With the onset of Christmas comes a dilemma: do you buy your child’s teacher a gift, or do you just discreetly leave a card?
There should be no pressure to buy, but if you are going to get a little something then the general consensus on the web – from parents and teachers – is that there are certain things to steer clear of. In particular, stay away from gifts emblazoned with “#1 teacher” or “world’s best teacher”.
Oh yes, and anything edible that was made by little hands (which may have been up little noses) should not be presented with a bow.
While we can’t guarantee that our wishlist will follow these guidelines to the letter, here at the Guardian Teacher Network we’ve pulled together a few ideas. Ranging from £2.50 to £20.00, these presents are ideal for individual and group purchases.
If you are a teacher yourself then you may even want to get something for a colleague or as part of a festive staffroom Secret Santa. Here are our top picks:
Gifts under £10.00
We think these periodic table handkerchiefs are quite quirky and at £7.50 they’re not to be sniffed at. We really love this notebook too and you can add the name of the teacher you’re sending it to, as well as the child it’s from, for a personal touch. Made from recycled paper, it’s an eco-friendly choice and at just £6.50 makes a great stocking filler. We also spotted this weekly planner , which can be used as either a calendar or a page of daily reminders. It’s only £9.75.
Continuing with the theme of organisation, John Lewis’s sticky notes, whose messages range from “to remember” and “to ponder”, to my favourite “to put off”, are ideal for dividing up the important of tasks of the day – and cost just £8.95.
If you are looking for more of a keepsake, Debenhams have a beautiful ceramic angel for £8.95, which would make a lovely gift from a younger pupil. For older students, why not personalise this bone china bauble from Gettingpersonal.co.uk; at £9.99, it wont break the bank.
On a budget: Ok, ok, we know we said no “#1 teacher” or “world’s best teacher” gifts but this certificate from Tesco is a nice way for a little one to show appreciation for their favourite teacher. It’s simple but thoughtful and costs just £2.50.
Gifts between £11.00 and £20.00
For something a bit exotic, £12.00 will buy you this rather scrummy-looking library-themed box of chocolate bars (warning: may contain nuts) from John Lewis. With flavours such as dark chocolate sea salt and dark chocolate with dragon ginger, we’d definitely try them with a mug of mulled wine or a hot toddy.
For something that will benefit both teacher and class, this mushroom growing kit from GroCycle is perfect. It uses waste coffee grounds and you’ll have gourmet oyster mushrooms within two weeks. At £16.50, teacher and pupils will have a fun(ghi) time watching them grow.
If you want to buy a subject specific pressie for a secondary teacher, take a look at the range on offer at Present Indicative. Prices vary but this vintage map umbrella is most definitely worth £16.00 – with the English climate, any geography teacher would see the benefit.
We all know teachers need to wind down so indulge them with a miniature bottle of wine and personalised glass from Gettingpersonal.co.uk. It costs £17.99 but you could team up and buy it as a group. If you’re not a big drinker, sharpen up a teacher’s workspace with this wooden desk tidy from John Lewis. It will make a great (and very useful) classroom feature and it costs £15.95.
Blowing the budget: If money is no issue, this 3D artwork is made from crayons and can be produced as a either an initial or number and can be bought from John Lewis. At £60.00, it may be a little bit extravagant price-wise but looks great. Or, for something traditional but with a modern twist, this solid oak iPad holder from Gettingpersonal.co.uk is a nice touch and can be personalised too, it will however, set you back £84.99.
• Please note that these prices do not include delivery/postal charges.
