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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

Donating school supplies via Amazon wish list?

18 replies

Zoomom · 20/11/2025 10:03

I am UK based (but not from here originally) and my DS is in reception at a state school. It’s a lovely school but of course as with all state schools- they are strapped by the budget. We have been asked to send in a glue stick to help. Just last week I had our parent/teacher meeting and when I said my son uses tripod pencil grips at home she said, “thats wonderful, I wish I had those in my classroom.”. I mentioned to DH we should ask the teacher to set up an Amazon wish list for the classroom so the parents can purchase what she needs for the classroom. My DH gets it but his first response was- what about the taxes we pay? It’s valid- we pay heapppps of taxes- but I think it’s stubborn and the money for schools isn’t going to change while our kids are there.

Do any schools in the UK use Amazon wish lists to help classrooms? Our school does collect craft donations but I would a) love it if there was a specific list of needs b) love it if the items went directly to our own kid’s classrooms so I know it’s benefitting their direct educational setting. I’m happy to spend £10-£20 on supplies each term. I want to suggest it in our school parent chat but worried I might get the same reaction like my husband about taxes.

I ask because I’m from another country originally and have primary school teacher friends there- schools are suffering there too but Amazon wish lists seem way more common. I have even donated to friend’s classrooms, I think it’s great. Doesn’t seem to be a thing at my kid’s school and I’m wondering if the school is nervous to cause an uproar with parents over tax use.

OP posts:
GreenGodiva · 20/11/2025 10:21

I’d just ask the teacher for your kids class specifically if this is speaking they would be interested in. Not all parents can afford to contribute, but I always donated to my kids class of they had a specific request. But it needs to be anonymised if you want anybody else to donate to save the parents that can’t contribute from being embarrassed.

Toomuchcuddles · 20/11/2025 10:28

Yes my daughter is in reception and the school have an Amazon wish list..

currently had some book, stationary and art work that the school would like.

it gets updated regularly and the link is posted weekly in the school newsletter

Iguessicoulddothat · 20/11/2025 20:00

Id love our school to do this, we do donate generously to the school fund but I think thats more experiences than supplies.

JinglingtoChristmas · 20/11/2025 20:03

People donate to the PTFA. In a few years all state schools will be in debt.

Celestialmoods · 20/11/2025 20:05

My school has an Amazon wish list and has done for 6-7 years now. We also sometimes get donations from parents who ask that it be for specific classes to spend on resources the teacher decides they need, and it was always very appreciated. It seems a great way to contribute to your child’s education to me. Most parents understand that their taxes pay for the basics and that schools can’t afford much else.

Hihosilver123 · 21/11/2025 18:25

Yes, I set one up at my school. It really, really helps as we are so strapped for money. We only have a few things on it like glue sticks, white board pens, pencils, pens etc. yes, they should be bought out of the budget, but there just isn’t enough money for everything. It’s totally voluntary, but we got loads which was so useful. It was like Christmas when all the parcels started to arrive!

ErmThisOne · 21/11/2025 18:30

@Hihosilver123how did you approach this with SLT? My school is in a deprived area and SLT don’t like asking parents for money, but I know many parents would absolutely contribute to something like this. I’d like to have a list of books and the extra's that we can’t afford.

Hihosilver123 · 21/11/2025 18:43

ErmThisOne · 21/11/2025 18:30

@Hihosilver123how did you approach this with SLT? My school is in a deprived area and SLT don’t like asking parents for money, but I know many parents would absolutely contribute to something like this. I’d like to have a list of books and the extra's that we can’t afford.

I’m the headteacher! We have a range of items, some of which are very low cost, such as a pack of rubbers. It meant that most parents could consider it, if they wanted to.
No pressure.

Summercocktailsgalore · 21/11/2025 18:46

No wish list here, however, all children have to take in a fully stocked pencil case, with pencil, any grips they use, ruler, crayons, glue stick etc.

The PTFA raises lots of money for all the extras children benefit from.

every year I make a donation to a class. Last year was a box of 144 crayons.

ErmThisOne · 21/11/2025 18:56

Hihosilver123 · 21/11/2025 18:43

I’m the headteacher! We have a range of items, some of which are very low cost, such as a pack of rubbers. It meant that most parents could consider it, if they wanted to.
No pressure.

Ah, well that answers that one then! Any suggestions on how to approach my head with this?

ErmThisOne · 21/11/2025 18:58

We don’t have a PTA anymore either, the last one caused a few issues so when they left the school it was decided that we wouldn’t continue with it. Shame really as we raised a few hundred a term.

IAxolotlQuestions · 21/11/2025 19:00

Our school doesn’t do this, but I wish they would. Popping on and buying something from Amazon is something I can do at regular intervals.

They do occasionally put a call out for something specific (sand pit toys last year) and last year they also had a donation option in the ‘school shop’ on Arbor. But the latter is gone this year.

themimi · 21/11/2025 19:13

Summercocktailsgalore · 21/11/2025 18:46

No wish list here, however, all children have to take in a fully stocked pencil case, with pencil, any grips they use, ruler, crayons, glue stick etc.

The PTFA raises lots of money for all the extras children benefit from.

every year I make a donation to a class. Last year was a box of 144 crayons.

Is this not normal? To send child in with pencil case?

PigeonsandSquirrels · 21/11/2025 19:24

There’s one by us with an Amazon wish list on their website. Weirdly all that’s on there is religious artwork though.

Summercocktailsgalore · 22/11/2025 09:59

themimi · 21/11/2025 19:13

Is this not normal? To send child in with pencil case?

if it was normal in primary there would be no requests for school glues sticks etc. as parents would provide everything,

KingscoteStaff · 29/11/2025 17:46

Matty's mum - if you're on here, I want you to know the sight of that big box of Pritt Sticks in our cupboard cheers me up every morning!

Sprogonthetyne · 29/11/2025 19:40

My kids school has a with list, but it's for books they want for the library not stationary.

Kittlewittle · 29/11/2025 20:21

My kids' school has this and I have donated various items. They have items that are for 'enrichment' rather than basic stationary eg books related to topics, footballs for break time, resources related to topics. I can afford to contribute and much rather that the kids have access to these extras.

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