Affordable gifts for class

[JamieFraserskiltspeaksout]

I'm trying to come up with creative yet affordable gifts for 30 children. I can only afford £30 maximum. I've done keyrings and Word Clouds in the past but I don't think the children really liked them.
I was thinking of baking everyone a really luxurious cupcake and putting in a plastic holder so it would get home safely with a personal card wishing them luck. Is this rubbish?! I wanted to do something better but I'm moving house and out of money. Any better ideas?

[rosesinmygarden]

I used to buy personalised rice paper cake toppers and make the whole class cup cakes - petit fours size. Inexpensive and No one complaining about them being unhealthy.

[YourSarcasmIsDripping]

What did you go for in the end OP? Do you break up Friday?

[JamieFraserskiltspeaksout]

Thanks for the continued feedback. I'm very lucky to have the children in my class and Id feel very sad not giving them something. I've spent hundreds of hours with these children .... Poor things deserve something for putting up with me for a year

[Osquito]

I’m not a teacher, have a 5yr old and read this out of curiosity to see what it was about... I would never expect the staff to give my child a gift, no matter how small!!! I feel pretty confident my child wouldn’t expect one either. It is so sweet of you to try to come up with something the children would enjoy, but my god when I think about staff that have put so much of their effort into teaching and nurturing my child, making him have a brilliant first year of school, etc... having to buy 30+ little treats on top it makes me sad.

[BackforGood]

I agree with FourEyesGood, Queen of CBA and others, particularly the ones involving a class photo.
OTOH, do not get involved in starting to put hours you don't have, into making individual laminated bookmarks each. There is FAR too much else for you to be doing at this time of year.

[YourSarcasmIsDripping]

Total cost about £21 .

[YourSarcasmIsDripping]

I'm doing for my kids sunflower seeds in a little packet with a nice message inside(probably twee,but I really liked it) mini eraser and mini touchable bubbles. They're a very young y3 so hopefully they'll enjoy it. Maybe even grow something.

[winewolfhowls]

Love the laminated photo ideas here

[billynomatesagain]

My son came home with a bookmark from a student teacher which she'd written a children's book quote in the back which was relevant to him, he loves it.

[concernedforthefuture]

As a parent, I don't expect a present for my kids from teachers. It sounds ungrateful but I loathe 'plastic tat' and would much rather the teacher had spent £10/£20 to buy a couple of nice books for their classroom / school library than to buy a load of novelty gifts that soon get forgotten about and dumped in landfill.
Ditto novelty stationery: the erasers are usually crap ones that don't rub out properly! A nice personalised pencil would be appreciated.
Food gifts are tricky - lots of allergies in our school and parents aren't keen on sugary things wrapped in yet more single-use plastic.
What my children would adore and remember is a treat in school like an ice cream / lolly and an hour of free play to celebrate the end of year. And maybe a nice card with some photos from that year that parents might not have already seen (school trips, special visitors in school etc.).

[notso]

The things my kids have kept have been the laminated/framed pictures with personalised messages, DS1 got a 'lucky' sixpence with a little message in year 6 that he still has.

The cake is a good idea though.

[XXVaginaAndAUterus]

May I possibly gently suggest that cupcake cases are plastic single use, and that sugary food has been demonstrated to be unpopular with parents, some of whom will moan that you're encouraging unhealthy eating habits

There are some lovely pencils and even some pens that you can buy for under 50p (I have to buy similar things with a 30-50p budget). They do love novelty erasers too, and novelty rulers (you can even get recycled plastic ones for under 50p), mini travel connect 4 etc, if it's plastic it's better if it's not single use in my opinion. Multipacks of friendship bracelets. Check baker ross, Amazon and ebay - watch for delivery times and feedback on the latter two as some ship from China and take weeks.

Or buy a load of potting flowerpots (cardboard is an option but I won't shout if it's plastic ) a bag of potting compost and plant something quick growing and easily pleasing. Sticker with photo of class on the pot and cheesy line about the children growing really well this year or something.

[Gallovich]

I've got my reception class a flying disc/ frisbee thing each, as they are all really keen outdoors/ active children. They were 79p each in the range. I also have 30 children and didn't want to spend tons on them!

[PinkFlowerFairy]

The only one we kept was a laminated picture of the class with a lovely message from the teacher.

The laminated personalised bookmark above is even more lovely.

[Shiraznowplease]

The only present my ds has kept was a laminated bookmark that his teacher must have spent ages making with three photos of him taken throughout the year and a personalised message on the back mentioning what he had done well in that year, good luck in year four and about his hobby that he is obsessed about.

[stayingaliveisawayoflife]

I do a cheap pencil case. I bought 12 for £3 from the works or Baker Ross earlier this year. I also bought blank key rings which a put a photo in and their name, class name and year on the other side. I put the key ring on the zip pull.

I also do a fridge magnet with all their pics on so a mini class photo but that is an extra. My TA buys them a pencil and my PPA cover teacher buys them a rubber and they go in the case.

I did have a child in year 6 bring me their pencil case to show they still have it with key ring! They look a bit different know and the case is well worn!

[OhioOhioOhio]

I buy a heap of very cheap glasses and a glass engraver. They then design their own glass. You keep the glass engraver, rinse and repeat for next year.

[imip]

The thing I appreciated the most as a parent was a card with the photo of the class on the front, say at a school trip, and a message written by all adults in class. Not all parents can afford school photos, and this was a really lovely memory to have.

If you really want to buy something - pen, pencil. Books are lovely, but some are duds!

[JamieFraserskiltspeaksout]

I do now understand some of the reasons for not 'buying' things. Particularly the plastic toys etc that don't show any likelihood of being used.
That's why I thought a cupcake and card would be ok. We have made bookmarks as part of our changeover day otherwise that would have been lovely.
So I think I'll stick with a cupcake and card for each child just wishing them luck. I know some children have nothing in our deprived little area and I want to send them on their way with something 'nice' for being such a lovely class.
Thank you for all the feedback - it has put some things on perspective

[DrMadelineMaxwell]

We do an ice lolly on the last day.

And I spend my time, but school resources, to make a cover for an autograph book for them to use as they are year 6 and like something for their friends to sign. I personalise them with a wordcloud in the shape of something they like, with their name and their favourite things from the year on. They then create the book and tie it together with ribbon.

[MargeryB]

Teachers give enough to the kids, in time and expertise, which is so much more valuable then the gifts you're proposing. Please don't give up your money or encourage materialism in the kids. They don't need to get an item. The suggestion of bookmarks and ice lollies was a great one if you must.

[winewolfhowls]

You sound really lovely and I genuinely don't intend to be rude when I say that I feel that buying kids presents is not good. It further encourages the public perception that teachers are well paid, it puts pressure on others to do the same who might not be able to afford it, and deprofessionalises us (if that is the correct phrase). I also don't think that children should buy presents for staff either for the same reasons. Cards with a thoughtful message are lovely, honestly.

[FourEyesGood]

@QueenofCBA
Our opinion seems pretty unpopular. It makes me sad that some teachers feel under pressure to spend their own money on the students (and that so many buy so much plastic tat that’ll probably just end up in landfill/the sea).

If you like your students, tell them! Don’t give them a bit of plastic that they’ll find at the bottom of a drawer in a couple of years and then throw out.

[putonyourdancingshoes]

What about scratch art bookmarks, you could etch their names into them or let them do it? Amazon have these.

[QueenofCBA]

You do not spend your own money on gifts for your students!!!

Make them a personalised laminated bookmark with school supplies and be done with it. If you feel very generous buy a big box of ice lollies or throw them a film party with popcorn one afternoon. That’s enough.

Nobody needs more plastic tat and neither children nor parents will like you less if you don’t get them a present.