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Can secondary schools use Allergy School resources?

The first phase of our education programme has concentrated on nursery and primary-aged children. However, we will be moving on to our next phase soon which will support young people with food allergies and staff working in secondary and tertiary education, as well as in the workplace. Watch this space!

In the meantime, our existing resources for staff and children contain information that is equally applicable and useful for secondary schools. Please take a look at them – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
Administering AAIs and performing first aid are not part of the job description for school staff. How can I reassure them that administering an AAI will do no harm in an emergency situation – and it might even save someone’s life?

Staff do not need to be qualified first aiders to administer an AAI to a child in a medical emergency.

Whether a first aider or not, if you work in an education setting you should familiarise yourself with how to safely administer an AAI, as this knowledge can save lives.

Instruction sheets for Jext and EpiPen AAIs can be found here: https://www.allergyschool.org.uk/resources/responding-to-an-allergy-emergency/
What food allergy awareness and first aid training is available for staff?

It is important for all staff to be trained in food allergy awareness; how to recognise the signs/symptoms of an allergic reaction, and what to do in the event of a food allergy emergency.

Allergy School’s films can be used to introduce staff to food allergy awareness, safe and inclusive practices, and essential food allergy first aid.

Practical, food allergy first aid training should then follow and can be sourced from a number of providers. Complete Allergy School’s Self Assessment and get details of the free online Allergy and Anaphylaxis course from our training provider High-Speed Training.
What do I need to know about Allergy School?

Allergy School offers nurseries, primary schools and out-of-school clubs and groups access to free, high-quality resources about food allergies, that have been developed in partnership with education advisers and allergy experts.

As a school governor/senior leader, it is your responsibility to keep all children safe, and the Allergy School resources will enable you to support your staff and governing board to be food allergy aware, mitigate risk and provide an inclusive learning environment.

You can access a free Self-Assessment tool kit to see how food allergy-inclusive you are, and apply for an Allergy School certificate to share on your website highlighting your commitment to being food allergy-friendly.

Schools need to do more to support those with food allergies because there are now around two children in every classroom with a food allergy. Yet, according to an NASUWT survey, 67 per cent of teachers have had no allergy awareness training, one in five has never been taught how to administer an adrenaline auto-injector which could save a life in a food allergy emergency, and almost two-thirds (60%) don’t know or are unsure if their school even has an allergy policy.
How do I arrange for my school to hold spare AAIs?

The Human Medicines (Amendment) Regulations 2017 allow schools to purchase a reasonable number* of AAIs from a pharmacy without a prescription. A written, signed request from the Headteacher must be provided to the pharmacy. You can find further information and a template letter here.

*A ‘reasonable number’ is defined as ‘small quantities on an occasional basis that the school does not intend to profit from. ’
If a child needs an AAI to be administered, but I can’t locate their prescribed medication, can I use another child’s AAI to help them?

The priority in the event of anaphylaxis is to administer an AAI. If the child experiencing anaphylaxis has a prescribed AAI but this is not available, it is reasonable and appropriate to use another AAI so long as appropriate consents are in place – ideally, this will be a spare AAI held by the school. In an emergency, the most important thing is to administer an AAI without delay.
I am not a first aider and do not want to volunteer to provide first aid. Where do I stand in relation to administering AAIs to a child experiencing anaphylaxis?

You do not need to be a qualified first aider to administer an AAI to a child in a medical emergency.

Whether a first aider or not, if you work in an education setting, you should familiarise yourself with how to safely administer an AAI as this knowledge can save lives.

Instruction sheets for Jext and EpiPen AAIs can be found here: https://www.allergyschool.org.uk/resources/responding-to-an-allergy-emergency/
The national curriculum for schools is already very crowded. How can we fit Allergy School resources in?

We have mapped Allergy School’s curriculum opportunities for England, Scotland & Wales so that you can use our resources to cover key elements in your scheme of work.
I have used Allergy School resources in my school and would like to give you some feedback. How can I do this?

We are delighted to hear that your school has benefitted from the free Allergy School resources and would love to hear more about how you have used them.

Please use our Feedback Form to tell us more and upload any photos/videos you have consent to share!
I would like my school to have an Allergy Policy and work towards becoming more food allergy-friendly. Where do I start?

You’ve already started this journey by visiting the Allergy School website!

The next step is to complete a short self-assessment to see how your school is already doing in terms of your food allergy inclusivity and awareness. This is a simple series of yes/no questions, after which you will receive an indication of your red/amber/green status.

You can then use our ‘Top Tips’ to see how you can further support children with food allergies. We will also point you towards key resources, sources of information and template documents.

Like our Model Allergy Policy which you can use to draft an allergy policy for your school or club that reflects your own culture and particular circumstances.

You can also search our suite of free resources to find short films, lesson plans, assembly packs, and additional resources to build a whole-school approach to food allergy awareness.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can secondary schools use Allergy School resources?

Administering AAIs and performing first aid are not part of the job description for school staff. How can I reassure them that administering an AAI will do no harm in an emergency situation – and it might even save someone’s life?

What food allergy awareness and first aid training is available for staff?

What do I need to know about Allergy School?

How do I arrange for my school to hold spare AAIs?

If a child needs an AAI to be administered, but I can’t locate their prescribed medication, can I use another child’s AAI to help them?

I am not a first aider and do not want to volunteer to provide first aid. Where do I stand in relation to administering AAIs to a child experiencing anaphylaxis?

The national curriculum for schools is already very crowded. How can we fit Allergy School resources in?

I have used Allergy School resources in my school and would like to give you some feedback. How can I do this?

I would like my school to have an Allergy Policy and work towards becoming more food allergy-friendly. Where do I start?

Help us keep our FAQS up to date