Christmas gift card ideas for teachers

Not every gift card is suitable for a parent or student to give to a teacher. Anything too personal, such as perfume or clothes in a size you had to guess, can feel a little awkward. A gift card related to alcohol or gaming isn't really suitable to give in a school environment.

The best Christmas gift cards for teachers tend to come from a handful of safe categories.

• Everyday essentials can be covered by the supermarket gift card which can go towards Christmas food shopping, wrapping paper, or a new pair of slippers.
• Relaxation is a great category for teachers, especially after a long term of marking, parents' evenings, and end of term reports. Consider giving one of our spa gift cards which can go towards a massage or a luxurious afternoon at a wellness retreat.
• Food and drink is always welcome, especially over Christmas. We have gift cards for various coffee shops and a wide range of restaurant gift cards which can pay for a meal with friends or family.
• Entertainment is a fun option, and our range includes cinema, theatre and book gift cards all being a natural fit for teachers interested in the arts.

The following selections are what we consider to be the best Christmas gift cards for teachers. Each of the following gift cards are safe choices for teachers of any subject.

1. Merry Christmas Choice Gift Card

The Merry Christmas Choice Gift Card has a unique festive design and it can be redeemed for other gift cards from a long list of popular brands. It works well when you’re not sure about picking a gift card for a specific brand or retailer.

2. Costa Gift Card

For the teacher who loves coffee, the Costa Gift Card can cover a flat white before the first lesson or a sweet treat on a Saturday.

3. National Book Tokens Gift Card

This is the gift card for the teacher who encourages their students to read and often talks about classic works of literature. The National Book Tokens Gift Card can be used at well-known brands and independent bookshops across the UK, allowing them to buy books at their convenience.

4. Marks & Spencer Gift Card

The Marks & Spencer Gift Card is a sensible choice at Christmas time. It can go towards some premium ingredients and dishes for the Christmas table, or even new clothes. A warm Christmas jumper or a new set of pyjamas.

5. Treatwell Gift Card

Even with the holidays approaching, December can be a long month in school. Although they are a welcome break from the usual schedule, nativity plays, and carol concerts can be exhausting and that’s before the classroom needs tidying up before the holidays. The Treatwell Gift Card unlocks a wide range of beauty and wellness treatments across the UK, from massages to manicures.

A gift card is small, so a little thought in how you hand it over at the end of term can make the moment feel more like giving a Christmas present. We’ve come up with a few ideas for pairing a physical or digital gift card with something else to make the gift more presentable.

• Put it in a mug. Pair a coffee shop card with a plain mug and a couple of chocolates, and it becomes a gift they can actually unwrap.
• Use a festive holder. A card holder with a Christmas design makes it feel ready to give. For physical cards you can also choose one of our Chrstmas-themed gift envelopes or presentation boxes.
• Make a class booklet. Ask each child to draw a picture or write one line about their favourite moment this term, then slip the card inside. This is the type of gift that teachers will keep long after the card is spent.
• Don’t forget to add a personal message. When you buy a gift card on Giftcard.co.uk, you can add a personal message that is included along with the gift card. For an e-gift card, add your message on the product page and the message is included with the card in the delivery email.

Buying a Christmas gift for the teacher can sometimes get left to the last minute, leaving you rushing and short of good choices. How many people will give a generic gift to the teacher like a box of chocolates? On Giftcard.co.uk you can browse all of our Christmas gift cards in one place, from coffee and books to our own choice cards that let the teacher choose what they actually want.

From browsing to final delivery, ordering gift cards through Giftcard.co.uk can be completed in a matter of minutes. Start by choosing the gift card you want, then decide on the value to pre-load on it, and choose between a digital e-gift card or a physical gift card (if available). Finally you can add a personal message for your recipient.

You can also decide who the gift card is sent to, either to you or directly to your recipient, or anyone else such as the parent organising gifts on behalf of the class. Digital e-gift cards are sent immediately on completion of the order. Remember that you can have digital gift cards sent to your own email address, so you can then forward the email on to the teacher when the time is right. Digital gift cards can also be printed out so you have something to put inside a Christmas card.

Still unsure if the teacher would like a gift card for a specific brand? The All-in-1 Choice Gift Card lets the teacher choose from over 350 brands across every gift card category, making it the most flexible option. For more ideas, see our guide to the best Christmas gift cards.

And remember, even a gift card that is modest in value, but is paired with a kind note can be the Christmas present that a teacher remembers.