Teachers, some advice please

kingfisherblue

My older son has just started a new special school. He has a class teacher and two TAs, but his class teacher doesn't actually teach him. He has several other teachers and TAs throughout the week.

He wants to give Christmas presents, which I am quite happy to do. They make school such an exciting and happy time for my son. However, so many names appear in his Home/School book that I can't keep track. Everyone so known by their first name, so I don't know whether they are teachers or TAs. Some have him just one day or part day a week.

I would like to make a hamper for the staff room, rather than individual presents. Apart from the expense, I would hate to miss someone out. I'm aware that teachers tend to receive a lot of chocolate, and have always avoided giving it. I try to make presents more personal and always put a lot of thought into what I am giving. However, with a hamper, this may not be possible.

I am thinking of a tin of decent biscuits, a tin of savoury biscuits, and a cheese board. Maybe flavoured teas and a couple of jars of flavoured coffee as well, depending on how my budget works out. My daughter (not a teacher, but works in a place where communal gifts are received by clients) thinks I should forget about the savoury biscuits and cheeseboard. However, many people enjoy savoury snacks and I thought it would mean that there is a mix of sweet and savoury to suit all tastes.

I know that we don't have to give anything, but my son wants to, and that is important to me. He will write all of his own cards as well as a general card for the staff room.

Opinions or additional ideas welcomed please.

tibawo

I found this a few years back that if you stated buying individual bits it becomes really expensive and to just get the teacher something could come across as though you don't worthy the rest.

In the end I made a sledge out of lid from A4 paper box and filled with biscuits, chocolate etc with long dates on that they staff could share or even divide if they wished.

It worked well as even cleaners etc who often get overlooked came to me to say thanks.

It has now become the tradition for us!

MrsSave

I am a teacher but also have a son who is in nursery where he is with lots of different members of staff so have been thinking along similar lines for Christmas.

When I read through your post I must admit that I stopped at the cheeseboard bit. I, personally, don't think it would be used in a staff room, more likely one member of staff would take it home or it would be shared out. I am planning on a tin of chocolates for the nursery, so that they can be dipped into quickly. Biscuits would be the same. Teachers often have a few minutes at break time to grab a cup of tea so will grab a biscuit/chocolate. I genuinely don't think they'd sit and eat cheese and biscuits.

It is a lovely idea, but I don't think suitable sorry!

couponqueen123

what about some dates , fresh fruit and nice ham and bread (home made if possible also keep cost down and make a few cakes too ,

i prefer savory to sweet but would be grateful with anything .

at my daughters school all kids give £ 4 and the teacher get a spa night one evening in a local spa could you organise maybe something like this it takes alot but it can be a great treat for teacher and i will also admit im new to the school so dont organise it but think its great and easy as pie for me and no faffing with what prezzie to but it works out about £1 per teacher/ta/helper

in my daughter class is 1 teacher and 3 ta/helper and most classes are same in early years

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

MrsSave wrote: »

I am a teacher but also have a son who is in nursery where he is with lots of different members of staff so have been thinking along similar lines for Christmas.

When I read through your post I must admit that I stopped at the cheeseboard bit. I, personally, don't think it would be used in a staff room, more likely one member of staff would take it home or it would be shared out. I am planning on a tin of chocolates for the nursery, so that they can be dipped into quickly. Biscuits would be the same. Teachers often have a few minutes at break time to grab a cup of tea so will grab a biscuit/chocolate. I genuinely don't think they'd sit and eat cheese and biscuits.

It is a lovely idea, but I don't think suitable sorry!

An equal number would love the opportunity to have something they like rather than yet another offering of sugary stuff. It's easily the most popular thing in staffroom meals /snacks at my school, anyway. How about getting small packs of cheese and mini cracker packs?

I'd add twiglets, mini cheddars and suchlike.

theoretica

I think a mix would be great but would incline away from anything that wouldn't keep until after Christmas or needed to be in a fridge.

Spendless

I work in an office, where one of our sub contractors sent in a hamper at xmas for the office staff. As well as containing tin of chocs and mince pies, it also had biscuits, pringles, other savoury products such as cheese puffs, hot chocolate and schloer.

*max*

To add to other comments, nothing homemade. No matter how good (and hygienic) a cook you are/think you are, it'll most likely end up in the bin unfortunately.

moomoomama27

I work in a school as a TA, and would echo, nothing perishable, nothing homemade, because it will get thrown, just incase

Better stick to nice biscuits, more savoury than sweet, as it's very normally billions of chocolate and sweet stuff, teas, coffees and hot chocolates are a great idea, something we get through in abundance

It's a lovely idea though

Quackers1

I like the idea of a hamper (I'm a teacher) but would also include sugar and long life milk instead of cheese, even a bottle of washing up liquid would be welcome in our staff room or some kind of savoury snack that can be dipped into. Great to hear that your school is finding his new school fun!

suki1964

*max* wrote: »

To add to other comments, nothing homemade. No matter how good (and hygienic) a cook you are/think you are, it'll most likely end up in the bin unfortunately.

Why?


It's not being sold its a gift

When I worked for the NHS we used to love a homemade cake, biscuits. Scones etc. all got ate