help with school and dairy intolerance

[rjgisgedg091113]

Hi I need help as to what to do with school. My son who is 5 was diagnosed with severe dairy intolerance. A month ago I put in a complaint as they gave him pizza loaded with cheese. I had been in and gone the menu of what he can and cant have anyway it turned out to be a mistake as a different dinner lady served him it and didn't know. Now all staff know and its supposed to be sorted. Yesterday my son came home and said he had had a yoghurt. Hes only 5 and thought they had given him a special yoghurt like what I buy that's why he ate it. His intolerance is bad at the mo so under the specialist we limit his dairy and give him alternatives that are dairy free. I just don't know what to do about school. He hasn't reacted to it but hes on a strict diet to find out why he keeps reacting. Ive phoned school they are investigating and going to get back to me. I just need advice on what to do cos they just don't seen to get it!

[leekandpotato]

have you contacted the counties school catering company directly?

does the school have a health care plan in place for your son?

can your medical specialist write a letter to school or catering company stating his medical need to avoid dairy?

[Gileswithachainsaw]

Personally I'd put him on packed lunches.

Not worth the risk and he needs more than scraps that may or may not be suitable.

[rjgisgedg091113]

Leeksandpotato ive done all that so I thought we were sorted spoke to catering company sorted out the dairy free meals he can have, puddings were a problem so I said he wasn't to have any puddings just fruit if he wanted it. That's why I don't understand why he was given a pudding yoghurt or anything really. Babybarrister ill look at that site thanks. Gileswithachainsaw I would put him on them but its hard to make a dairy free packed lunch well one that he will eat. I did do packed lunches but he was coming home with half his lunch uneaten for two weeks. I spoke to him and he said the dinners looked nice and wanted them that's why I switched. Plus with meetings with staff I felt reassured they would cater for his needs

[Gileswithachainsaw]

Then I think. You need to go bit hard core tbh. Either he eats his packed lunch or goes hungry.

The dinners may look nice but they won't taste nice they never do.

And given they gave him a yogurt and had that been an allergy it doesn't bare thinking about, I'd not trust these people one bit.
A slip up with bread or something is understandable as not everyone would think about bread. But only an idiot doesn't know yogurt and cheese is dairy and only an idiot wouldn't ensure that when responsible for children their job is to keep themselves informed of things that could kill or make them sick.
Five is old enough to understand that his requirements mean he won't always be able to have what his friends have.

Get him. To sit down and do a list with you.

[rogueelement]

I think he's too young to have packed lunches. The problem isn't the food, that's fairly easy to sort - it's making sure that everyone who serves him understands what he can have. My DD tried school lunches at 10 - worked for a bit but it did break down, because they served her the wrong thing.

Catering staff don't always understand, especially when there are kids with very different allergies, or ingredients aren't obvious. DD's school served her (a severely egg-allergic child) a vegeburger because they thought that vegetarian things were safe (...) - they contain Quorn which is based on egg. So if it's severe, I simply wouldn't do it, I don't trust the variables. Time when he is older and you have figured out what's going on.

[Gileswithachainsaw]

To young for packed lunches?

Both Dds took/take them to pre school from 3.

I think.on this case its going to be the safest and easiest thing for the kid.

[kitchensinkmum]

Ask to have meeting with all catering staff with the head present too . Explain to all staff his dietary requirements . There shouldn't be any mistakes after this.

[rjgisgedg091113]

Hi thanks for all the replies. Ive spoken to the head teacher and had a very strong conversation with him. Turns out his son is having allergy testing after spending the other evening in a&e so hes taken my complaint very seriously
. Hes investigated and I'm very happy with the thongs hes put in place and done. Thanks again for all your help