Allergen Awareness Policy
Contents
6. Procedures for handling an allergic reaction
7. Adrenaline auto-injectors (AAIs)
1. Aims
This policy aims to:
- Set out our academy’s approach to allergy management, including reducing the risk of exposure and the procedures in place in case of allergic reaction
- Make clear how our school supports pupils with allergies to ensure their wellbeing and inclusion
- Promote and maintain allergy awareness among the school community
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:
3. Roles and responsibilities
We take a whole-school approach to allergy awareness.
3.1 Allergy lead
The nominated allergy lead is Miss M. Slater, Assistant Headteacher and SENDCo.
They’re responsible for:
- Promoting and maintaining allergy awareness across our school community
- Recording and collating allergy and special dietary information for all relevant pupils
- Ensuring:
- 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)
- Regularly reviewing and updating the allergy policy
3.2 First Aid Team :
The First Aid team are responsible for:
- Coordinating the paperwork and information from families
- Coordinating medication with families
- Checking spare AAIs are in date
- Any other appropriate tasks delegated by the allergy lead
3.3 Teaching and support 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
3.4 First Aid Team
In addition to the responsibilities of teaching and support staff, the First Aid Team will also 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.
3.5 Parents
Parents and Carers are responsible for:
- Being aware of our school’s allergy policy
- Providing the school with up-to-date details of their child’s medical needs, dietary requirements, and any history of allergies, reactions and anaphylaxis
- If required, providing their child with 2 in-date adrenaline auto-injectors and any other medication, including inhalers, antihistamine etc., and making sure these are replaced in a timely manner
- Carefully considering the food they provide to their children as packed lunches and snacks, and trying to limit the number of allergens included
- Following the school’s guidance on food brought in to be shared
- Updating the school on any changes to their child’s condition
3.6 Pupils with allergies
These pupils are responsible for:
- Being aware of their allergens and the risks they pose
- Understanding how and when to use their adrenaline auto-injector
- Carrying 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)
3.7 Pupils without allergies
These pupils are responsible for :
- Being aware of allergens and the risk they pose to their peers
4. Assessing risk
The school will conduct a risk assessment for any pupil 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.
5. Managing risk
5.1 Hygiene procedures :
- Pupils are reminded to wash their hands before and after eating
- Sharing of food is not recommended.
5.2 Catering
The school is committed to providing safe food options to meet the dietary needs of pupils with allergies.
- 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
- Food allergen information relating to the ‘top 14’ allergens is displayed on the packaging of all food products, allowing pupils and staff to make safer choices. Allergen information labelling will follow all legal requirements that apply to naming the food and listing ingredients, as outlined by the Food Standards Agency (FSA)
- Catering staff follow hygiene and allergy procedures when preparing food to avoid cross-contamination
- Students with Allergens are identified on the lists for food distribution to ensure the correct food is given to students with allergens.
5.3 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
- Sesame seeds and foods containing sesame seeds
If a pupil brings these foods into school, they may be asked to eat them away from others to minimise the risk, or the food may be confiscated.
5.4 Insect bites/stings
When outdoors:
- Shoes should always be worn
- Food and drink should be covered
5.5 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
5.6 Support for mental health
All students with health care conditions have the ability to access increased Pastoral Support through their Year Manager and the School Nurse.
5.7 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 7.5).
6. Procedures for handling an allergic reaction
6.1 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)
- 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
- The register is kept on the internal drive and can be checked quickly by any member of staff as part of initiating an emergency response. It is also logged on Arbor.
- Allowing all pupils to keep their AAIs with them will reduce delays and allows for confirmation of consent without the need to check the register.
6.2 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
- 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 member of 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, staff will follow the school's procedures on responding to allergy and, if needed, the school's normal emergency procedures.
- 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
7. Adrenaline auto-injectors (AAIs)
7.1 Purchasing of spare AAIs
We are currently unable to purchase a spare AAI due to shortages.
7.2 Storage (of both spare and prescribed AAIs)
Students will carry their own AAI. If there is a spare, it will be clearly labelled and kept in the medical cabinet.
7.3 Maintenance (of spare AAIs)
First Aid staff are responsible for checking monthly that:
- The AAIs are present and in date
- Replacement AAIs are obtained when the expiry date is near
7.4 Disposal
AAIs can only be used once. Once a AAI has been used, it will be disposed of in line with the manufacturer's instructions.
7.5 Use of AAIs off school premises
- Pupils at risk of anaphylaxis who are able to administer their own AAIs should carry their own AAI with them on school trips 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
8. Training
The school is committed to training all staff in allergy response. 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
- Training will be carried out annually by the allergy lead.
9. Links to other policies
This policy links to the following policies and procedures:
- Health and safety policy
- Supporting pupils with medical conditions policy