PE teacher at dds school.

[Chickencuddle]

DD is in first year of high school. Last winter she had pneumonia quite badly and is still recovering. We are still having doctors visits and she's still on an inhaler (no previous asthma) She gets out of breath quicker than she used to and hasn't been able to do much in the way of physical exercise other than walking so has lost some of her fitness.
I wrote about it on her medical form and at start of year sent a note in explaining to PE staff.
Since then she has had a throat infection and chest infection and each time she has these they tend to hit her hard. So she had a few weeks with notes for PE
The PE teacher has been really unsupportive over it and a bit mean imo. She rolled her eyes first time it happened.second time she made her walk outside while others who were off PE that day got to stay inside. She also wouldn't allow her to go to the toilet during the hour and a half class and dd came home in tears saying teacher had been mean and she'd been bursting for the toilet and not allowed to go.
I phoned in and spoke to head of year who spoke to dd and said if any teacher says she can't go to tell them she has authority from head of year. That was OK.
Since then she has been off PE once with same thing just recovering from chest thing and PE teacher shouted at her and said if she's off one more time she will get a behaviour point.
Today I sent her in with a note saying that dd was going to try her best in PE but still struggling with her chest and could they allow her breaks when needed.
She said teacher rolled her eyes and muttered "same old." Then was nudging other teachers and she felt like they were talking about her.

I'm annoyed tbh. This is a child of 11 who had a terrible time last year with this. It took months to be even well enough to go for a walk and she's still struggling. She doesn't enjoy this. She hates it. And they are just making her feel worse. She has been off PE this year probably 4 times in total. But was off school once sick too. So missed 5 lessons.
Aibu?

It's not school policy that kids can't go to toilet. I'm not saying she should be the only one I'm saying no child should be denied going to toilet unless they're obviously taking the piss.
She's sensible. Never gets in trouble works hard and gets good grades. She doesn't mess around or cause trouble.
I only advocate for my child so I spoke to hoy about her being denied access to toilet as she thought she was going to wet herself. She told teacher multiple times she was desperate and wasn't allowed to go....to me that's unacceptable. I phoned for her.
Other parents can do it for their children I'm not saying she should be special or different in that respect.

Thank you very much is think I will do this!
I'm so sorry about your child that's horrific

It's never going to be your choice with regard to 'no child should be denied going to the toilet'.

It's a nuisance and not necessary outside of regular breaks for most of the hundreds of kids in the school day.

It's also not your daughter's actual medical need, so I'd seriously focus on that.

And threatening a behaviour point, which seems like abelism.

I know you probably wouldn't class your DD as disabled but for now, she is impaired by her health problems.

Also, it's all worth mentioning. I would write some bullet points of everything that you've listed here so you don't forget anything.

As this has been going on for over a year it qualifies as a disability. Get hold of the school's equality policy and highlight all the bits the PE teacher is breaking, and go through those at the meeting. Remind her and the HoY also that discrimination on the basis of disability and failing to make reasonable adjustments for disability are against the law.

Just coming on to say exactly this. Your DD has been unwell and her illness continues, I would be asking the head of year what reasonable adjustments can be made, as you have tried informally to communicate to the teacher and the teacher doesn’t seem to understand this is required.

Because they’re generally a bit thick and get kicks from lauding their authority over children.

PE teacher is a sadistic bully. In other news, water is wet, and the pope is rumoured to be Catholic.

Sorry wrong person.

That'll help.

Generally, PE teachers lack subtlety, sensitivity and aren't overly bright. That is a huge generalisation but, in my experience, often the case. I would ask for a meeting with the Head of Year and the PE teacher and go prepared to be polite but very firm.

PE teachers are a very mixed bag in my experience. They range from fantastic and inspirational to one trick ponies who could play a sport well enough to teach but not excel in beyond county level. I would absolutely make a complaint about this. Your child has a legitimate reason for missing PE on occasions.

This is dreadful. My DD has missed pe due to injuries (seperate instances). PE teachers have been great, encouraging some stretching etc when she's missed classes, but kindly not huffing. They aren't failed athletes, just as maths teachers aren't failed professors (well, some probably are!).

Definitely arrange a meeting. Be clear about health needs and "I'm worried and frustrated about her fitness too, seeing doctor in a few weeks for follow up, but they've said clearly that pushing things too hard will just damage her lungs /delay recovery further. It's really important that she feels positive about sport and exercise, without causing any further lung damage".