Gifts for Teachers

Mado

Why don't you ask round and see if other parents would like to join in.
I know it takes some of the joy of giving from the children but you get get a nice pressie (I am organising the same in DD's year2 class). I found that some parents would not give anything as you can hardly get a decent pressie for £2 or so but would happily chip in a communal pot.
The children can still make their own card and that way you could get a present to keep, rtaher than consumables.

filigree_2

I hope no-one takes this the wrong way, but don't forget the classroom assistants! I'm not blowing my own trumpet (I'm not doing the job now anyway) but some school support staff do work ever so hard and the parents barely know we exist. One parent gave me a few Roses chocolates in a wee box, I know it wasn't a lot but I'd only worked with her child for a few weeks and I was touched that she'd remembered me.

My son's class has a full-time teacher, a part-time teacher and an assistant so I'll be busy! I have an unfeasibly large stash of toiletries from special offers so I might pick out the nicest ones. I do have some good quality foot soaks and creams, I like that suggestion - your feet really ache at the end of the day.

My son's main teacher is still rather young and I always remember her buying microwave ready meals and complaining about the expense - perhaps I should get her a good budget cook book

This is a sad summer for us, Junior is leaving and it's the end of an eight year relationship with the school staff, especially as I worked there and served on the PTA. I haven't given gifts every year but I'll make the effort this time, to mark the end of an era.

bylromarha

bluep wrote:

Sounds like primary school teaching is far more lucrative though! Lol

mmmm...my secondary teaching friends agree that primary work far harder than secondary...get more money for doing less...and I'll stop there as I'm going off post.

Just want to echo what's been said...you really don't have to buy a pressie for a teacher at the end of the year whether you got on with them or not. I used to open all my pressies with the class on the carpet at the end of the year as it's sooo much fun and they' want to see your "delighted" face when you open the tenth box of chocs. I always used to finish the pressie opening session off with the class all smiling at me as "that was the best ever present I could have as a teacher"...schmultzy but true.

And you've made me remember that my son's room is decorated with 2 china ornaments (on my yuck list above)...I couldn't bear to part with them as they were a present from a boy who used to throw chairs at me and the kids in September, run out of the school gate, pinch, and bruise me and was generally hard work. We had ofsted in the following June and the inspectors never said a word about him as he was enjoying his first time at the school when he was never in trouble. Worked flipping hard with that kid and the skint mum who had been on the verge of a breakdown with this kid found some money from somewhere to buy me those 99p ornaments as her way of saying thank you...it's going to take a long time before I part with those tacky things!

Poppy9

aeuerby wrote:

However this year my daughter's teacher will not be receiving anything as we have had a dreadful year with her..........

Nice to know we are not the only ones suffering with a poor teacher. No problems with the work issued or progress just the quick temper and general attitude. He's off my pressie list. I begrudged buying at Xmas so I bought a flashing charity xmas badge in aid of local hospice for £2 for him. My daughter thought it was a fab pressie as she had one too.

Even with teachers I have loved (not literally:eek: ) I never spend more than a few quid. In Nursery & Reception where there have been a few LA I have bought a big tin of choccies to share or a nice bottle of bubbles each. I also give to a teacher who gives up a lunch hour a week to do folk group with them (plus has to attend outside functions with folk group in her own time). Then there is the bus driver and escort (choccies or wine there). I never started with giving to dance teacher, gym teacher etc as I am paying them a fair whack for their services. School secretary is fab so she gets a little something just at Xmas.

I think most teachers are happy with any gift if they think the child has enjoyed giving it. I know teaching friends who simply recycle excess choccies or toiletries.

If this current teacher had bucked up his ideas I was going to give to overseas aid (a fav of his) via the gift aid thingy. Roll on Comp where all the present giving ends!

Finally - I have to laugh as some parents who just want to impress. Beautiful gift bags (at least 6 of them too) obviously chosen and dressed by Mummy, which Mummy proudly carries into school at the end of the day when other parents are at the gates to tell little Portia to run back and give to Teachers, LA & Head. They don't impress us we just think they are mad splashing out on gifts for people who are being paid to teach their little darlings.

henhog

I teach secondary school and don't get many gifts - maybe the odd bottle of wine come results time from a grateful sixth former. Much prefer the nice letters the parents write - a thankyou letter here and there (for organizing a school trip etc). My son is in year two - I normally do the bottle of wine thing - I think flowers can go to waste if teacher is going on holiday soon, they get lots of smellies and chocs can be a waste if dieting. They can always bring the wine to a dinner party if they don't drink and it will save them some money. (I always buy reduced wine i.e. £8.00 wine on offer at half price!)

beadysam

We usually buy good quality instant coffee (on BOGOF!), tea bags, squash, packets of biccys - all for the staff room, for ALL of the staff to share when they get back after the hols. It always seems to go down well...
SAM xx

ex-eastender

This year I have bought Radox Stress Relief Herbal Bath 1 litre on offer at moment for £1.49 instead of usual £3.49.
My eldest daughter has given hers to her teacher already and she told her she really needed some of that!!
I've seen it offered in several chemist I bought mine locally in village chemist.
Shows you can still find a bargain in in the Highlands.

culpepper

we bought my sons favourite teacher a book token one year.
My DD wanted to give her teach a pressy even though she didnt like her! So she gave her a box of chocs with her own home decorated wrapping paper.

jellyhead

oooh poppy you forgot the lollipop lady lol!

Poppy9

jellyhead wrote:

oooh poppy you forgot the lollipop lady lol!

:rotfl:

No I didn't we don't have one! DD goes on school bus which drops outside school gate. Head then meets and greets to ensure the children go straight into school.

Mind you what about the poor caretaker, or the school cleaners, or the kitchen staff and dinner ladies OMG what a terrible person I am forgetting those

Wouldn't dare forget my office cleaner. She is a darling. Shampooed the office carpet after our fridge leaked, cleaned our minging kettle for us. We always keep her a cake when we have them on birthdays.