Why we need Allergy School
Around 2 children in every classroom now have a food allergy, and we want these children to feel safe and be fully included in all activities in and out of the classroom.
The scale of the problem
Children with food allergies often face challenges that can leave them feeling isolated and excluded.
Nurseries, primary schools and out-of-school clubs and groups want to do the right thing – but they have told us that they need help and support.
A survey of nearly 2,000 teachers by the NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union in collaboration with Natasha’s Foundation found that:
Take our self-assessment to see if you are doing everything you can to keep children with food allergies safe and included.
Why Allergy School Matters
Parent
Tanya Ednan-Laperouse OBE whose daughter Natasha died aged 15 from an allergic reaction to sesame.
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“It can be really hard to keep a child with food allergies safe in school. Finding a nursery where Natasha would be safe was extremely difficult. Natasha at times was bullied at school because of her food allergies and this was incredibly stressful and isolating for both her and our family,’
“Government, schools, teachers, parents and pupils need to come together to end the discrimination faced by so many children with food allergies in this country.
“Today we are kickstarting that process. Our new Allergy School will transform levels of awareness and understanding of food allergies to ensure all children are safe and able to participate fully at school.”
Parent
Rebecca Jones is a Sixth Form Progress Coach from Wrexham, and has a son Llyr, with severe allergies to egg and milk.
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“Llyr has previously experienced multiple reactions due to accidental exposure in the classroom, resulting in him coming home itching with hives. Not knowing what’s present in the classroom, such as if snacks contain milk or eggs, can cause distrust, stress and frustration. If we can enforce a strict no-nuts policy in schools, the same should apply for other allergens too.
“People need better education – nut allergies are severe, but every allergy is severe when you are allergic. All staff and teaching assistants need to be more aware of food allergies and there should be clear allergy policies to keep children like Llyr and other children with allergies safe.
“This includes appropriate and regular training for staff around allergies as well as the correct training on how to administer an AAI. I am so pleased that The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation is launching Allergy School to improve understanding in education about food allergies. This will prevent unnecessary reactions in the classroom and keep everyone safe.”
Teacher
Joanna Taylor is a headteacher from South Wales, and has severe allergies herself to fish and nuts.
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“Schools need to be responsive to parents and their concerns about food allergies. Schools should have robust and transparent communication with parents about food allergies so that parents feel confident that school practices are appropriate. We often have parents requesting a meeting or informing us their child is allergic to something as it’s the first time they’ve had a reaction. It can be a very scary time for them, so we need to understand and listen.
“Teachers need to work with parents and vice versa, adapting to suit each child where possible. Ultimately, it’s about understanding the severity of food allergies.”
Parent
Trudi Poole from Epping, has a son Jayden with allergies to nuts, shellfish and dairy. Although Jayden is now a teenager, she remembers what it was like when he first started school.
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“When Jayden first started school, I was too scared to leave the house for more than half an hour in case he had an allergic reaction and I needed to collect him. My worries were valid, as there were times when he was offered food that he was allergic to, both at school and on school trips.
“Jayden was subjected to some bullying at school due to his allergies. He was called ‘allergy boy’ and was even chased by a boy with prawns. When he was younger, Jayden would regularly ask Santa to make his food allergies to go away, which was so heartbreaking.
“Schools should have meetings with parents of allergic children to explain their allergy policies which would both provide them with reassurance and open lines of communication for the future. Then these parents would know that their child’s food allergies were being taken seriously and would know where to go to raise any concerns, which would help to put their minds at rest.”
Parent
Billie Hoque from Luton, has three children with food allergies. Her son Jess, aged 8, is allergic to cow’s milk and has experienced several near-death allergic reactions.
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“Jess faced an uphill battle at school as a result of his food allergies. The school struggled to comprehend the severity of his allergies and he was often excluded from activities or put in dangerous situations where his allergen was present. This led him to experience severe anxiety when he was just 4 years-old. He would wake in the night and tell me he hated school and that he felt lonely due to feeling different.
“He started to worry about what would happen to him if teachers didn’t call an ambulance on time in the event of an allergic reaction. It was a struggle to get him to school each day, from the minute he woke in the morning he would be fighting back the tears and when we eventually reached the classroom, he would cling to me, cry and tell me that he was too nervous.
“I believe Jess’ experience is similar to thousands of others and is a consequence of the stark lack of awareness and education schools have in dealing with allergic children. I am so pleased that Natasha’s Foundation is launching Allergy School. I have no doubt that this will save lives and also improve the mental wellbeing of our food allergic children at school.”
Educator
Jan Forshaw MBE, Head of Education at Coram Life Education & SCARF (Safety, Caring, Achievement, Resilience, Friendship)
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“Awareness of food allergies among the whole community is vital. Children with food allergies are often excluded from events, because of a general lack of knowledge and understanding of the issues they face.
They can also experience bullying because their allergy can make them appear different to other children.
The lessons and assemblies Coram Life Education & SCARF has developed with Natasha’s Foundation, work together to help everyone learn about the challenges and risks faced by children with food allergies – focusing on facts and, crucially, on developing empathy and caring, attitudes. We are delighted to be part of this great work.”
Allergy School helps children to feel
Empowered
Included
Protected
Allergy School is here to help
Through a new, free toolkit of engaging educational resources, we want to transform understanding of food allergies so that pupils, schools and out-of-school clubs and groups can feel more confident around food allergies.
Why Allergy School matters to parents and carers
Every teacher deserves Allergy School
“Every day brings new worries for parents of children with severe allergies. ‘Will she make it through the day without an allergic reaction, and will her teacher recognise the symptoms if she goes into anaphylaxis?’ The weight of uncertainty never truly fades.
Every child deserves a safe environment at school, and every parent deserves the peace of mind that those entrusted with their child are fully equipped to protect their health and well-being.” – Parent
There is NO room for “Oversights” when it comes to food allergies
“When George was one, he was accidentally given pancakes containing eggs at nursery. George is allergic to eggs, all nuts and sesame. Last September, starting school, we faced the same issue: another “oversight” led to him being served pancakes with eggs.
This is my child’s life, and it’s heartbreaking when people fail to take it seriously or treat him as an inconvenience.” @katierosearkell
