P E teacher. Please help.

[Chickencuddle]

I phoned in today about my daughter being denied her inhaler during PE. I asked to speak to head of pastoral care. But I got a phone call back from PEt teacher who flat out denied and basically said my dd is lying. She also said she wasn't working hard enough to be out of breath or even breaking a sweat. I said this didn't matter and she needs her inhaler. She said she didn't say she needed her inhaler.
I felt so bad and actually considered if my dd had lied although would be so so out of character for her. I spoke to dd who was shocked and upset about what the PE teacher had said. She insured me she was telling the truth and said her friend had been with her and also she had spoken to a classroom assistant after teacher told her she couldn't get it telling her what teacher had said and classroom assistant said if she didn't feel better soon she had her permission to go get it. But she told me she jyst dealt with the breathlessness and got her inhaler after PE.

Teacher mentioned that changing rooms are 10 minutes away from hall and that dd has never brought her inhaler. I said maybe that could be mentioned that next time she brings it with her. She said that needs to be something I tell her as she has enough kids to deal with. I said that's fine but I wasn't to know it was so far away. I'm only just hearing that now. Also why is she telling me this if dd actually didn't ask?

She has said mean things to dd before denied her toilet which I had to phone for. I didn't want this to be a big thing just wanted PE teacher to let dd use inhaler. But now feels like a big thing and feel like I have to clear dds name as head of year bas spoken to PE reacher and obviouslt believes this as she told her to ohone me i assume.. I believe dd. the details and things she was saying and way she was saying it. Plus I phoned friends mum and explained and asked to speak to her dd. Her dd said exactly what mine said.

What do I do now?

This is absolutely crazy. If your little girl even has an inhaler, that should be all the convincing any teacher should need that, look: this child has a serious respatory condition. The school can get in deep shit for neglecting or ignoring things like these. Tell your daughter to always have her inhaler within arm's reach. If a teacher tries to tell her to put it away, you can call the ombudsman service, or state department of education or a solicitor, or just tell her to ignore any teacher who doesn't let her have the inhaler. What are they gonna do? Expel her? That would make the news all over Britain 😂

I would go and see your GP and raise the issue. It’s good to have the record.

Then send a written complaint to the school head, copying head of safe guarding. Outline the facts your daughter set out, state that her friend has provided the exact same set of facts and that the assistant teacher can verify. Then detail the allegations made by the PE teacher and how deeply concerning it is that she has not only denied your daughter access to medication she needs, but that she has called your daughter a liar, while lying herself. I’d mention the reference to the A grade, which seems like a bribe. You don’t have have to call it that, but describe everything very factually.

I would take this extremely seriously. What disgraceful behaviour. How easy it would be to simply say “fine, quickly go and get your inhaler.” It sounds like this PE teacher is covering up her bad behaviour. It’s unfair and morally wrong.

I would get a lanyard pouch for inhaler so she has it on her at all times.
Now that you have spoken to teacher I would just leave it at that. Remind dd to keep inhaler with her, that's about all you can do, I don't think any point in pushing it.

I would say this needs an official complaint. Mention disability discrimination. If the teacher is lying she clearly knows she's in the shit for what she did. At the same time, remind your daughter to take her inhaler in with her.

@Chickencuddle From the comments you have received, I think people have forgotten that teachers are human and therefore fallible! Personally it sounds like the PE teacher has taken against your daughter for some unfathomable reason [and yes, this does happen as none of us like 'everybody' and some people just can't help showing it]
I would monitor the interaction between this teacher and your daughter going forward, and if anything else happens that you are unhappy with, make a written complaint, citing these previous issues. The teacher is, in effect, bullying your daughter and needs to know that this is unacceptable.
With regards to those who have commented saying that it's down to your daughter to take her inhaler: yes, it probably is...but she is 11, and human. Sometimes you don't know what you don't know. Now she knows, I'm sure she will endeavour to take it with her, however, that doesn't mean that she will never 'forget'. We, as humans, make mistakes and forget things.
I am always amazed at how many people - as demonstrated by the responses to your post - are prepared to turn a blind eye to this type of behaviour in schools.
Well done for standing up for your daughter.

I work in a school and anyone that requires to use an inhaler carries it with them at all times and can use it when they need it. If you have such a condition to require one then it’s a personal responsibility to make sure it’s with you at all times. PE is a manic lesson, you have kids well up for it and kids trying to worm their way out of it, was it a communication error and the conversation interpreted wrongly? Either way, if an inhaler is needed, it should be on your person. A teacher wouldn’t prevent a child from using one.

It wouldn't happen in my school. I would send the child back in with someone sensible to accompany them and I would phone the office to let them know the children were coming back in (they would have to be buzzed in at the main office anyway).

More to this

And maybe the teacher got this wrong. My daughter hurt her foot in PE, and told the teacher, who insisted she carried on. DD does not have any sort of form for getting injuries, let alone faking them. Her foot was so painful that I took her to Minor Injuries, who diagnosed a fracture and were quite angry that the injury had been exacerbated by virtue of the PE teacher's action. I took care to pass that on in my note to the school, but we never received any form of explanation or apology - though I made it very clear she was not doing any more PE till she had the all clear, and at least they complied with that.

All of which is a roundabout way of saying PE teachers can be bonkers and it would be a mistake to assume their version of events is correct.

OP's daughter is a child. OP has a responsibility to look out for her welfare, especially after such a serious illness, and doing so is not micromanaging.

Yes, really she should have been allowed to get it, but why isn't there an action plan requiring she has it for PE. My son was in hospital with a severe chest infection and was was charged with inhalers and epipens, his school made a plan stating he couldn't come to a PE lesson without giving the inhalers and pens to the PE teacher as he left the changing rooms and being given them back after. He isn't allowed to do PE without having them there with the teacher. He's 11 as well, that's his secondary school policy. School failing on safeguarding.

This. There is one person who knows how much she needs her inhaler and that's your daughter. Move on from this and put the onus on your daughter in the future.