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The staffroom

Whether you're a permanent teacher, supply teacher or student teacher, you'll find others in the same situation on our Staffroom forum.

Thanking a teacher at the end of term.

6 replies

bullyforyou · 25/06/2021 06:58

We moved to the UK from overseas in December and my 9 year old started a UK school for the first time. He was supposed to start the beginning of January but due to lockdown, he joined in with the online learning provision. He has physically been in school since March.

Anyway, his teacher has done a fabulous job of helping him get settled. During lockdown with us he did regular video calls with us to make sure my son was doing ok and if we needed any more support as obviously he hadn't met my son in person at this stage. When he was able to physically go into school, again, he made great efforts to make sure he settled in as well as possible. I listened in on some of his lessons during lockdown and he is a fun, caring, and engaging teacher. In fact, some lessons made me want to go back to school!
Anyway, it is coming up to the end of the school year and I think it is common here to give the teacher I present. Obviously, I don't know this teacher well and I'm practically minded so I am sure he ends up with lots unwanted gifts.

I was thinking of putting a letter together to the headmaster asking him to pass on my thanks to the teacher and to outline all the things that he did to help my son settle in and how much I appreciate it. Starting a new school is difficult at the best of times, moving from another country makes it even more challenging and in the middle of a pandemic, even more challenging still.

As teachers, if you were the teacher in question, what would you prefer me to do? Letter, Gift or Gift and Letter

OP posts:
reallyneedmoresleep · 25/06/2021 13:35

You sound really lovely!
I think the letter would be massively appreciated. Like so many people, our job has been very hard this year and it sounds like this teacher has gone above and beyond what’s expected to welcome your son. Headteacher’s don’t always see the effort we put in, so parental acknowledgment of that would be great.
I have a box of letters and cards written to me by my students over the years. If I’m having a bad day, I can get it out and remind myself why I do it. A bottle of wine, whilst very much enjoyed, doesn’t have the same long lasting effect.

AttaGirrrrl · 25/06/2021 14:40

definitely the letter - even better if it’s too the head teacher as well as to the teacher.

Wine or chocolate is always a nice gesture if you also want to send a gift.

Cerealtoast2 · 26/06/2021 20:03

Definitely letter! Lovely idea

junebirthdaygirl · 27/06/2021 10:28

Letter would be brilliant especially outlining the specific ways he excelled. Maybe letter to teacher copied to head. But a little gift too!

DollyMixtureLulus · 27/06/2021 11:20

Letter!

bullyforyou · 28/06/2021 15:30

The school have just said no gifts as apparently, they have to quarantine them but I have written a letter to the Head and posted it today as I thought it better printed and sent via the post somehow. I've asked that the Head passes on my thanks to the teacher. I will get him a card as we are allowed to send those as they have space to quarantine them! Thanks for giving me your thoughts.

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