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??

After a lengthy conversation I was informed she was only curious and just wanted to see what it looked like.
I told them it wasn't ok and asking any child to remove clothing for no reason was inappropriate and I was happy.

The head was dismissive as always and said it was harmless and 'Of course nobody would ever want to see ds uncomfortable or in pain '

I've just written out a formal letter of complaint and phoned the physio and asked him to contact the school again to explain why ds is often in pain.

Beyond a joke when a parents wishes are ignored. I'm sat here rather pissed off!

Fuck me! Would she have asked your dh to remove his shoes and socks to see what his infected foot looked like? I dont think so. It was none of her business what it looked like i cant believe she thought that was ok!

I would be complaining to. And if you get nowhere with the head ho over him/her.
A child with a medical condition which they are fully aware of is not a peep show exhibit.

When you get no joy (and it sounds like you won't), write to the governors with all the relevant information and then if you don't get a satisfactory outcome go to the LEA or Ofsted. Make sure you mention 'safeguarding'.

We have a child who has been unable to do PE for a while due to having pins in a broken arm. No way would we have gone against advice and even when he's said he wanted to do it we've not allowed it as that would be utter madness. Until we hear that a doctor has said he is able to do PE, he's not doing it.

I would definitely escalate this to governors.

The only slight problem with that being that it no longer exists!

What ? ‘ She was curious and only wanted to see what it looked like ‘ and it was ‘harmless’ Sorry but that is extremely inappropriate. Teachers are not allowed to ask children to remove clothing just because they want to be nosy.

I work in a nursery within a school and we have to get parental consent to change clothing even for a wet top, and we have to inform parents at pick up.
You can’t just go around asking children to take clothing off !
It is a SAFEGURDING issue here. Make sure you mention that in your complaint. Since the school are dismissing this when you have had a meeting with them then send your complaint to the head of education for your particular council.

I've written a letter and printed copies for the ht and chair of governors. Found it quite hard to not unleash what I really think. Miss Cowbag has been exceptionally nice to ds today and gave him sweets for sitting up straight must remember this when the lunchbox police are on patrol

We have requested all correspondence to be in writing and explained if a letter of apology isn't given along with clear understanding of our wishes/his needs then we will have no choice then to take the matter further.

I'm not a fan of coming across as 'that parent' but can't seem to let this go.

Thanks for the replies I'm glad to know others would be as pissed off as we are

Are you in Scotland or Northern Ireland, OP?

So if I'd said 'the GTC does not exist for 89% of the UK', you'd have been happy?

Absolutely agree that OP should complain, but she will obviously need to follow the complaints procedure.

I'm in England

I can see both sides. You've said that you shared all letters and so on with school, but in a large school with hundreds of pupils that doesn't necessarily mean that the PE teacher would remember that it's your specific child who has the issues. We had similar restrictions on PE after my eldest had a minor op and I didn't just rely on him to say he shouldn't be doing it, I send a letter saying he wouldn't be doing PE for medical reasons until a certain date. It's a bit "miss, miss, mum says I'm not doing PE" and the teacher a bit .

But on the other hand wasting time by getting him to remove clothing is a bit nuts too.I don't think making complaints or shouting is the way to go though - calm discussion or a letter.

Fleur the PE teacher is also his class teacher... and seems to have spoken directly (and dismissively) with the child's father, as well has having been given copies of all correspondence!

The only recourse for OP at this time is to go to the Governor's. The class/PE teacher and HT have both been dismissive and have seemingly discounted the health issues OPs child is experiencing. This needs to stop!

And yes, I was a teacher, a PE teacher (though for a much older age group).

Fleur
As his class teacher and his p.e. teacher its her job to know about medical issues her pupils have.

Op has kept them up to date with all hospital correspondence and her dh told school about new developments in person.
If the teacher is incapable of following specific instructions about a pupils health there is something far wrong.
Op has every right to complain about her child being made to do something detrimental to his medical condition and for a teacher making him remove his sock so she could decide if his foot was infected or not. Humiliating a child in class is not her job.

fleur any medical or other important information is collated in a central database within schools for all teachers to access. My Dd has aspergers and all her teachers in her secondary are aware as they have read the information in the database and they manage to retain which pupil she is despite the school having well over 1000 pupils.

In op situation the foot problem was not only documented but the teacher was verbally told by a parent. And after the meeting the teacher all but admitted she was aware of the medical condition but she wanted to have a look at the foot as she was ‘curious’

So now 2 separate issues, communication/ignoring medical needs and being inappropriate with ops son asking him to take clothing off for no other reason than to be nosy.

I wasn't trying to trip you up, Francis