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?

Most PE teachers have a box of medicines to take on the pitch - pull the gas out and write her name in sharpie -

My kids used to put their in their socks - I don’t know why PE kits don’t have zip pockets

IF the teacher thought your DD was trying to avoid PE - he could’ve sent another child to fetch it.

It wouldn’t be a good idea for you DD to walk 10 mins/10mins alone feeling unwell.

This has happened to my children, only the teachers admitted their error and were more accommodating.

My son ended up in A&E as he had been unwell all afternoon.

The asthma nurse did training at the school shortly after and posters went up around school.

Denying your daughter access to essential medical equipment is incredibly serious and potentially could result in a hospital visit. I would write another email to the head of PE, form tutor, pe teacher and the head of year stating your DD was denied access and this was her friends experience also . Explain that the consequences could be serious and to allow her access.

Who is in charge of the PE teacher? Head / Deputy head? Get an in person appt with them and go through this. Say you need them to change their approach or you'll be taking it to the board of education. Not letting your child go to the toilet is ridiculous. And the inhaler business dangerous.

OP trust your instinct on this. I would go through them if my daughter was denied her inhaler at schools especially by a PE teacher, it's shocking. I went to my daughter's school and had a meeting because she was denied access to her water bottle. Advocate for your daughter you're completely correct. And to all the dicks on this post who are blaming the daughter shame on you she's only 11

No chance.

I don't want teacher sacked. I want dds name cleared. And I want her to be able to get inhaler in emergencies. She had a bad asthma attack at school recently and she wasn't even in pe. She doesn't need to be active.

How long is a lesson if your child had to wait 2 hours to go to the toilet?

get her excused from PE then. But you need to go in there with a clear plan of what you want and ask for it

Your focus is on this one teacher, but there seems to be a wider issue here.

Pupils with asthma should have an asthma plan to be followed during school time. This may be "X to carry her inhaler in pocket at all times. Self-administer two puffs on first point of need. Further two puffs as needed. Pupil to inform a member of staff if they have forgotten or misplaced their inhaler, or if they feel the reliever inhaler is not working. Members of staff informed by pupil must contact the school medical person immediately." This plan should be guided by medical advice from the GP/asthma clinic or other relevant medical professionals.

It is not appropriate for a pupil to walk off to get a reliever inhaler on their own. If at risk of an asthma attack, being with another pupil is required. If she'd walked out of sight and had a severe attack, she would have been at even greater risk.

Yes, you can pursue a complaint about the teacher, but the focus needs to be on your child and her asthma plan.

They've got an asthma plan in place already

This is the sort of response I'd be looking for from a complaint. It's not about getting the teacher sacked, it's taking accountability for a serious lapse of judgement, and getting it right next time.

It was double period

So why did she not go before if she needed it?

Already discussed why she needed toilet. It's not even the issue atm

Well, then it's inadequate. The asthma plan should be known by all of the teachers and actioned. What does the plan say about her inhaler?

OP what is your purpose for posting here? You seemingly don’t want to hear other alternatives or opinions and just want to feel reassured of your own? Thats fine, but you have asked what to do now. It’s clear you have made numerous attempts to speak to and contact the school. You believe your daughter which again is fine but don’t want to listen to the teacher who in this situation is the responsible adult.

Its done. Let it go. You made your point (too many times) to the school. Your kid carries her inhaler and it doesn’t happen again.

If she held it for 2 hours and the lesson was 2 hours then she needed it before the lesson began and should've gone before.

Agreed. I believe your daughter. My youngest was denied an inhaler by a PE teacher and then had to call an ambulance when DS collapsed on the sports field.

Clearly not too many times as teacher still put her at risk.
I don't think it's acceptable that she was denied her inhaler and I don't think it's acceptable that teacher said she lied instead of accepting and apologising. This to me shows nothing will change.

I think the OP is getting a pretty hard time here. Yes her daughter should have taken her inhaler to PE but teenagers can be unorganised and forgetful not sure how this comes as a shock to everyone. The consequence of forgetting an inhaler should absolutely not under any circumstances be that she then isn’t allowed to go get the inhaler if she needs it. Asthma and other lung conditions are often played down but can become deadly very quickly and an inhaler can be a life saving medicine. I have seen teenagers die from asthma attacks. If a child was having an anaphylaxis and had forgot their epi pen would a teacher then say oh well you’re not going to get the spare in the office, your fault you forgot it? Of course not that would be ridiculous. A teacher should never stop a child from accessing medicine that they need when they need it.

While I broadly agree with you about not denying medical treatment, someone else should go and get the inhaler. A person in respiratory distress should not be walking off alone to go and get their inhaler.

Definitely not 10 mins for my DCs... it's 15 mins.

This is not uncommon. I've worked in schools where the fields are quite detached from the main core of the school or in some urban areas on public recs away from the school.

One school I taught PE at was at least 500m from the main school site which was fun the day we needed an ambulance, but at least when the first aider arrived, the casualty was already well bandaged up.

Buy an extra inhaler. Can you have one attached to her gym shorts?
Sew extra pockets into your DD's clothing for her inhaler.

Keep telling your DD that it is her responsibility to have her inhaler with her. Go through her routine of where her inhaler is throughout the day. There might be specific times when she forgets it - maybe when she changes into her PE gear.
Write INHALER in black texta inside her gym shoes to help remind her.

I agree but that wasn’t apparently what happened here, according to OPs daughter she was told she wasn’t to get it and no alternative was offered. Anyway to answer your original question OP I don’t think that there is anything you can do about this situation now, it’s her word against your DD, the school will back the teacher and you will back your daughter. I would remind your daughter to remember and bring it to every lesson and put in writing that you have reminded your daughter of this but that she is never under any circumstances to be denied the use of her inhaler during any lessons.

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.
Why were you asking the teacher to tell your dd to bring her inhaler? Even if you didn't realise your dd has been leaving it elsewhere it's for you and your dd to sort out in future