Allergy Awareness

At Denver VC Primary School, we are committed to providing a safe and inclusive environment for all children, including those with food allergies and medical dietary needs.

Supporting Children with Allergies

We recognise that allergies can be serious and, in some cases, life-threatening. We work closely with parents, healthcare professionals and catering providers to ensure that children with allergies are supported appropriately during the school day.

Where a child has a diagnosed allergy, parents should inform the school as soon as possible and provide any relevant medical information. Individual healthcare plans will be put in place where required, and staff receive appropriate training to support children with specific medical needs.

Allergy-Aware School

As some children in school have severe allergies, we ask all families to support us by:

• Ensuring the school is informed of any allergies or dietary requirements.
• Not sending foods containing nuts into school whenever possible.
• Checking ingredients carefully when providing snacks or food items for events.
• Following any additional guidance shared with classes where a child has a specific severe allergy.

Whilst we take reasonable precautions to minimise risks, we cannot guarantee that the school environment is completely free from allergens.

Staff Training

The safety and wellbeing of our pupils is our highest priority. All staff at Denver VC Primary School have completed allergy awareness and anaphylaxis training, ensuring they can recognise the signs and symptoms of an allergic reaction and respond quickly and appropriately in an emergency.

Regular updates and refresher training are undertaken to ensure staff remain confident in supporting children with allergies and administering emergency medication when required.

Benedict’s Law and Emergency Treatment

In line with Benedict’s Law, schools are required to have arrangements in place to support children experiencing anaphylaxis, including those who may not have a previously diagnosed allergy.

Denver VC Primary School holds 4 spare adrenaline auto-injectors (AAIs), commonly known as EpiPens, which may be administered in an emergency where a child is experiencing symptoms of anaphylaxis and meets the criteria set out in national guidance. These devices are stored securely, and appropriately trained staff are available to respond in an emergency.

Parents of children prescribed adrenaline auto-injectors should continue to provide the school with their child's own in-date medication and ensure it is replaced before its expiry date.

School Meals

Our catering provider, Norse, is able to provide information about allergens contained within school meals. If your child has a food allergy or special dietary requirement, please contact the school office so that appropriate arrangements can be made.

Medication

Where prescribed, emergency medication such as adrenaline auto-injectors (EpiPens) will be stored and administered in accordance with the child's healthcare plan. Parents are responsible for ensuring that medication supplied to school is in date and replaced as necessary.

Supporting Emotional Wellbeing

We recognise that living with an allergy can affect a child's emotional wellbeing as well as their physical health. Some children may feel worried about eating around others, taking part in school activities, attending trips, or managing their allergy independently as they grow older.

At Denver VC Primary School, we are committed to creating an inclusive environment where children with allergies feel safe, supported and able to participate fully in all aspects of school life. Staff work sensitively with pupils and families to ensure that children are not unnecessarily excluded from activities and that reasonable adjustments are made where needed.

Through allergy awareness education, staff training and open communication with families, we aim to help children develop confidence, resilience and self-advocacy skills, enabling them to understand and manage their allergies appropriately.

Should a child require additional emotional support, we will work closely with parents and carers to identify appropriate strategies and, where necessary, access further pastoral support within school.

Further Support and Information

The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation provides information and resources for families, including guidance on the emotional impact of living with food allergies and supporting children's wellbeing. Their Allergy School programme also promotes inclusion, confidence and understanding for children with allergies in educational settings. [narf.org.uk], [narf.org.uk], [allergyschool.org.uk]

Further Information

If you have any concerns regarding allergies, dietary requirements or medical needs, please contact the school office. We are committed to working in partnership with families to ensure that every child is safe, healthy and able to participate fully in school life.