Allergy Aware

The health, safety, and wellbeing of our pupils are our top priorities. We are a fully inclusive school and warmly welcome children with a wide range of medical needs, including allergies. Allergies can be triggered by many different foods – most commonly milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, sesame seeds, fish, and gluten – as well as non-food items like insect stings or latex.

Following guidance from the Department for Education, Allergy UK, and Anaphylaxis UK, we do not operate a blanket ban on any single ingredient. Experts advise that total bans are unenforceable, can overlook other critical allergens, and create a false sense of security.

Instead, we practice a rigorous whole-school allergy awareness approach to keep all children safe.

Our school safeguards

To protect children with severe allergies and minimise the risk of cross-contamination, we enforce the following measures:

• Strict no-food-sharing policy: Pupils are taught never to swap, share, or sample snacks, treats, or packed lunches.
• Mandatory staff training: All school staff receive regular, professional training to recognise the signs of a mild, moderate, or severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) and act immediately.
• Emergency medication: The school safely stores prescribed adrenaline auto-injectors (AAIs) and antihistamines for specific pupils, alongside a stock of back-up emergency AAIs.
• Allergy Management Plans: Every child with a diagnosed allergy has a personalised Individual Healthcare Plan (IHP) shared confidentially with their teachers.
• Safe Catering: Our school kitchen works under strict allergen controls. Our catering company can provide allergen-safe menus for children with documented dietary needs.

How parents and carers can help

If your child brings a packed lunch, we ask for your vital support in keeping our school community safe. Please be mindful that a food item that is perfectly safe for your child could be life-threatening to a classmate.

Please do not send:

• Loose nuts, peanut butter, or nut-based chocolate spreads (e.g. Nutella)

What to do if your child has an allergy

Children can have allergies to products and food used or stored in schools that extend beyond school dinners. Whether your child has a mild intolerance or a severe, life-threatening allergy, you must inform the school before they start or as soon as they receive a diagnosis.

Please contact the school office so we can:

• Complete an Individual Healthcare Plan (IHP) with you.
• Securely store your child’s up-to-date, in-date emergency medication.
• Brief your child’s class teacher and support staff.
• Liaise with our catering provider.

Allergy Awareness and Benedict’s Law

Benedict’s Law was introduced following the tragic death of seven-year-old Benedict Blythe, who suffered a fatal allergic reaction while at school. The campaign seeks to improve allergy awareness, strengthen allergy management in educational settings and help ensure that children with allergies are kept safe throughout the school day.

The principles of Benedict’s Law promote a whole-school approach to allergy awareness, encouraging schools to have clear procedures, trained staff and effective communication with families. Its aim is to create safer learning environments where pupils with allergies are fully included and supported.

We recognise that allergies can have a significant impact on the health, wellbeing and confidence of children and their families. We are committed to raising awareness of allergies, reducing risks wherever possible and ensuring that appropriate measures are in place to support pupils with medical needs.