Peanut/Tree Nut Free School Policy
Food allergies are on the rise and can cause a severe, systemic, potentially fatal allergic reaction called anaphylaxis in allergic individuals. Eight of the most common food allergens are milk, soy, wheat, fish, shellfish, egg, peanut, and tree nut.
Peanut and tree nut allergies account for most fatal and near-fatal anaphylactic reactions. Allergic individuals can experience anaphylaxis if they touch, inhale or ingest even the slightest trace or residue of the allergen.
To help make Sketty school a fun and safe place for our increasing number of peanut- and tree nut-allergic students, we’re becoming a peanut- and tree-nut-free school. In addition to cleaning hands and mouths before entering school, here’s how you can help:
Lunches
We ask that parents please help by not sending your child into school, with the following;-
- Packs of nuts
- Peanut butter sandwiches
- Fruit and cereal bars that contain nuts
- Chocolate bars or sweets that contain nuts (including Nutella)
- Sesame seed rolls (children allergic to nuts may also have a severe reaction to sesame)
- Cakes made with nuts
Shared Items
- Read labels to ensure shared items, such as snacks and craft materials, contain no peanuts or tree nuts, no traces of peanuts or tree nuts, and are not manufactured in a facility or on equipment that processes peanuts or tree nuts.
- Provide shared items in their original, unopened packages.
- All shared items requiring advance preparation, such as cutting, will be prepared in the school by a school staff member to avoid cross contamination from in-home utensils and surfaces.
Birthdays
Caution must be taken at certain times of year such as Easter and Christmas. If parents distribute confectionary, for birthdays, care must be taken to ensure that no nuts are included in the product. Fruit sweets such as Haribo are a better alternative. Particular products that are a cause for concern are: – Celebrations – Roses – Heroes – Quality Street.
All product packaging must be checked for warnings directed at nut allergy sufferers and if the following or similar are displayed, the product must not be used in school. Packaging must be checked for:
- Not suitable for nut allergy suffers;
- This product contains nuts;
- This product may contain traces nuts;
Indicating this is unsuitable for school consumption.
Parents and Carers
Parents and carers must notify staff of any known or suspected allergy to nuts and provide all medical and necessary information. This will be added to the child’s health care plan and if necessary a meeting organised with the class teacher and ALNCo. Homemade snacks or party food contributions must have a label detailing all ingredients present and the kitchen environment where the food was prepared must be nut free. If you are unsure about a selection please speak to a staff member before bringing the food item into school.
Health Plans and Emergency Response
We have individual Healthcare plans for children with allergies and Allergy Lists are displayed in all classes, highlighting Healthcare plans in place, triggers, medication (Medication will be stored, administered and documented in accordance with our Administering Medicine Policy)
