Teachers - what would you like your line manager to buy you as a gift?

[Olivo]

I have a team of 9 people that I manage and try to buy a little gift at the end of term, to thank them for their work. Just a few pounds each but something they might appreciate.

Any ideas please? mostly women, if that make a difference.

I like chocolate.

I always get wine, every year, even though everyone at school knows I don't drink.

Everyone is different though, most of my department are thrilled with wine.

I wouldn't like smellies but others would.

I'd really love some nice stationery.

A sense of worth as a teacher

Or pretty much what MsMermaid said - especially stationery. Nice pens, Post Its in shapes that you can never justify buying because of the price, Pukka Pad, that sort of thing.

My previous HOD used to buy wine/chocolate but always gave a card with comments relating to funny things that had happened during the year, any positive personal observations on our teaching, thanks for being....whatever fit our personality etc. It always made me feel understood and valued way more than any present could have.

Small plant for the garden ? Or a potted one.

Thanks for your ideas. I always do a card, hadn't thought about plants. Didn't know if I was the only stationery geek so nice to have it confirmed that others might like that.

A gift? From my line manager?

Ohh I remember those days

Sorry not helpful, I agree stationery/coffee vouchers/wine AND a nice card would be best.

I'm guessing it is glaring evident that I am new to middle management....

The thing I'd most appreciate is a card, with a genuinely felt message inside. A Muji notebook with a tinny token chocolate gift would always make me v happy too.

Wine
Wine
Wine
Wine
Wine

I don't like wine but do eat chocolate.
A generic card with 'thanks for all your hard work this year' would be a bit meh, but more than I'm expecting as we got nothing last year or at Xmas.
A plant would annoy me as I hate gardening. I guess you need to know your team! My boss would definitely know to buy me chocolate.

Yes our head bought us all a famous coffee café voucher for Christmas which was nice to have a treat with.

I'd really like a fruit bowl for the department office.

Our HoD gives us all wine, which we all love, apart from two teetotallers, who get chocolate, which they both love.

She also writes us really sweet cards with heartfelt messages which I love as much as the wine.

A lovely heartfelt card is always appreciated. I think a coffee shop voucher or similar is lovely

I inherited a tradition in my English department that the HOF would buy all of the teachers a book at the end of the year to read over the summer, inscribed with a message to thank him / her for her hard work. I consequently have some treasured books on my shelves. Doesn't have to cost much if you buy paperbacks or use The Book People.

Can't imagine getting a gift from my line manager (the head) but think something under a fiver appropriate (cheap wine or chocolates) - something consumable.

Wine absolutely. Or just a card with a thoughtful message - they are worth much more!