Mumsnet users share the times teachers have gone out of their way to help their children with Sanctuary Spa

[JustineBMumsnet]

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School is not always plain sailing, and as parents you rely on teachers to guide your child through both the good times and the hard times. There are lots of teachers that go that extra mile to help your child, with the effect often having long-lasting impact. With this in mind, we thought it would be great to hear all your experiences of teachers who have gone out of their way to help your children, and the impression this left on both you and your child.

Here’s what the team at Sanctuary have to say:
“What better way to say Thank You to a great teacher than giving them the gift of indulgence and some time to relax, breathe & #LetGo at the end of term.
Whether you are looking to thank them for all they've taught you, for encouraging you to achieve your best or for simply surviving the year, help your favourite teacher indulge in a pampering session with a luxurious Sanctuary gift.”

How has a teacher stepped in and helped your child at school? Which challenges did they help your child to overcome? What positive effect did this have on you and your child? How did you show the teacher how much you appreciated their help?

Whichever ways teachers have helped your child, share your experiences and post them on the thread below. Everyone who does so will be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £300 voucher of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck with the prize draw

MNHQ

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I would have to mention my children's music teacher on this thread. She taught all three in group music classes at school but we were never able to afford instrumental lessons even though they're all musically gifted. For many years, she came to our house one afternoon a week to teach them the piano free of charge. I used to (try and) repay her in veg and flowers from the garden, home baked cakes and endless cups of tea. All of them play to a high level now, two of them professionally, one as a jazz musician and one as a cathedral organist. I think she is as proud of them as I am.

My son has had a tough year at school this year. He's suspected to be on the autistic spectrum and is waiting an appointment for his assessment. His teacher has been absolutely amazing with him. He has made adjustments for him without me having to ask; such as letting him eat lunch in a quiet area because the hall is too loud for him. He explains every change such as non uniform day or school trip to him in advance so he's got time to prepare. He supports my son with all his anxieties such as making a tiny mistake in a picture. He set up a lunchtime club specifically to help my son with his social group skills which has led to him finally having a little group of friends instead of playing on his own each day. He bought him stress toys to use when he feels anxious or upset which really helped him at school and home. My son is a different child to how he started the year and a lot of that is down to his amazing teacher. He's leaving teaching at the end of this school year and I feel like he's going to be such a loss not just to my son and the school but the teaching profession as a whole.

My DS isn’t at school yet but I thanked his nursery staff with flowers when he threw up over one of them the other day (beyond the baby stage!). When I was at school, one teacher I had saw my aptitude in her subject from year 8 and encouraged me far beyond her year of teaching me in this, encouraging me and setting extra work to get me inspired, getting me moved up sets, and ultimately when it came to applying to uni, setting up practice interviews at the school she had then moved to (wasn’t even at my school but was still looking out for me) - she arranged a series of practice interviews with different people. I was so grateful for her input and wrote her a card and gave some flowers and let her know when I got into uni in her subject!

My DD (5) teachers were lovely when I couldn't make it on a school trip due to me falling ill. She was so upset but I was contagious so couldn't go with them all.
They let her pick who she wanted to be with, and then let her do the register and help the teachers all day. She loved the extra responsibility and it made her feel one of them so she missed me a little less. They also helped her plant me a flower to bring home for me. It was such a lovely thing to do and she did end up enjoying the trip.

In a separate note, I had a really troubled upbringing, I had a wonderful male teacher in junior school and he knew my home life was pants. He did everything he could to help me; and he also knew no matter what I did, I could never please my dad, he sat me down one day and told me "always be your best and so long as you hold that In your heart, you will truly know that no one can take that away from you". I've held onto that comment for nearly 30 years, and I tried to find the lovely teacher about ten years ago to say how much it helped. Unfortunately he'd passed away and instead I spoke to his very lovely wife, who loved hearing my story about him
Teachers I find can say the smallest things, but they matter. So so much.

We couldn't have asked for better teachers for our DC - all have been so kind, patient, thoughtful, caring & nurturing. Seeing each DC as an individual, seeing their strengths helping them work on the things they could improve etc.
I think a great teacher really makes a difference and we feel very lucky.
Any decent gifts they get, they deserve!!

DS2's teacher (lower juniors) has really gone out of his way to encourage his artistic and creative abilities this year. He is a lovely caring and devoted teacher and a young dad too.

DD's teacher must have done dance lessons as a child/teenager and so choreographed massive parts of the primary school musical and it was done SO well.

All the kids enjoyed it but it really inspired my DD -who lacks in confidence- and showed her that theatre can be for everyone.

When my DD broke her arm after falling off her scooter, and had to have to stay indoors at playtime, she was devastated not to be able to play hopscotch and skipping with her friends. My DD's teacher asked her to pick a friend each day to stay in the classroom to do painting, and 'helping' with the lesson prep - whilst her lovely teacher forwent her breaks to supervise the children. I am sure she quite liked to have a break from the staffroom discussions. She made what would be quite an isolating time into somthing more bearable for my DD.

For giving my DD the opportunity to support the younger children in school and therefore have her confidence boosted. It really helped. Thanks

yes he is, the stammer is still there - but no where near as bad as it was.

I have to thank my sons year 5 teacher - he had very challenging behaviour in school, and it was suggested by the head teacher, and former teachers that he maybe on the autistic spectrum. The problem was there were no Ed Psycs available to start off the lengthy diagnosis process. This angel of a teacher contacted the LEA on a very regular basis and was offered out of the blue a cancellation of an appointment - we grabbed it with both hands. The process was emotional, and heart rending - but thanks to her we got the diagnosis, and a 1:1 support in year 6. He was able to learn more in class, and the teacher was more able to teach the whole class knowing if my son was to 'be having a bad day' the 1:1 was able to deal with it.

When my son left for high school, I bought the teacher a charm for her pandora bracelet. (it was an angel)

when dd1 was in reception she went through a frustrating phase of refusing to drink anything at school....the lovely TA went out of her way to make a reward chart for her with stickers, and made time to remind and encourage her to drink throughout the day.

When DS2 was in y5 he was in an exam, didn't dare go to the loo and had an accident. His lovely teacher noticed before anyone else, grabbed her glass of water then pretend tripped and sort of spilled it on him. He was mortified but she saved him from being tormented by his class mates as they all thought it was her water.

His yr4 teacher has liaised with his maths tutor, so they know what he's covering.

My DD teacher was AMAZING after DD was diagnosed with asthma

DD was very overwhelmed with it all and had so many emotions running around but most of all she didn't want anyone to know and felt embarrassed using her inhaler. I met up with the teacher before she went back to school and explained all of this, I was dreading picking DD up after school as she had been awful when I dropped her off, but she came running out BEAMING. "Miss X has got asthma too! She had to stop and use her puff..blue..her...THING when she was talking to us because she started coughing! It stopped her coughing and nobody laughed and everyone was really nice and asked if she was ok. She told everyone about asthma and asked if anyone else knew about it and Ys sister has it and I said I've got asthma and everyone was really nice and nobody will laugh if I use MY thing"

Miss X doesn't have asthma, she borrowed an inhaler and spacer to show DD that people wouldn't laugh and it was nothing to be ashamed of, and to naturally educate them all about asthma so they would know what to do if DD had an attack, but without making it all about her. I honestly have never been more grateful in my life, I cried talking to her the next day when she explained it

They are always going out of their way. We are blessed with brilliant kind teachers. So sad in 2 weeks my involvement with this primary school will end.

As with PP, not my dc but me. I was quite a shy, withdrawn child at school but academically relatively capable. Went to the local bogstandard comprehensive, where everyone was expected to tootle along nicely but without any illusions of setting the world on fire. One teacher - Mr M - decided that he expected more for me, and encouraged my (very reluctant) parents to make me apply to Oxbridge. My school hadn't even had anyone apply in almost a decade, let alone be accepted; and I was strongly opposed (based in large part on fear, and Oxbridge being "not our kind of place"). I was eventually talked round by him and my parents, who had in turn been persuaded by him that it would be the making of me. He helped me with my application, supported me through the final exams on which my acceptance was based, and wrote a personal reference that even now makes me cry. He was absolutely right and Oxford was the making of me - academically, it pushed me; socially, it allowed me to grow into myself; and it opened doors and gave me opportunities that I would never have otherwise had. Applying would never, ever have occurred to me or my parents, and yet my time there has had an immeasurable impact on my life. Judging by the testimonials when he left teaching, he's had a similar impact on the lives of many of his students. I'm grateful that I've since, as an adult, had the opportunity to thank him for seeing something in me that no one else saw back then (and buy him a beer!).

My son's preschool teacher was amazing. He has a rare condition, not particularly serious but quite visible and she just had the perfect attitude to it, keeping an eye out for any possible issues but not making any unnecessary fuss. When he first started some of the other staff would start helping him with things but she told them to let him have a go first and only help if needed. He left preschool brimming with confidence and had a great start at school thanks to all the staff at the preschool, but particularly this particular lady. He also has a teacher at an extracurricular activity who has been brilliant at including him in everything without making a fuss.

Ds2 is severely autistic and has always been very resistant to having it cut. No problem aesthetically as he suited long hair. As he reached adolescence, it became greasy and he let it fall inf front of his face, causing accidents. Not ideal.

One of his TAs is a trained hairdresser and offered to cut it. She managed, with the help of 2 other TAs, keeping him calm and entertained. He looks as gawky as anything, but at least it's no longer in his face.

When my DS started primary school he was not diagnosed with any SEN and his behaviour was difficult. In KS1 he finally had a diagnosis thanks to the teacher that picked up on his "odd" ways, and he recieved so much help from the school after that. I am sure many teachers go above and beyond for the children and this one definately one of them. I sent a personal letter to that teacher to let them know the impact they had made.

Although mostly my sons teachers have been great, the teacher that sticks in my mind was one of mine.
When I did unexpectedly well in my mock maths exam, my teacher decided to put me in for the higher paper at the last minute, using her lunchtimes and evenings to teach me the additional content that my class hadn't covered in the very short time remaining - allowing me to get the top grade in Maths that I wouldn't have been able to otherwise get.

My sons headteacher was with me every step of the way through my sons autism assessments right through to his diagnosis.
She wiped my tears ,sourced lots of info in her free time and generally included my very severe son in every possible way .
8 years since he's left her mainstream school(his sisters now attending) and she still asks about him a lot and how I'm feeling.
When I was ready to fall apart that lady helped in more ways than she will ever know.
Not all heros wear capes x

Hi, can anyone recommend any arty secondary schools who have a good art dept wither in either Bucks or Brighton / Hove or nearish these areas? Can be private or state. My son has dyslexia and loves art so will suit him alot better!

Child left their packed lunch and money at home for a school trip and so the teacher bought the child a lunch. I offered to pay for the cost but the teacher refused the money. It was such a kind and caring gesture from the teacher.

DD's HT went on the high swing with her at her PGL residential in y5. Apparently she screamed in his ear the whole time. But she did it. . And came back from the trip so much more confident.