The school was assessed by The Allergy Team against a set of standards laid out in the Schools Allergy Code. The Code is guidance for schools recommended by the Department for Education and included in its Guidance for Managing allergies for schools’ resources.
Sally O’Connor says ‘It is extremely important to be aware of any allergies that our school community may be affected by. Going through the process of joining the Allergy Register has supported us to develop our knowledge, understanding and practices in managing allergies and anaphylaxis. We are delighted to be one of the first schools in the country to be added to the School Allergy Register’.
The Allergy Team was Founded by Sarah Knight who has two children with allergies. She says “To earn their place on the Schools Allergy Register schools have to demonstrate that they are committed to following best practice in managing allergies. This means training all their staff to reduce the risk of allergic reactions happening and to know how to respond to an emergency, having a robust allergy policy in place, holding spare adrenaline pens and supporting the wellbeing and inclusion of students with allergies. Seeing that a school is on the Schools Allergy Register gives parents and carers greater confidence that their child’s condition is understood and that procedures have been put in place to keep them safe, helping to reduce the huge anxiety many of us feel when handing over our children into someone else’s care.”
In a recent survey carried out by The Allergy Team, 58% of parents of children with allergies said their child had experienced an allergic reaction or ‘near miss’ at school and 12% had to receive urgent medical attention from the emergency services. A 2023 survey by Benedict Blythe Foundation of 244 teachers in the UK highlighted that a third had not received any allergy training. ENDS.