After a year of early starts, busy classrooms and lesson planning, the end of the school year is a good moment to say thank you. Teachers put in long hours and a lot of effort and a small gift is a lovely way to show them how much they are appreciated.
A heartfelt card is often enough, but if you want to add something to it, a thoughtful present goes a long way. Whether you're after something practical, personal, or a little bit fun, this selection covers a range of ideas for all budgets and personalities.
Under £5
Small gifts can say just as much as bigger ones. Here are some of our favourites for under £5.
1. Sweets and Biscuits
A sweet treat is an easy way to say thank you. For something cheerful and summer-themed, we like the dainty Creamy Daisy Hazelnut Cream Confectionery or the colourful Daisy Sweets Pot.
2. Hand Cream
Given the amount of hand washing that comes with working in a school, a good hand cream is a gift that's likely to get used. Bag-friendly sizes and lovely scents make for a present that can be kept on-hand all term long. A gift pack with multiple tubes and scents, like the Flower Bed Assorted Hand Creams, works either as a single gift, or why not split the tubes up so all the teachers and TAs can have one? If you want to spend a little more, the Flower of Focus Hand Cream Tin comes in a reusable tin that's perfect for storing stationery.
3. Notebook
Teachers tend to go through notebooks quickly, and one with a bit of personality makes a nicer alternative to the plain pads in the school stationery cupboard. Pick something that suits the teacher, a witty design, a theme that matches their interests, or a bright colour that won't get lost in a bag.
With 80 lined pages, gold foil accents and a fun design, the Designworks What The Shell Notebook is a good example. For a step up, the No Prob Llama Notebook and Pen Set at £16.99 comes with a pen included.
4. Tote Bag
Teachers carry a lot. Books, marking, lunch, it all adds up, and a decent tote bag tends to get a lot of use. Made from natural jute and large enough to carry a full week's worth of marking, the Bents Jute Shopping Bag is a more sustainable option than a plastic bag for life.
5. Plant Pot
A classic plant pot paired with a plant or herb works beautifully and is just the thing to brighten up a desk or windowsill.
Compact enough for a windowsill and in a soft green colour that suits most spaces, the Creekwood Cotswold Cylinder is a neat finishing touch to a plant-based gift.
£5 to £10
From something fun and lighthearted to something they'll reach for every day, there's plenty to choose from in this range.
6. Keyring
A keyring is one of those gifts that goes everywhere with the recipient. Pick one with a bit of personality and it becomes something they'll notice every time they reach for their keys.
The cheerful Designworks Lucky You Keychain comes with a built-in pen making it extra useful.
7. Chocolates
Chocolates are a failsafe teacher gift for good reason. The key is choosing something that feels a little more special than a supermarket box.
Rich and truffle-filled, the Baileys Original Truffles come presented ready to gift, with no wrapping required. A solid choice for any chocolate lover.
8. Garden Lantern
For a teacher who enjoys the garden or likes to sit outside in the evenings, an outdoor lantern is a gift they can get plenty of use from over the summer.
Hand-painted with a butterfly design and compatible with candles or LED lights, the Smart Garden Papillon Lantern is easy to use and looks good wherever you put it.
9. Soft Toy
Not every teacher's gift needs to be practical. For someone with a sense of humour, something playful and a little unexpected can go down really well.
The Kawaii Kuties Plant is a fun nod to the classic teacher's plant gift, but considerably harder to kill. Or if you want to spend more the Jellycat Peanut Star Student Outfit is hard to open without smiling.
10. Coffee Voucher
For the teacher who runs on caffeine, a voucher for their favourite coffee shop is a choice that is bound to be well received. Most coffee chains will offer gift cards, or if you’re based near Warrington, our Bents Coffee and Cake Gift Voucher is a lovely local option.
£10 to £20
For those wanting to spend a little more, these gift ideas are a little more indulgent.
11. Pen
Teachers go through pens at an alarming rate and a good one is rarely something they'd splash out on for themselves. A decent pen with a bit of style makes a genuinely useful gift that won't end up forgotten in a drawer.
Two metal pens with a matte finish and gold accents, the Designworks Colour Block Pen Set comes presented in a smart set that is miles away from the standard stationery cupboard offerings.
12. Book Light
For anyone who loves reading, a book light helps make getting cosy with your favourite book even more enjoyable.
Compact and travel-friendly, the Designworks Lilac Book Light is small enough to clip onto any book and easy to take anywhere.
13. Cream Tea
After a long term, giving a teacher something to look forward to over the summer is a gift in itself. A cream tea for two is the kind of treat most people wouldn't book for themselves but would thoroughly enjoy.
The Bents Cream Tea for Two covers all the essentials, scones, clotted cream and a proper pot of tea. The only hard part is deciding whether to put the cream or the jam on first.
14. Pamper Kit
After a term of giving a lot to everyone else, a pamper kit is a gift that's entirely for them. The Baylis and Harding Wellness Tin of Treats has everything needed for a proper self-care evening, with an energising spa-like scent of warm ginger, soft lime and basil. All presented in a smart reusable tin.
15. Diffuser
After a long term, something that helps a teacher properly switch off is worth its weight in gold. A diffuser can help create a calm, restful atmosphere without requiring any effort, which feels like exactly the right kind of gift.
Combining gentle scent diffusion with soft LED lighting, the Aromatize Ceramic LED Diffuser Fan is stylish enough to work in the bedroom or on the desk.
£20+
For a particularly special teacher, or a gift that works well as a group contribution from the whole class.
16. Insulated Mug
Most teachers spend their days drinking lukewarm tea. An insulated mug that keeps a drink hot until the last sip is the kind of practical upgrade they'll use every day and quietly thank you for.
Built to last and dishwasher safe, the Yeti Rambler Tumbler is in a different league to a standard mug and will still be going strong years from now.
17. Scented Candle
A luxurious scented candle is a lovely way to make your space feel more inviting and restful. The Aery Positive Energy Candle has an uplifting scent and a name that feels particularly well-suited for someone who has spent the past year pouring energy into other people.
18. Throw
Something a teacher can sink into on the sofa over the summer holidays and beyond. A good throw is a gift that will get used year after year.
Soft and generously sized, the Beechwood Throw comes in a soft green and white stripe that works well on a sofa or a bed.
19. Afternoon Tea Experience
For a teacher who deserves something properly memorable, an afternoon tea experience gives them something to look forward to after the school year has ended. It works particularly well as a group gift from a whole class, with the cost shared across a few families.
Our Bents Afternoon Tea for Two includes sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and patisserie cakes. The only question is whether they'll save it for a special occasion or treat themselves straight away.
How Much Should You Spend?
There's no fixed rule on how much you should spend. A small, well-chosen gift means just as much as a more expensive one, and a handwritten card with a genuine message is often the most appreciated thing of all. If you want to spend more, buying as a group spreads the cost and means you can choose something a little more special.
You'll find all of these gifts and more in the Bents gifts range, available in store and online. And if you're thinking about how to keep the kids entertained over the summer holidays, our Dinosaur Trail is running throughout the school holidays at Bents Hidden Garden, with giant dinosaurs, outdoor adventure and plenty to discover around every corner.