Tell notonthehighstreet.com what you’d give a great teacher – chance to win £300 voucher - plus teachers: share your ideal gift NOW CLOSED

[JustineBMumsnet]

The end of the school year is fast approaching, (or perhaps already here for some of you), and notonthehighstreet.com are keen to hear how your children show appreciation to their teachers at the end of the school year.

Here’s what notonthehighstreet.com have to say: “Whether you're overjoyed about the little one's grades or just want to say thanks for coping with a whole class of kids, we've hundreds of brilliant gift ideas that'll leave teacher smiling 'til next term”

Visit this page they have pulled together with ideas for teachers gifts and tell us which ones you think your child’s teacher would love to receive (and you’d love to give!) by leaving a comment below.

Teachers of Mumsnet, we know you might well say no gift is necessary but if your arm was twisted, we’d also love to know what your ideal end of year gift would be.

Everyone who posts on this thread will be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £300 notonthehighstreet.com voucher!

Thanks and good luck with the prize draw!

MNHQ

Standard insight T&Cs Apply

I always make the DC make cards and write something nice and heartfelt in them. Usually works a treat - except the one year ds1 had a teacher he really didn't get on with and he drew a very quick picture, wrote her name and his name and nothing else - in comparison with the one he drew for his TA that year which had lots of lovely drawings and things all over it, with a long message about how she had helped him so much through the year... oops. And by the time I discovered it was too late to do much about it. Must remember to be more organised this year to ensure there aren't any last minute panics.

DS2 is quite an idiosyncratic child who adores his teacher and he has decided he wants to bestow on him the best present he can think of - the Beano summer special

I usually stick to something fairly simple like a bottle of wine (or dessert wine/port at Christmas) but have had to be a bit more inventive with ds2 as he's very good at falling over and/or dropping things - so breakable things are not a good idea. Best things I've sent with him have been either a good little compact umbrella that can stay in the car or desk - it's something that it doesn't matter if you have more than one, doesn't take up much space and they do break eventually. Also have sent in fold up bags (in the days before they were everywhere) which were well received. Mia Tui have some great ones for a fiver that are a bit better than the average fold up bag - they have a zip section and two main sections, and strong, so make a nice present.

Oh and I've also done the self inking stamp that says something along the lines of 'Mr Smith says Great Work' or similar. They've gone down well too.

My daughter usually makes a card and then I get her teacher a nice bottle of wine to celebrate the end of the school year! I think this year her teacher would LOVE to receive the personalised organic pamper gift box to help her unwind! Xxx

Homemade card / letter would be our choice

We decided to each give a book to the school library with a note stuck to the inside explaining who it was from and thanking the teacher and her assistants. Oh, and some flowers

Don't usually bother unless they have been especially special

my daughter is very loving and affectionate so tells her teacher a lot that she likes and appreciates her and also makes lots of small gifts for her.

I think theedible ones looked good.imagine having 30 something odd gifts.so if its edible or small then at appreciated but then gone so to speak. I like the star key ring.
a poem and drawn card have always been loved.
bottle of wine.chocs etc.
love the thankyou for helping me grow one
and the term wine glass

I love to receive things that can be used up - e.g., vouchers (amazon, coffee places, department stores - even the smallest amount is appreciated as you can put them together with others), food, wine; or things like books that can be read and enjoyed, and then donated elsewhere. Or something more personal if the family happens to know me a bit. It is easier than gifts like candles, mugs, etc that I might not have space for.

My son has sen and has been 'challenging' this year. His school have been amazing and his key staff must be exhausted. I think I'll get them a bag with a magazine, mini bottle of something, maybe a chocolate bar etc to help them wind down at the start of the holidays.
I'm a teacher too. I don't expect presents. At my school, maybe 10 out of 30 bring something usually. When they do, it's always well received. I love boxes of chocolate - we have a chocolate cupboard at home and I get quite panicky when down to our last box. Mugs etc are useful, I love pens and notebooks. Home made gifts and cards are great too. I even enjoyed the Christmas decorations a child nade me covered in swastikas (we'd studied ww2) and the deodorant someone bought (he liked the smell). Any little gift or card tells you that the child has appreciated your efforts and enjoyed the year so it is all good. Not a fan of class gifts except maybe when leaving, but have never been in a school that does this.

A home made card with a note to the teacher written by the child or at least the child helped with!

Nothing from notonthehighstreet, customer service agent yesterday was really rude!

A fish.

Because my little girl has learned most of what she knows from the cat.

I think something the child has done is perfect for a teacher, a card drawn or a bookmark made, a plant they have grown. Something they can be really proud of to show their teacher and the teacher can appreciate the effort gone in to it.

Failing that a token voucher/gift card can never go wrong!

All those saying, "they get paid to do it..." they are paid to provide a decent education and some extra support for his autism. They aren't paid to locate a local football club that is genuinely inclusive, chat to the runners to ensure everyone is up to speed, then to get out of their own beds early on a Saturday so my son had me plus the TA there his first session - all this, because his agoraphobia and sensory problems make his gross motor skills worse. They aren't paid to make him feel like he is safe and valued and cared about when at school. They do so much more than they are paid to do. They make his life so, so much less scary and overwhelming, and they make school feel a welcoming, nurturing place.

They're paid to educate him. They aren't paid to cherish him. And I get them presents because I want them to know they are valued, and what they do is seen and recognised, too.

My daughter loves to hug her teachers in the mornings and she likes to ask them if they had a nice weekend/holidays. She checks if they are okay and asks if they are better if they have been off ill.

Plants. Usually succulents.

Teachers, do you really take cards from past pupils to job interviews with you? Can't imagine anyone doing that!
I would like to send an appreciative email to the head (no idea of the teachers email so can't copy in anyway) but what kind of thing would you say didn't sound sucky?

I think the Teachers Wine Glass is a great gift, I'd be happy to give it, and I think it shows that we parents understand the stresses teachers face nowadays!

No presents- just a card to say thank you!

My 12 yo dd has just made a temporary teacher a card to thank him for teaching her, it's from the heart and has her own words, I hope he likes it.

a few of us with children in the same class do a joint gift. We do a personalised notebook each year with pictures of the children's favourite memory from the year. This is put in a fabric bag the children have designed with wine, chocolates and a few nice gel pens. We get the children to write a note in the first couple of pages and I include a letter which I copy into the head teacher.

I also send some nice biscuits for the staff room and a letter to the head.

At Christmas we do the nice tea / coffee / hot chocolate collection for the staff room. And lovely hand cream for the staff.

We are making a card and doing a drawing for the nursery teachers, can't afford presents to thank people for doing their job really but if she really wants to get them something it will probably be a box of malteasers of something

This week I have been receiving gifts.

I have treasured the hand written notes from my children, and the specially chosen cards - linked to my name, our end of year show that I have been organising, and my specialist subject. The words from children and parents are lovely. I have had lovely thoughtful gifts so far, and especially valued the bottle of fizz I drank tonight - well earned after the show today lol!
But my best 'gift' this year - the words of thanks from two parents about their child, who does have additional needs, and I have worked a lot with this year - they made me cry, but all through their niceness.

And fwiw teachers are not the only profession to get gifts.

Dh, as a solicitor, gets many a gift from clients. BIL is a surveyor and definitely gets many gifts. Infact many of my family and friends in professional style jobs get many gifts from their 'clients' - cases of wine, days out, chocolates, etc.

Just had a look at the NOTHS website- I like the personalised notepads and clothbags. I agree with those who have said that notes and letters are most appreciated, but one of my favourite, most well-used presents was a lightweight blanket/rug that I keep by my sofa. It's great for snuggling up on cold nights.