Leaving gift, what would go down well?

[Townorcountrysideliving]

Hoping this is the right room to post this in. The music teacher from our school is leaving and we are gutted. She is an amazing music teacher and has been so supportive and nurturing of every child's musical journey, regardless of abilities. My child is super sad she's leaving and is keen that we get her a leaving gift (we haven't seen a general collection from parents so think this isn't happening). Trouble is, we are not sure what to get because I'm sure she won't want another mug/chocolates/bouquet of flowers to carry home/other. My child is also going to make and write her a card with a note inside.

If you are a teacher and leaving, what would you appreciate as a gift? I don't know if she drinks alcohol so don't want to risk this. Otherwise, I'm thinking a flowers but not on the last day so it's easier to carry home and it's not something she needs to keep?

Any suggestions welcome!

We got my DD's teacher a voucher for a massage! But that was because a few of us knew she really liked this particular therapist and it was expensive. I think flowers are lovely but not very personal.

Yes, i thought the same about flowers but i cant think if what else to get as budget is an issue since there's no collection.

Does she like gardening? A nice metal garden ornament isn't very expensive....or maybe, a nice mug with a coffee voucher and a plant. Or, a good plant...plants are better than flowers as you can keep them.

I've kept:
Earrings
Plants
Shoes
A framed poster
A pot noodle
Mugs

Best ever present is an email to her boss with her cced saying why you think she is fab.

If you want to buy her a thing. I had a voucher for a deli that happens to be near my school. Got to treat myself and it was lovely so I would suggest voucher for something near school coffee/cake/deli or any national store.

How about something homemade? Do you bake? One of my favourite gifts were some homemade white chocolate and cranberry cookies a girl made for me one Christmas. All done up in pretty paper and ribbons.

Could you just engage her in conversation and find out what’s she’s likes? I did this with one of my DDs teachers.

I usually give little pamper packs. My MIL always gets me loads of creams and bath stuff every bday and Xmas even though I never use them. They are usually quite nice ones that aren’t cheap, to be honest I think she gets gifted them first. Anyway I save them for school gifts, each teacher gets a little bag filled with some sort of cream/bath bomb or what ever else, I put a small box of chocolates in and a small bottle of wine or gin. If I like the teacher a lot, there was one who I loved, absolutely amazing with my DD, I found out she loved crosswords and a G&T on a Sunday afternoon. So I put a bottle of gin in her bag and a cross word book too.

@mag2305

How about something homemade? Do you bake? One of my favourite gifts were some homemade white chocolate and cranberry cookies a girl made for me one Christmas. All done up in pretty paper and ribbons.

A lot of people throw homemade food away. It's gross to some.

I'm sure most people wouldn't be like that though. Op might be an amazing baker

Admittedly, I did have a child/parent give me a homemade upside down pear cake one year. It was a lovely thought except that they'd obviously made it a couple of days previously, put it in a tin, hadn't checked it and it was covered in mould when I open it sadly.

@mag2305

I'm sure most people wouldn't be like that though. Op might be an amazing baker

Admittedly, I did have a child/parent give me a homemade upside down pear cake one year. It was a lovely thought except that they'd obviously made it a couple of days previously, put it in a tin, hadn't checked it and it was covered in mould when I open it sadly.

You mustn't have seen the many threads about 'gross homemade baked goods" we often have around Christmas on MN!

I have already received some amazon vouchers - nice and unexpected.

Thanks for the ideas!

I'm a great baker and enjoy it but we are a large school and I'm one of many parents, so not sure whether it will be binned or not if home made. However, maybe I can buy nice ones from a bakery so that's an idea.

@SquashedFlyBiscuits agree and I've done this already and usually do this even if they aren't leaving.

@AliceMcK we are a large school so it was hard before to engage any teacher any conversation and almost impossible now because Covid rules means we can't hang around or enter the school playground.

A plant or voucher is a good idea - I'll look into that!

I've been given a costa voucher before, was nice to get a coffee and cake as a treat over the summer. I stole the idea for my DS teacher and it seemed to go down well. But a card with a nice message is always most appreciated.