How would you handle this situation?

[GlastonburyGoddess]

Ok, a particular child at school has been causing problems since ds1 started. Ive always tried to see it from both sides as I know my son can be a bit of a so and so at times.

Anyhow ds comes home last night, coat hes had for less than a month has had the hood torn off the zip and the zip at the front wont do up, when questioned he tells me this child had pulled him by the hood off a piece of playground equipment and kicked him in the back.

Im pretty livid about this, will get dp to try the zip when he gets home later, but if he cant get it to move, coat is practicaly useless and will need replacing £25 from mountain wearhouse.

have spoken to school, who are ringing me this morning to talk about it.

What would you do in this situation? would you leave to the teachers to sort out? would you speak to the parents and ask for money to replace the coat?
Im reluctant to spk to the father myself, he seems a bit odd(at ds bday party last yr he gave ds 2 little presents, then his child had a meltdown at the end and he asked for one back, to give back to his son!!? i gave it back and thought what a spoilt child)

Im tempted to go down the school and lunchtime and stand in the playground watching whats going on-school obviously arent paying much attention(its not a huge infants school so an incident like this shouldnt be too hard to spot taking place)

opinions please?

[Openbook]

I'd leave school to sort it out but obviously ask for feedback. Make sure you're satisfied that school has dealt with it - they may not be as draconian as you would really like but remember they have seen this many times before. As long as perpetrator has had some appropriate kind of punishment and you are content that the supervision is good enough for it not to happen again (that's the important bit imo) I wouldn't recommend taking it any further. These things do happen occassionally and I wouldn't want to start a thing with another parent at such an early stage of school lfe.

[Rombouts]

oh dear. how old are the children in question?