When I was a child, my mum was a massive fan of cacti and succulent plants. As a result, when it came to the end of the autumn term, she would venture into the greenhouse to snip off a cutting and hastily shove it in some soil.

“Here you go love,” she would say, “Mrs Drayton will love this, everyone loves a crassula ovata”.

I always felt rather chuffed that I was giving my teacher a “living gift” that could last forever, and with such an exciting name too.

But there was always a slight worry that the thing might not take root. Or that my teacher didn’t really fancy the burden of another houseplant to look after - what with all the children she had to nurture.

My mind is alive with these quasi-Proustian thoughts when I turn to what to hand my own children for their teachers at Christmas.

The stakes now, of course, are higher than ever. Teachers have reported receiving everything from a bottle of anti-dandruff shampoo to a brace of pheasants.

At my children’s school, some children bring in some rather impressive bunches of flowers wrapped up with shiny paper and ribbons, others have clearly gone upmarket with a presentation tray of Ferrero Rocher.

And although I am keen to thank the teachers for their amazing hard work, I’m keen not to enter an ‘arms race’ or merely add to the annual pile of tat.

Teachers themselves continually stress the joy of receiving handwritten thankyou notes from their young charges, although I am sure many are also content with a box of fake Guylian shells from Lidl (other cut-price continental pralines are available).

So the question is - how to choose? What to get the teacher who already has 150 mugs, 13 sets of handkerchiefs and more chocolate than is entirely wise?

It’s a busy school with big classes, so there’s not really much chance to get to know the teachers well - so I spy on them a bit at pick up times instead.

Any hint of enthusiasm for anything - one teacher is often to be seen wearing a scarf in the classroom - helps me on my quest for the perfect gift. I feel sorry for him if everyone uses this technique though - he’ll have a scarf for every day of the year by the end of his career.

Teachers do an incredible job and by the end of the first term, they are looking fried.

While I struggle with three children, and often neglect the middle one, (no differentiation in our house) they somehow manage to teach 30 all at once without letting a single one slip off the radar. I’m pretty much in awe of how hard they work.

While it sort of feels good to get them a present and say thanks, most of me just wants to give them a hug. And maybe a just a tiny cactus in a Santa hat.

Irena Barker, a writer and mother of three children, two of whom are at primary school

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