Allergy Awareness Policy

24-25 

Approved by: Chair of Governor        

Date:  

Last reviewed on: September 2024

Following review due by September 2025

Contents

1. Aims        

2. Legislation and Guidance

3. Roles and Responsibilities

4. Risk Management

5. Procedures for handling an allergic reaction

6. Emergency Auto-injectors  (AAIs)    

7. Training and Awareness

8. Links to other Policies    

1. Aims

This policy aims to ensure that:

• Pupils, staff and parents understand how our school will support pupils with allergies and promote allergy awareness.
• Our Academy raises awareness of food allergies and anaphylaxis to the whole academy community.
• Our Academy will reduce the risk of exposure to allergens

The governing board will implement this policy by:

• Making sure staff have read and have acknowledged the ‘Allergy Awareness Policy’.
• Making staff aware of strategies to support allergy awareness
• Making staff aware of pupil’s condition, where appropriate
• Developing and monitoring individual healthcare plans (IHPs) for pupils with allergies.

The named persons with responsibility for implementing this policy are Beverley Blanchfield (Executive Headteacher), Poppy Lewis (Head of School) and Nicole Springer (SENCo).

2. Legislation and Guidance

This policy is based on the Department for Education’s guidance on allergies in schools and supporting pupils with medical conditions at school, the Department of Health and Social Care’s guidance on using emergency adrenaline auto-injectors in schools, and the following legislation:

The Food Information Regulations 2014

The Food Information (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2019

3. Roles and responsibilities

3.1 The governing board

The governing board has ultimate responsibility to make arrangements to support pupils with medical conditions., including pupils with food allergies. The governing board will ensure that sufficient staff have received suitable training and are competent before they are responsible for supporting children with food allergies..

3.2 The Headteacher

The Headteacher will:        

• Make sure all staff are aware of this policy and understand their role in its implementation
• Ensure that there is a sufficient number of trained staff available to implement this policy and deliver against all individual healthcare plans (IHPs), including in contingency and emergency situations.
• Take overall responsibility for the development of IHPs
• Make sure that school staff are appropriately insured and aware that they are insured to support pupils in this way
• Ensure that school has spare Adrenaline Auto-injectors (AAIs) for emergency use.
• Ensure that systems are in place for obtaining information about a child’s dietary needs and that this information is kept up to date
• Ensure that a pupils' dietary requirements can be catered for at school.

3.3 Allergy Lead

The nominated allergy lead is Nicole Springer (SENCo).

They will ensure that:

• Allergy awareness is promoted and maintained across school
• All allergy information is up to date and readily available to relevant members of staff
• All pupils with allergies have an allergy action plan completed by a medical professional
• All staff receive an appropriate level of allergy training
• All staff are aware of the school’s policy and procedures regarding allergies
• Relevant staff are aware of what activities need an allergy risk assessment
• Keeping stock of the school’s adrenaline auto-injectors (AAIs) and checking that spare AAIs are in date
• Regularly reviewing and updating the allergy policy
• Coordinating the paperwork and information from families
• Coordinating medication with families

3.4 Staff

All teaching and support staff are responsible for:

• Promoting and maintaining allergy awareness among pupils
• Maintaining awareness of our allergy policy and procedures
• Being able to recognise the signs of severe allergic reactions and anaphylaxis
• Attending appropriate allergy training as required
• Being aware of specific pupils with allergies in their care
• Carefully considering the use of food or other potential allergens in lesson and activity planning
• Ensuring the wellbeing and inclusion of pupils with allergies

Supporting pupils with allergies during school hours is not the sole responsibility of one person. Any member of staff may be asked to provide support to pupils with food allergies. This includes the administration of medicines.

All staff should be aware of the IHPs within their care and will know what to do and respond accordingly when they become aware that a pupil with a food allergy needs help.

Designated members of staff will be responsible for helping to administer  AAIs. These are members of staff who have volunteered and been trained to help pupils with AAIs in an emergency.

The designated members of staff are:

• Ruth Strahan (Lead First Aider)
• Aisha Aziz
• Chantelle Richards
• Sarah Newland

3.5 Parents

Parents will:

• Be aware of our school’s allergy policy
• Provide school with up-to-date details of their child’s medical needs, dietary requirements, and any history of allergies, reactions and anaphylaxis
• Provide their child with 2 in-date adrenaline auto-injectors and any other medication (if required), including inhalers, antihistamine etc., and making sure these are replaced in a timely manner
• Carefully consider the food they provide to their children as packed lunches and snacks, and try to limit the number of allergens included
• Follow the school’s guidance on food brought in to be shared
• Update the school on any changes to their child’s condition

3.6 Pupils

Pupils with allergies will:

• Be aware of their allergens and the risks they pose
• Understand how and when to use their adrenaline auto-injector
• Carry (if age-appropriate) their adrenaline auto-injector on their person and only using it for its intended purpose (designated members of staff are still expected to help administer the AAI if the pupil is not able to do so)

Pupils without allergies will:

• Be aware of allergens and the risk they pose to their peers
• Follow the school’s guidance on food brought in
• Understand that other pupils have allergies and will not share food with other pupils

4. Risk Management

4.1 Assessing risk

The school will be aware of pupils with allergies and will produce IHPs and risk assessments for individual pupils, where appropriate. The school will be aware of all types of allergic reactions and substances that can cause allergic reactions. Staff and pupils are encouraged to check all foods that are on offer, should staff or pupils have allergies. Parents and carers will be reminded to adhere to the ‘no nuts’ policy when sending in packed lunches. All staff will have sufficient training in food allergy awareness. There will be a key number of staff trained to provide treatment for anyone having an allergic reaction or anaphylaxis. Staff are aware where pupil/staff medication (and if appropriate, staff medication) is stored  and the academy’s emergency medication is held, and that this is accessible at all times.

Substances that cause allergic reactions are known as allergens. Common allergens include:

• Grass  
• Tree pollen
• Dust mites
• Animal dander  
• Food (particularly nuts, fruit, shellfish, eggs and milk)
• Insect bites and stings
• Medication (including Ibuprofen, aspirin, penicillin and certain antibiotics)
• Latex (used to make gloves)
• Mould
• Household chemicals (including detergents and hair dyes)

There are also 14 Food Allergens, all of which can produce an allergic reaction, these  include:

• Cereals containing gluten
• Crustaceans
• Eggs
• Fish
• Peanuts
• Soya
• Milk
• Nuts tree nuts
• Celery
• Mustard
• Sesame
• Sulphur Dioxide
• Lupin
• Molluscs

The school will conduct a risk assessment for any pupils at risk of anaphylaxis taking part in:

•   Lessons such as food technology
•   Science experiments involving foods
•   Crafts using food packaging
•   Off-site events and school trips
•   Any other activities involving animals or food, such as animal handling experiences or baking

A risk assessment for any pupil at risk of an allergic reaction will also be carried out where a visitor requires a guide dog.

4.2 Hygiene procedures

•   Pupils are reminded to wash their hands before and after eating
•   Sharing of food is not allowed
•   Pupils have their own named water bottles

4.3 Catering

The school is committed to providing safe food options to meet the dietary needs of pupils with allergies. The Catering Manager will be responsible for using only authorised suppliers and being the  controlling point and contact for all purchases of food stuffs for School catering. Ensuring suppliers of all foods and catering suppliers are aware of the school’s food allergy policy and the requirements under the labelling law.

•   Catering staff receive appropriate training and are able to identify pupils with allergies
•   School menus are available for parents to view with ingredients clearly labelled
•   Where changes are made to school menus, we will make sure these continue to meet any special dietary needs of pupils
•   Catering staff follow hygiene and allergy procedures when preparing food to avoid cross-contamination
• Special Diet Requests - where food allergy is a concern, parents/carers will be required to cooperate with the academy’s catering provision and adhere to the caterer’s special diet procedure regarding any special diet requests. Dietary requests will be made using this link - https://orders.lunchhound.co.uk/medicaldiets/request  Parent guides are available via the academy main office. Allergens must have written medical evidence from a GP, consultant or Dietician.
• Dependent on the complexity of the allergy/allergies parents may be required to meet with the catering team to fully inform them of their child’s dietary needs
• The catering staff aim to provide a child with a medical diet within 2 weeks of all required documentation being received. During this time, children can bring a packed lunch to school or may be provided with a jacket potato and a suitable filling, plus fruit.
• Catering staff will ensure that pupils with allergies are given meals that are clearly labelled to meet their dietary requirements.
• Catering staff will complete a daily medical diet production form for each child with allergies, which will be countersigned twice to ensure we are meeting pupil’s dietary requirements.
• Allergen reports for core menu items  are also available from the catering manager and should be referred to in case  of an allergen query.
• If packed lunches are provided for school trips, the catering team will provide a suitable lunch for children with allergies and it will be clearly labelled for these pupils.
• Staff preparing food on residential visits are required to take into account the dietary and allergy needs of all participants. See educational visits policy for further information.
• Specialist dietary requirements for staff and students on residential trips need to be planned  well in advance to ensure they are adequately accommodated during the trips. Parents/carers will need to be involved in all aspects of the planning to ensure that students are not exposed to allergens which put them at risk.
• Pupils will not be excluded from educational visits due to their dietary or medical needs.  Where possible, we will work around these, carrying out a risk assessment as required.

4.4 Food restrictions

We acknowledge that it is impractical to enforce an allergen-free school. However, we would like to encourage pupils and staff to avoid certain high-risk foods to reduce the chances of someone experiencing a reaction. These foods include:

•   Packaged nuts
•   Cereal, granola or chocolate bars containing nuts
•   Peanut butter or chocolate spreads containing nuts
•   Peanut-based sauces, such as satay

If a pupil brings these foods into school, the food will be confiscated and handed to parents at the end of the day.

4.5 Insect bites/stings

When outdoors:

•   Shoes should always be worn
•   Food and drink should be covered

4.6 Animals

•   All pupils will always wash hands after interacting with animals to avoid putting pupils with allergies at risk through later contact
•   Pupils with animal allergies will not interact with animals

4.7 Support for mental health

Pupils with allergies can experience bullying and may also suffer from anxiety and depression relating to their allergy.

Pupils with allergies will have additional support (when needed) through :

•   Pastoral care
•   Regular check-ins with their class teacher/ TAs

4.8 Events and school trips

  For events, including ones that take place outside of the school, and school trips, no pupils with allergies will be excluded from taking part

  The school will plan accordingly for all events and school trips and arrange for the staff members involved to be aware of pupils’ allergies and to have received adequate training

 Appropriate measures will be taken in line with the schools AAI protocols for off-site events and school trips (see section 6.5).

5. Procedures for handling an allergic reaction

5.1 Register of pupils with AAIs

The school maintains a register of pupils who have been prescribed AAIs or where a doctor has provided a written plan recommending AAIs to be used in the event of anaphylaxis. The register includes:

• Known allergens and risk factors for anaphylaxis
• Whether a pupil has been prescribed AAI(s) (and if so, what type and dose)
• Where a pupil has been prescribed an AAI, whether parental consent has been given for use of the spare AAI which may be different to the personal AAI prescribed for the pupil
• A photograph of each pupil to allow a visual check to be made (this will require parental consent)

The register can be checked quickly by any member of SLT and the First Aid Lead as part of initiating an emergency response. All classes have an individual register in their designated medications box. Pupils with allergies are identified clearly on this list and pupils with medication in school are highlighted. All AAIs are kept in the classroom and taken to the playground/ lunch hall to reduce delays and allow for confirmation of consent without the need to check the register. Spare AAIs are kept in the school office.

5.2 Allergic reaction procedures

As part of the whole-school awareness approach to allergies, all staff are trained in the school’s allergic reaction procedure, and to recognise the signs of anaphylaxis and respond appropriately. Health Care Professionals, including GPs, paediatricians and specialist nurse practitioners,  should provide parents with an appropriate Allergy Healthcare Plan or Individual Health Care  Plan for pupils at risk of anaphylaxis. If the Academy is notified that a pupil is at risk of anaphylaxis, and is not in possession of an  Allergy or Individual Health Care Plan, actively seek to locate the appropriate Plan.

Designated members of staff are trained in the administration of AAIs – see section 7

 If a pupil has an allergic reaction, the staff member will initiate the school’s emergency response plan, following the pupil’s allergy action plan.

• If an AAI needs to be administered, a designated staff member will use the pupil's own AAI, or if it is not available, a school one. It will only be administered by a designated member of staff trained in this procedure.
•  If the pupil has no allergy action plan, emergency advice will be sought.
•  If a pupil needs to be taken to hospital, staff will stay with the pupil until the parent arrives, or accompany the pupil to hospital by ambulance
•  If the allergic reaction is mild (e.g. skin rash, itching or sneezing), the pupil will be monitored and the parents informed. Oral allergy medication will be given to pupils if prescribed by doctors and kept in school.

6. Adrenaline auto-injectors (AAIs)

Non-statutory guidance was released by the Department of Health in October 2017 permitting  Academies to hold emergency Adrenaline Auto Injectors (AAI) on site for emergency use.  Schools are allowed to use and hold emergency auto-injectors. The school’s spare AAI should only be used as a spare, not a replacement for a child’s  own AAI. Spare AAIs held by the school are in addition to those prescribed for a student.

6.1 Purchasing of spare AAIs

The allergy lead is responsible for buying AAIs and ensuring they are stored according to the guidance.

Insert procedures for buying spare AAIs. For example:

•  Where the AAIs will be sourced (i.e. a local pharmacy)
•  The quantity of AAIs required
• Which brand(s) of AAI are purchased (schools are recommended to buy a single brand to avoid confusion)
•  The dosage required (based on Resuscitation Council UK’s age-based criteria, see page 11 of the guidance)
• (See pages 11 and 12 of the guidance.)

6.2 Storage (of both spare and prescribed AAIs)

The allergy lead will make sure all AAIs are:

•  Stored at room temperature (in line with manufacturer’s guidelines), protected from direct sunlight and extremes of temperature
•  Kept in a safe and suitably central location to which all staff have access at all times, but is out of the reach and sight of children
•  Not locked away, but accessible and available for use at all times
•  Not located more than 5 minutes away from where they may be needed (larger schools will require more than one AAI kit, ideally located near the dining area and playground)
• Spare AAIs will be kept separate from any pupil’s own prescribed AAI, and clearly labelled to avoid confusion.
• (See pages 12 and 13 of the guidance.)

6.3 Maintenance (of spare AAIs)

Nicole Springer (SENCo) and Ruth Strahan (First Aid Lead) are responsible for checking half-termly that:

•  The AAIs are present and in date
•  Replacement AAIs are obtained when the expiry date is near.

6.4 Disposal

AAIs can only be used once. Once an AAI has been used, it will be disposed of in line with the manufacturer's instructions (for example, in a sharps bin for collection by the local council).

(See page 13 of the guidance.)

6.5 Use of AAIs off school premises

With all emergency medication pupils, where able, should carry their own medication and spares held by the group leader/first aider. If it is considered appropriate, spare AAIs will be taken on a school trip; but only if there are sufficient supplies also left at the academy.  

•  Pupils at risk of anaphylaxis who are able to administer their own AAIs should carry their own AAI with them on school trips (in a red medical bag) and off-site events
•  A member of staff trained to administer AAIs in an emergency should be present on school trips and off-site events
• Staff should take spare AAI with them if deemed necessary.

6.6 Spare AAIs in school

The use of the spare AAIs is intended for emergency use only on children regarded as being at risk of anaphylaxis or whose own AAI is not available or working. Spare AAIs can be administered to a child if their own AAI cannot be used.

The academy can administer spare AAIs without prescription for use in emergencies if:

• A pupil is at risk
• Parent/carer consent has been received for use of the spare AAI.
• If the child is known to be at risk of anaphylaxis.

NOTE: The academy must highlight that if instruction is given by the emergency services  (paramedics) to administer an adrenaline auto injector and parental consent cannot be  obtained to administer the academy’s spare AAI, the academy should follow the instructions  provided by the emergency services.

The school keeps two spare AAIs in school for all pupils with prescribed Epi-pens.

7. Training

The school is committed to training all staff in allergy response. Training will be carried out annually.

 This includes:

•  How to reduce and prevent the risk of allergic reactions
•  How to spot the signs of allergic reactions (including anaphylaxis)
•  Where AAIs are kept on the school site, and how to access them
•  The importance of acting quickly in the case of anaphylaxis
•  The wellbeing and inclusion implications of allergies
•  How to administer AAIs (Identified staff)

8. Links to other policies

This policy links to the following policies and procedures:

•  Health and safety policy
•  Supporting pupils with medical conditions policy
• Medicines in school policy

Allergy Action Plan: