Lost uniforms

[sky1010]

Oh my goodness, can someone give me some advice with this?

There are a few forgetful children in my class. I'm KS1, so it comes with the territory. Every other day, we have a lost jumper, and usually they are found.

Two children in my class have lost something this week, and their parents have been really angry with me. I understand completely that schools own jumpers are bloody expensive and I would be naffed off too if one went missing, but it has been suggested that it is my responsibility to keep track of what they are wearing and when.

One was a part of PE kit. I told the parent that on PE day I would ask all of the children to have a look for X's joggers, which I did- but nothing came up. I told the parent after school and they were really quite angry mad with me and suggested that I go through all of the children's PE bags after school to look for it.

My mentor said 'just send them to lost property as it might be there', but the same children are losing their things each week (and even though most of the time I find it!) so I keep on having the same charade with the same parents.

Any advice please

(I obviously do double check if someone is just wearing a polo when they had a jumper this morning, and I am happy to look for things in my classroom- I realise they are little and need some help reminding themselves about their belongings, I just don't appreciate getting told off by parents!)

Absolutely do not take one ounce of responsibility for this! It is not your job and detracts / distracts from your important job of teaching! Refer them to lost property every time.

Half the time it is the parents' fault for not putting name labels in anyways.

NB I work in a school but am not a teacher.

I always smile very sweetly & say I'm so sorry but don't worry, named clothes always turn up. Then firmly direct them to lost property. Still smiling. It is sooooo not your job. Do you tell the children where to put all their things when changing for pe? Socks in shoes, neat pile of everything etc.

Yes, I do. I reinforce looking after their things, and most of them listen. It is actually the ones who keep losing their things who have to keep pulling up for leaving their shoes scattered on the floor or jumper under the table.

The parent was just so angry with me earlier. I didn't back down, just said I would have a look again on PE next week.

I am a new teacher, the teaching bit is going swimmingly- but I am still having a bit of imposter syndrome when dealing with parents.

I'm a HT.Our school policy is that we will not search for items that don't have a name in it. Any unclaimed item goes in the lost property box and that is emptied at the end of term. Your HT should back you up on this and have a blanket policy- it isn't a teacher's job to look for stuff.

TA?

What about TAs?