Britain’s educators are bringing parents tears – in the best possible way
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The UK’s teachers and teaching assistants (TAs) are having an extraordinary emotional and lifelong impact, well beyond the classroom walls.
In fact, more than half (57%) of parents surveyed say they have been so touched by something their child’s teacher has done for them in the past year that they have been moved to tears.
The study, commissioned by multi-store gift card, One4all Gift Cards, that surveyed 1,039 UK parents, also found 67% credit a teacher or TA from their own school days with having had a life-long impact on them.
Modern classrooms demand serious multitasking, with nearly three-quarters (72%) of parents of school-aged children surveyed saying today’s educators have to do far more than just teach.
Acting as mentors or personal-development coaches (67%), emotional support providers (65%) and caregivers for pupils’ wellbeing (54%) were some of the extra roles teachers and TAs have to juggle, alongside teaching.
59% report their teachers boosted their confidence for good, while four in ten (41%) remember they regularly went above and beyond for them.
Current teachers and TAs are just as heroic. In the past year alone, 66% say their child’s teacher or TA has gone above and beyond, most often by offering emotional support (38%) or nurturing a hidden talent (30%).
The survey revealed which standout skills Brits admire most in these everyday classroom heroes, more than a third (36%) said the power to turn a meltdown into a teachable moment, followed by delivering life lessons between maths problems (28%), and having seemingly inhuman patience (21%).
Despite this, 64% of parents feel these extra efforts made by teaching staff go under-recognised.
Lou Hickey, EMEA Marketing Director at One4all Gift Cards, commented: “The UK’s teachers and teaching assistants are the everyday heroes of the school gates – calming playground panics one minute, coaching confidence the next, and somehow still fitting long division into the timetable. We remember the teachers who believed in us, and now we’re seeing them do the same for the younger generations.
“Whether they’re being motivational with a ‘you’ve got this!’ pep talk or a source of calm during a science class wobble, their superpowers leave a mark that lasts well beyond the final bell. Teaching life lessons that will take them into their careers and beyond.”
The One4all Gift Card is a perfect thank-you gift for teachers and TAs. As a multi-store gift card, it lets them choose something they truly love. Whether it’s a treat for themselves or something useful, they can spend it directly in-store or online with 100s of retailers on 1000s of brands – so there’s something to suit every teacher’s taste.
Ranging in value from £10-£120, you can pick up a One4all Gift Card at your local Post Office, Tesco, selected Morrisons and Morrisons Daily, Sainsbury’s, John Lewis, Waitrose, Co-op, Aldi, Poundland, Payzone, Iceland, The Food Warehouse, Argos, Currys or Farmfoods stores, or buy online at Amazon or one4all.com.
