A former teacher has shared the one gift he treasured throughout his career, offering advice to parents struggling to find the perfect present for their child's teacher this Christmas. Damon Culbert, who now runs gift firm PersonalisedBee, says a personalised message from a student can mean more than any expensive item.
Damon's favourite gift was a video recording from a child thanking him. 'I still have this video to this day. It was the reason I stayed in education for a long time,' he said. He advises parents to speak to their children about what the teacher likes, such as a favourite tea or sports team, to ensure the gift feels personal.
With more than 40,000 teachers leaving the profession each year, Damon believes the right gift can remind teachers why they started. 'Gifts can be a useful reminder of why teachers began their profession - to make a difference in children's lives,' he added. He suggests pooling resources for a class gift, which can cost as little as 30p per parent.
Damon also highlighted three gifts to avoid, though he did not specify them in detail. He emphasised that most teachers do not expect a present but appreciate any gesture, especially during the cost of living crisis.
