To think this teacher is overstepping

[FuckCalmRhageOn]

DS 8 has historic leg and foot pain. He is now been investigated to see if he has the same congenital defect in his feet that older DS has (required years in walking boot and surgeries)
Secondary to this he has a foot infection and is on antibiotics. DH went into school last week and explained this was causing extra pain so please be mindful of his pain when he expresses it's too much, and that he couldnt swim until it was cleared. Hes wearing trainers whilst awaiting the arrival of specialist shoes as this was advised by gp and physio.

Fast forward 3 days from teacher and school been notified and he was made to continue PE after explaining he was in pain and came home with swollen feet. The following day his class teacher told him he had to remove his socks and prove he had an infection!

This was last Friday. I spoke with my gp and she agrees it was unnecessary as well.
I'm so cross. I emailed the school on Monday explaining my concerns and have yet to receive a reply. AIBU to be so annoyed by this??

Without a Doctors note kids have to do PE

My dd was excused PE this very day on the basis of a note from me. If school had asked me for a dr's note as well I would have asked them if they were going to pay for it- they are about £20 at my surgery.

Obviously schools do have to be aware that the long term health and wellbeing of some of their pupils may be affected by non-participation in PE, and that some parents may be aiding or causing this issue.

However, it is quite simply insane to try to overcome this very specific problem through an 'everyone must have a doctor's note' solution - it is by working with the parents and children (and if necessary, gaining the support of health professionals, but not in a 'note writing' capacity) over a long period that will have an effect.

And most parents will be exactly like 52FestiveRoad - they will write a note for a specific reason on a specific occasion, the school will abide by its contents, and next week, if the child is better, they will do PE once more.

If your DH had gone in and explained the situation, there was no need for a note as well. That teacher was completely wrong to demand to see proof of an infection. I know kids can want to skive off PE lessons but there is a difference between the ones who always ‘forget’ their kit and the ones who genuinely cannot do it. I would be taking to the head teacher, then to the local authority and governors if you are in England. I would also expect an apology to you DS from the teacher and would be removing my child from that teacher’s class forthwith.

‘Porky’ children? What a bloody awful thing to say!

My daughter - S2 - has recently had surgery and needs to be off PE (open, packed surgical wound) - hence our children’s hospital now automatically sends a letter to their head teacher so they have something official from the hospital.

Doesn’t help in this situation but Dad has been supported so well after this surgery (she goes in late 3 days a week as she needs it dressed)

"We get plenty of parents that will write notes for porky kids to get them out of PE."

"Porky" kids? What is a "porky kid", FraWater? Is that your way of comparing a child with a pig?

If your DH had gone in and explained the situation, there was no need for a note as well.

Absolutely. That verbal information SHOULD have generated a written or electronic record sent to all staff who could have taught PE. The school needs to look at its processes for collecting and passing on health information (and other relevant information for teachers) given verbally to front office staff or other staff.

did you mean poorly kid? I am hoping you didn't really mean porky kid??? that's vile

In the school I'm in, for a "one-off" occasion for missing PE, a written note (or even a conversation with the office staff) by the parent is sufficient. However those kids that persistently use different excuses to try and get out of PE, well that's when it gets flagged as an issue and doctors notes or a copy of a referral letter is then requested.

I'm also mindful that you have heard your DCs side of the story (made to do PE and show his infected foot to the teacher) and I would recommend you hear the teachers version to see whether the two marry up. It could be a misunderstanding, it could be a lack of communication or it could be that the teacher is taking it too far. It may be you haven't heard back yet as the senior teachers (head or deputy?) are investigating before replying. If you haven't heard back in the next day or two I'd give them a call and chase it.

and that's why I hated PE, have a phobia of PE teachers, school gyms, 'fitness coaches and a strong dislike for sport.

have a firm word with the responsible teacher/head

Thanks for the replies. I wanted to make sure I wasn't over reacting before going in tomorrow. He hasn't been excused from PE just advised by the physio to rest when the pain is too much. All physio letters and appointments aswell as consultant letters have been shared with the school. He's enthusiastic about all things school and was upset to miss 2 sessions of swimming. I thought with an open infection in his toes it was sensible to skip it.
As forms Drs note .... No I didn't supply one. I did give them his antibiotics as he needs one given during the school day. I certainly don't just excuse him for no reason

Without a Doctors note kids have to do PE.

Where's the relevant legislation?

Wtf frawater.. what a shitty thing to say. I hope you're not really a teacher. vile.

Never had to provide a drs note for primary or now sevondary when a child has been unable to do pe for medical reasons. A note from me has been enough.
If school didnt believe ops dh they should have said so.
As for making a child remove his sock in front of everyone words fail me!
I would have been straight on to school to complain and ask what medical training the teacher had to decide if it was infected enough for him (and if he had had a dressing would they have insisted they remove it?)
Ask to speak to head op their communication and handling of this is appaling.

My dd was excused PE this very day on the basis of a note from me. If school had asked me for a dr's note as well I would have asked them if they were going to pay for it- they are about £20 at my surgery

They are £20 because otherwise GPs would do nothing except write notes for PE. There is already a massive GP shortage - the last thing we need is every GP in the country having to excuse kids from PE.

You DO NOT need a doctors note to excuse your child from pe. A signed parental letter is sufficient.
Op your husband explained verbally to the school and this should have been enough. However if the pe teacher didn’t get told or wanted clarification the school should have asked you to put it in writing. They should not have asked your child to remove his socks to prove his foot problem.
I would be asking for a meeting with a member of the senior leadership team at the school to voice your grievance regarding this.

I had to get a Drs note for dd to attend a vocational dance school because of the extreme nature of her training.

They can cost quite a lot of money. £20 for a simple one & up to £60-80 for a full letter declaring fitness.

I haven’t seen the now deleted messages but they sound awful. The OP is well within her rights to put in a formal complaint. She has specifically gone in to discuss an ongoing, potentially serious medical issue & some random teacher thinks they know better than medical professionals.

That is why if the school doubted the truthfulness of the foot problem they should have asked the parent to put it in writing rather than ask a child to take of socks and prove it. Or even phoned the parents instead of humiliating a child.

Just to add the pe teacher is also his class teacher and was in the reception area when dh went in. It was also explained with a written report less then a month ago the ongoing problems were now looking like a congenital problem rather then the original thoughts of a tight Achilles tendon and flat feet. Both the office and class teacher were given copies. We have been as transparent as we possibly can and he's had OT visit him at school for assessments so it is very well known.
She is very much of the opinion.... her class her rules and has openly said before that he May be just needs to push through it.

I'm not one for going against the school but we do have a fairly rocky history with one of my ds's causing a lot of problems there (diagnosed severe sen needs school failed to follow care plan lots of agencies involed and Ofsted notified of a failure of care by sen case worker) so some of it seems like nit picking (At least to an exhausted mother)

As the teacher and the school seem to be ignoring the OP surely a Dr's note is the way to go that way they will be able to bring in more official demands.

And it should be demands as the requests haven't been listened to.

Teacher has no excuse then op if she heard the conversation in reception as well as having a copy of his medical report. So there was no miscommunication.
Doesn’t matter that she thinks he needs to ‘push through it ‘ Unless she is his doctor it is none of her business.

Despite letters from doctors dealing with a congenital condition and ot visits the teacher thinks he should 'just push through'!!
Definately complain. Thats irresponsible and potentially harmful to a child. Who the hell do they think they are?

I think you or DH needed to put the issue in writing, tbh.