School Lost Property

razam

Hope I've put this in the right section (couldn't find a schools section).

I was wondeing if there is any specific ofsted, dept of education, etc.. policy in regards to who is liable for lost property in a primary school?
My son joined the school nursery last year & in that two cardigans / jumpers & a pair of gloves & a scarf have been lost. This year he joined the receiption class at the same school & since September a hat - & just now - a pair of snow boots have got lost.

Despite being annoyed, we weren't too upset until the snow boots, as they cost us £30. The first time my wife kept getting fobbed off by the school saying they can't keep track of everything, etc.. my wife had to ask for a look in the lost property box (we found another pair of gloves at that time). Now they keep saying there's nothing they can do and it's not their responsibility.

But surely if we as parents have labelled the clothing with our sons name, then the responsibility for looking after the clothes in a nursery & reception class falls on the school/teachers.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

It's what happens. Stuff gets lost, stuff gets nicked.

It's a pain, but it happens throughout school life, especially when kids tend to take extra items off and then forget all about them.

PudseyDB

If the boots have only just gone missing, they may resurface later in the week. Sometimes grandparents, friends etc pick up children from school and may not realise they've taken the wrong items (and believe me children don't always say "that's not mine").

Alikay

The amount of stuff you've lost sounds pretty normal - not at all excessive for the early years at school. It's annoying, but you get used to it. Keeping the old outgrown/stained/faded stuff as spares helps, as does buying cheap multiples of the frequently lost things like jumpers and gloves.

If things are nicked, there's not much you can do but hope the parents of the thief notice and give it back.

lilmiss1982

I really feel your frustration my son went through 3 winter coats last year he was in year 2 it had never happened previously, each getting badly damaged in the play ground I have no idea why they were letting them play so rough one came with the hood ripped in two. Also shoes eldest son ruined brand new pair with 1 week, so I switched him to trainers then oddly enough youngest started same school and had again damaged brand new shoes with in a week of starting full time:mad: I think they must kick against a wall or something random.

I lost a brand new boden hat after a week and was gutted it was an expensive treat and my son looked so cute it in it. Never spotted any kid in it so no idea where it went. I also lost a coat the previous year too.

Since the start of term I've lost a coat and jumper but both turned up a few days later.

With the expensive stuff like coats I label with my name and phone number and hope they get returned.

razam

Thanks for the reply guys. I completely understand that things 'go astray' in schools and the like. As I mentioned, although I found it annoying, felt that i would just have to live with it. But the snow boots (labelled with my son's name) have been missing since the beginning of term. They were supposed to be transferred from his nursery class to his reception class - all the other kids wellies/snow boots have been transferred but not my sons.

The main thing for me is the school completely rejecting responsibility - My wife had to ask for the Lost Property box, something the school should have advised us to check first (instead of claiming it wasn't there problem)! And now again, they are saying that its not their responsibility. This is what is getting me riled up - once children (and their property) are in there care, it is there responsibility. especially for nursery & reception children - and it was this issue that I needed to find out if there is any legislation/rules for?

JodyBPM

Surely its the responsibility of your son to look after his belongings. I know he is young, but he's still old enough to know to put things back where they should go. Let's be honest, a lot of these items have not been "lost" as such, but probably left somewhere that they shouldn't have been -on the playground, in the hall, on the floor etc. You can't expect teachers to run around picking up after all the children.

The school has a lost property box, and its your responsibility to check in their for items that have been left laying around, if you are lucky, they will be there, if not, they are most likely still wherever your son left them!

Don't take expensive items to school - they will get left laying around, and may not make their way back to you!

Obviously the odd item does get stolen, but its fairly rare in my experience, and clearly naming items (as you are doing) tends to stop that from happening.

PudseyDB

In our school, each class has a lost property box, plus another one in reception. So when things go missing it can take a while for things to turn up. Every term they collect them all in the hall and invite parents to come and claim things.

razam

Thanks Jody for the reply. You have provided some good advice in general, but it doesn't quite fit in this situation.....

JodyBPM wrote: »

Surely its the responsibility of your son to look after his belongings. I know he is young, but he's still old enough to know to put things back where they should go.

I would disagree with this, older children can be argued to be responsible for their property, but not children of 3/4 years old. I would say parents are responsible for children this age, but when they go to school/nursery, that responsibility is handed over to the teachers/school/nursery.

JodyBPM wrote: »

Let's be honest, a lot of these items have not been "lost" as such, but probably left somewhere that they shouldn't have been -on the playground, in the hall, on the floor etc. You can't expect teachers to run around picking up after all the children.

In the case of the snow-boots, the school has a policy that a pair of wellies/snow boots must be kept in the class at all times - in case the weather gets bad (playtime etc.) and when going on trips to parks etc. it avoids parents forgetting. These Wellies/snowboots are meant to be transferred at the beginning of the school year, to the new class. It was this transfer that didnt happen. They were in the nursery, but have gotten lost by the teachers/school/nursery & are not in my sons reception class (all other wellies/snow boots have been transferred). Since it was a very warm summer & my son did not go on any trips in the last term of nursery, I can't see how my son could have misplaced them.

JodyBPM wrote: »

The school has a lost property box, and its your responsibility to check in their for items that have been left laying around, if you are lucky, they will be there, if not, they are most likely still wherever your son left them!

Checked nursery, reception class & general lost property boxes.
This may be my responsibility, but what about the schools responsibility?

JodyBPM wrote: »

Don't take expensive items to school - they will get left laying around, and may not make their way back to you!

In general you're correct, but when I want to make sure that my son's feet are warm, dry & comfortable and expected the school to look after the boots (as they said they would) I don't see a problem paying a little extra.

JodyBPM wrote: »

Obviously the odd item does get stolen, but its fairly rare in my experience, and clearly naming items (as you are doing) tends to stop that from happening.

Lets hope this is the case, and they are found.

razam

Many of the posts are focussing on the fact that childred will, and do, lose things. I accept that. But I am concerned here about the school not accepting responsibility.

Since the parent cant be in the class/school & 3/4 year old can not be held responsible, surely the responsibility is with the school/teahcers?

moromir

With all due respect, the staff are there to teach your children the curriculum, not nanny them.

I'm not sure why you think its a) beyond the child to remember they went to school with boots and thus must have them before they come home or

b) the school's responsibility to take an inventory of what each child arrives at school with that day x 100 or however big the year is.