 18/07/2008 19:48

Our last day today and my favourite present has been a simple flower made out of pipe cleaners, it's fab! Another child wrote me a story .

Goober · 18/07/2008 19:50

My kids teachers get nothing from us.
I don't mind at christmas time, but at the end of the school year NO.

escortss · 18/07/2008 19:51

a couple of parents at my school have baked delicious cakes to go on the staff room table for all staff to enjoy. Solves the problem of exactly who to buy for, is not expensive and is very much appreciated (us teachers need sugar and fat to get us through these last, long days!)

Tinkjon · 18/07/2008 23:29

Sorry, haven't read all of thread so hoping I'm not repeating anything. Is wine appropriate for a child of 5 to give a teacher? I guess the thanks is coming from the parents as much as the child, but I just think I feel odd about a 5 yo handing over alcohol...?

And what about homemade food? Would you feel happy about eating something that a child had made? I remember a TA last year saying that she loved the handmade chocs a kid had made, but I'm not sure I'd be happy about eating something homemade - you know what kids are like, digging for worms in the garden one minute and making food the next?!

JustJaamy · 19/07/2008 00:26

Don't think gifts for teachers is a new thing. We gave small gifts to our teachers 20-30 years ago.

teafortwo and katebee - thanks for putting my mind at rest regarding the Gervais Phinn books. DD1 gave both her teacher and TA (key worker) a copy signed by GP and also herself with a little message. They weren't expensive and I thought they were appropriate. Was worried that they might not like them. She was only in nursery/pre-school so was unsure what to get, though tried to make an effort. I really think that giving presents to teachers is like giving a tip at a restaurant or indeed buying a present for anyone. If you don't appreciate what they do, then don't buy anything. Fortunately, DD1's teacher and TA have been wonderful and I didn't hesitate in buying them something to show how much DD1 has enjoyed her year with them.

Thanks for the tips for next year when I'm sure I won't mind buying something for the same staff from DD2!

Oh, and I'm not someone who thinks that teachers are saints and should be revered. Just like to give thanks where thanks are due. Will also be writing a letter to them and the head to show our appreciation.

yetihed · 19/07/2008 08:40

Wine is great- I don't think the age of a child matters.

Gifts for teachers are as old as the hills (nearly). Think of an apple for teacher. I agree it's a cross between a tip and just a thank you.

The thing is, teachers don't get paid by the hour. They have a number of directed hours for teaching time, staff meetings etc, but after that they're just expected to get the job done. So if your child has reeeaaaally exciting lessons, or an amazing looking classroom, or brilliantly prepared homework, then the teacher has made extra effort to do it. They could have done something quick and easy so they could get down the pub/ have a lie in/ have the weekend to themselves, but they have chosen not to.

This is not a sob story, teachers are professionals and should work hard, but it is a reason to acknowledge the extra effort made if there is any.

lljkk · 19/07/2008 11:55

People on this thread are talking serious money for gifts . I didnt get them any Xmas prez so am giving prezzies now.

Only thing I'm giving not already mentioned is an iTunes voucher for DS's teacher, a young sporty man who plays electric guitar. I'm going halves on it with another mum (#7.50 each). And I thought that was quite generous(!)

And I'm not bothering with TA gifts, though I may coax DD to write a card for her TA.

ihatebikerides · 19/07/2008 14:23

One of my favourite gifts was a suede notebook. It became my bible - phone nos, lists, phone messages... you name it. Nice pens for school? Manky blotchy biros as often used by teachers make a mess in books. Pot plants?

aniseed · 31/07/2008 10:42

The presents teachers like most are ones that the child has made / chosen rather than ones from the parents. Homemade cards and nice comments from parents are lovely too. Teaching isn't a job where you get much positive feedback. The end of the year is an ideal time as it makes you feel all lovely for the summer and leaves you with fond memories of your class.

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