Schools & Institutions
An institution buys differently from a retailer: the order goes through a procurement process, the product has to survive daily classroom use, and the paperwork matters as much as the price.
What a procurement process asks for
Institutional buying usually runs through a specification and a tender, and the documents requested are the same ones a retailer would ask for, with more emphasis on durability.
- Test reports for each item and material combination, from a third-party laboratory, against the standards of your market.
- A manufacturer’s declaration naming the standards applied, and material specifications for the wood, board and coatings.
- Social audit documentation including BSCI, and FSC chain of custody where certified stock is specified (certificate ESTS-COC-240650).
- Specifications in writing, including dimensions, materials and finish, so the delivered goods can be checked against the tender.
What an institutional order needs
| Procurement documents | Third-party test reports per item, a manufacturer’s declaration naming the standards applied, and material specifications if the tender process asks for them. |
|---|---|
| Durability | Solid parts, sanded edges and finishes chosen for daily handling rather than for shelf appeal, which is what a classroom environment demands. |
| Age grading | Items matched to the age group they are bought for, with the corresponding test programme rather than a single grade across a whole order. |
| Spare parts | Individual components can be supplied for the parts that wear or get lost, which extends the life of a set rather than replacing it. |
| MOQ | 50 pieces per item on the in-stock range, and mixed orders across several items are normal for a classroom or nursery. |
| Lead time | Around 30 days after order confirmation, subject to complexity, material and quantity, planned against the start of a term where needed. |
Built for a classroom rather than a shelf
- Solid components. Parts sized and shaped to be handled daily by children, with edges sanded in two or three rounds and checked before packing.
- Finishes that last. Water-based paint formulated to the migration limits, and unfinished options where a setting prefers bare wood.
- Replaceable parts. Individual components can be supplied for the pieces that wear or go missing, so a set is repaired rather than replaced.
- Storage and quantity. Sets can be planned to the number of children in a room rather than to retail pack sizes.
Matching items to the age group
The age grade decides the test programme, and mixing age groups in a single order means the items are not interchangeable from a compliance point of view.
- Under three. No small parts, and the item is tested at that age grade. See the EN71 page for how this works in the EU.
- Three and over. Different mechanical requirements, which is why the same design can be a different test programme for a different room.
- Montessori and classroom ranges. Our Montessori line is built around shapes, sorting and early mathematics, with the age grade confirmed per item.
What we supply to an institutional order
- Test reports and a manufacturer’s declaration per item, ready for the file your procurement process requires.
- Material and finish specifications in writing, so the delivered goods can be checked against the tender.
- Mixed orders across several items, which is the normal shape of a classroom or nursery order.
- Spare components for wear parts, supplied with the order or on request afterwards.
See wooden educational toys for the range and wooden toy FAQ for the questions buyers ask most often.
Related: Montessori wooden toy manufacturer · Wooden educational toys · Solutions by buyer type · OEM wooden toys · Private label wooden toys · Wooden toy manufacturer · Request a quotation
Frequently asked questions
Do you supply the documentation a tender asks for?
Yes. Test reports per item, a manufacturer’s declaration naming the standards applied, material and finish specifications, BSCI social audit documentation and FSC chain of custody where certified stock is specified.
Can we order several different items in one order?
Yes. Mixed orders across several items are normal for a classroom or nursery, and the in-stock range starts at 50 pieces per item.
Can you supply spare parts?
Yes. Individual components can be supplied for the parts that wear or get lost, so a set can be repaired rather than replaced.
Are your items suitable for daily classroom use?
Solid parts, edges sanded in two or three rounds and finishes chosen for handling rather than shelf appeal are the standard build. The finish can be specified per item.
Can you deliver before the start of a term?
Tell us the date you need it. Production takes around 30 days after order confirmation, and we plan the run and the shipment backwards from your deadline.
Do you have a Montessori range for schools?
Yes. The Montessori line is built around shapes, sorting and early mathematics, and the age grade is confirmed per item so the correct test programme is applied.
Send us your product list
Tell us the items, quantities and the market you sell in. We will come back with a quotation, the documentation we can supply, and the next step.
Request a quotation