Lunchtime supervision of 6 year old with food allergies (long!!!)

[alison222]

Twice in the last 2 weeks my 6 year old has come back home with remains of food I have not given him in his lunchbox. He has a number of food allergies and this is worrying me no end.
He says - in his opinion reasonably- that it was OK because it is food I may give him at home.
I have spoken to him at length regarding whether he had checked labels for changes in ingredients and how he could be sure that the others hadn't had sandwich contents he is allergic to and could have contaminated their food.

Whilst he is aware he shouldn't take others food he is also going through a phase of not wanting to be different to everyone else and this is causing problems.

I have written to the school and spoken to the head this morning. They are going to have him eat lunch by himself this week to try to reinforce it to him and to talk to the school class by class of the importance of not sharing food.
I am going back to talk to the head at the end of the week. This is obviously not a long term solution. I want to know what I could EXPECT the school reasonably to do regarding lunchtime supervison.

Any experience/ideas anyone?

I will also post under am I being unreasonable

[Enid]

what is he allergic to?

[PedroPony]

lunc h by himslef?
a bit harsh
i got hte head ot chekc ds1 to make sure he had eatne
maybe oyu are givign heim too much

[PedroPony]

our dinner ladies haev a hit list ot check
dont single him out
terribel idea imfo

[PedroPony]

our dinner ladies haev a hit list ot check
dont single him out
terribel idea imfo

[alison222]

I don't want him singled out . That is the point!!!

He is not leaving food I have given him, he is taking food from others or sharing - not exactly sure if he shares his food - but it is usually mostly eaten. Its taking food from tohers I am worried about

[Enid]

so he is sharing and not showing any signs of allergy?

what exactly is he allergic to?

[alison222]

Enid, He is allergic to eggs all nuts all fish and sea food sesame, goats and sheeps cheese, blue food colouring probably chocolate.

[PedroPony]

i rekcon cut hte food quantity in half

[alison222]

He took hoola hoops - haromless and some cheese. But how do I know he won't take something he is allergic to next time?

[alison222]

Pedro he IS eating what I give him PLUS other stuff too

[saintmaybe]

lunch by himself?

Is there a strict no food-sharing policy for everybody? With a letter going home to that effect?

If they're serious about enforcing that there shouldn't need to be any need to single out your ds.

[alison222]

They usually eat in the hall.
It is supervised by the dinner ladies.
He KNOWS he shouldn't take food from others - that is why I am so concerned. He did it anyway and he WASN'T sick so it may make him more likely to risk something else.

I have talked and talked to him.
I hope it is going to work.
I want to put him back in the hall with the others.

My attitude is that this may be a shorpt shapr shock to him to re-inforce thae fact he shouldn't take food from the others.

BUT what can I expect from the school to help longer term?

[Saturn74]

Have replied on your other thread.

[alison222]

His lunch box is not Ultra healthy no - just so so.

It has a sandwich, friut, juice, biscuit, today a scone with jam, breadsticks etc.

I don't want the school to fob me off long term. Can I force them to provide more supervision.

He is anaphylactic with the sheeps cheese. I am not sure about the nuts as he has never had them unless in contaminated food as far as I know but the skin tests showed huge reactions. Ditto the egg - but that is not usually anaphylactic just slow reacting and very messy/distressing for him about 1-2 hours later.

[alison222]

He hates mild Cheese even if it looks good!!!!

Won't eat it. Its embaressing at parties etc when the sandwiches are filled with mild cheese. He picks it out and says it tastes funny.

[alison222]

We have just been through a phase where he wasn't even eating what I put in at lunch "not hungy mummy" coming home ravenous and loosing weight - his school trousers were strtign to fall down.

He is now eating again but still a little food usually comes home so I think the balance is about right

[alison222]

He isn't allergic to dairy. He just likes very strong cheese {grin}