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Allergies and intolerances

I don't think my DS3 can go to preschool.

49 replies

CouthyMowEatingBraiiiiinz · 15/11/2012 11:41

My 21mo DS3 is anaphylactic to nuts and CMP. His ana reaction to CMP is by far quicker and more severe than his ana reaction to nuts. He even reacts to secondary contact and to trace amounts in things like makeup and deodorants.

There are 2 preschools and 2 Nurseries local to me that do the free hours.

I can't get any further than those as I am a Lone Parent and have to drop older DC at Primary, on public transport as I can't drive because of epilepsy.

1 preschool and both Nurseries have refused
point blank.

I had an allergy management meeting with the last preschool, and that doesn't look too promising either.

They have instantly said that they are a nut free preschool, but in the same breath say that they can't be a totally CMP free preschool. Do they not see the irony?

My DS3 also has other issues, been diagnosed as 'hyperactive with a high likelihood of ADHD diagnosis when older", and is also under investigation for Autism.

He will be impulsive, he will touch other food if it is there.

Why is one allergy treated so much differently to another?

If they can't keep him safe, then I have no preschool for him. He already can't go to toddler group because he has had ana reactions there. Sad

I can't afford private costs, and I can't afford to travel any further to get him to another preschool, both in financial terms and time constraints. He needs social interaction even more than most due to the possible Autism.

I won't be able to afford to get him to support groups etc or HE groups or anything, because they are all held on other estates in my town,
two buses away. And if they are held at weekends, then I also have my older 3 DC's to pay bus fares for.

Where do you go from there?

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NatashaBee · 15/11/2012 11:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Nicknamegrief · 15/11/2012 11:53

What's CMP?

Agree with natashabee, think that you may have grounds under the DDA that they can't exclude on that basis. Speak to your local education department or Health Visitor.

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CouthyMowEatingBraiiiiinz · 15/11/2012 11:54

I think the only real way it could be even remotely safe for him is for it to be CMP free. They all say they can't totally as it's an essential part of a child's diet.

It's not essential to have CMP in just 3 hrs at preschool, any more than it is essential to have nut products in a 3 hour period.

Pisses me off.

I will be applying for DLA sooner rather than later, I think, on the basis that I will end up HE and need the money for resources. I knew proper school would be an issue as they are there for lunch, but didn't think it would be that hard to have a CMP free preschool. Sad

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CouthyMowEatingBraiiiiinz · 15/11/2012 11:55

Cow's Milk Protein - in the form of milk powder, casein, whey, lactose...

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CouthyMowEatingBraiiiiinz · 15/11/2012 11:56

He even reacts to my old eyeshadow and Soft & Gentle deodorant because they have lactose in.

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SoupDragon · 15/11/2012 12:00

If he reacts to things like eyeshadow and deoderant, how can they guarantee CMP free?

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CouthyMowEatingBraiiiiinz · 15/11/2012 12:01

By not using ones with lactose in?

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CouthyMowEatingBraiiiiinz · 15/11/2012 12:02

They wouldn't use a deodorant with Arachis hypogaea in if they had a DC with a severe peanut allergy for example.

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SoupDragon · 15/11/2012 12:03

So, you'd expect all the staff etc to change their products?

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SoupDragon · 15/11/2012 12:04

BTW, I am mostly playing DEvils Advocate. It must be a nightmare.

I guess nuts are easier to avoid.

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SavoyCabbage · 15/11/2012 12:05

I feel for you I really do. I suppose they are terrified/overwhelmed/out of their depth. I wouldn't have a clue if my eyeshadow had lactose in.

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CouthyMowEatingBraiiiiinz · 15/11/2012 12:05

I guess, but I've found it just the sane avoiding nuts as I have CMP. I've had to do it.

It just makes me sad that he will probably miss out on all this because of his allergies. Sad

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Greensleeves · 15/11/2012 12:06

God Couthy what a nightmare for you Sad

The trouble is that if they exclude all CMP, even trace amounts, that is goig to involve policing the teachers' drinks and lunches, anything the other children might have in their bags, parents coming in with younger siblings who are milk fed... I can't see how it would work.

I hope ssomeone comes along with better advice for you.

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greenbananas · 15/11/2012 12:07

I do understand your concerns, and I had real problems with DS's local children and preschool. However, we have now found a preschool that can accomodate him and that I am happy for him to go to.

The preschool does not have to go completely dairy-free (and the Ananphylaxis Campaign doesn't recommend total nut bans either), but they DO have to make sure they can keep your DS safe. Every child is entitled to have their individual need met, and preschools are not allowed to exclude children on the basis of allergies.

Here are a few of the things that my DS's lovely preschool staff have put in place to include him:

-All staff have been trained in how to recognise and treat allergic reactions. All are aware of DS's allergies and I am confident that they don't forget about him.
-DS takes his own food for snack time in his 'special bag' and nobody is allowed to touch it except him.
-All children have their hands wiped on the way in, to remove traces of whatever they have eaten/touched on the way.

  • Children only eat at the tables, so that there should not be traces of food allergens on toys.
  • Tables and floors are cleaned before DS arrives. They also clean the sinks and make sure there are not traces of allergens left on bars of soap etc.
  • All play equipment is checked (e.g. playdough, paint, craft stuff etc.) for ingredients. If the staff are not sure, they also check with me.
  • All junk modelling equipment is carefully policed, e.g. no yoghurt pots, cereal packets with traces of nuts. I think they threw a lot of stuff away when DS started attending, and I have replaced that with safe boxes and cartons from home.
  • Snack time is carefully supervised. DS sits next to a member of staff and there is an empty space the other side of him, to minimise risk of other children putting their hands on his food. The member of staff stays there throughout snack time - that is their job for the duration of snack time.
  • At snack time, all the children who want milk not water to drink are sat on a separate table from DS - he sits on the water table. This helps to protect him from spillages. All tables and floors underneath are cleaned afterwards.
  • All children have their hands wiped by a member of staff as they get up from the snack table.
  • Staff tell me about cooking activities weeks in advance so that I can provide alternative ingredients if necessary (although in practice they usually try to use appropriate recipes and ingredients which make the whole activity safe for him)
  • DS has a "treat box" full of sweets and dairy-free choc (provided by me) which he can dip into if other children bring in birthday cake.
  • All staff have been trained to use the epipen, even the office staff. All were present at the meeting where an allergy nurse told them how to recognise and treat the signs of a reaction.
  • The epipen, inhalers and antihistamine are kept within view in the kitchen area, in a box clearly labelled with DS's name and photo (i.e. NOT locked away in the office or in a cupboard). All staff can get at them quickly, but they are out of the reach of children.
  • There is a poster in the kitchen area (provided by Anaphylaxis Campaign, I think) which reminds staff how to recognise and treat allergic reactions.


Like you, I thought I was going to end up home-edcuating, but DS really wanted to go to preschool like his friends. I don't think it's reasonable to ask a preschool to go completely dairy free, but it is perfectly reasonable to make sure they have procedures in place to protect an allergic child (in terms of both physical wellbeing and social inclusion).

Our lovely preschool also has children with autism and ADHD and they are taking just as much trouble to include those children as they are taking over my DS. Every child is treated as an individual. I know we are lucky to have found this place, but it is possible, with the right attitude, the right procedures and the right team of staff.
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CouthyMowEatingBraiiiiinz · 15/11/2012 12:07

I didn't either! I spend half my life trying to narrow down what he may have reacted to by phoning manufacturers, going online for ingredient lists etc.

Why are other allergies that are life threatening seen as somehow 'less dangerous' than nut allergies? It's just not true.

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Nicknamegrief · 15/11/2012 12:08

That must be an incredibly hard environment for you have at home. I can appreciate it would be hard for a preschool. All the preschools I have experienced get the free milk for the under fives given to them. Although I agree with your point that its not essential.

Our current school has just had to go nut free and they are really struggling with parents supporting it and following through despite the information they have sent out to parents.

Is your health visitor any good or anyone involved with his allergies? They maybe able to help and give you advice on how best to peruse this. You may need to get a statement of special educational needs for your child to accommodate his medical needs within a nursery/school environment. While it maybe a long slog the government has the obligation to provide education to every child.

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CouthyMowEatingBraiiiiinz · 15/11/2012 12:09

They said they couldn't be expected to wipe the children on the way in. I asked about all the things you have listed, some they can do, some they don't think they can manage. Sad

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greenbananas · 15/11/2012 12:11

they said they couldn't be expected to wipe the children on the way in

Good grief. I don't think I would be sending my DS to spend time with such people. Time to talk to your local authority and to Ofsted about this - the preschool is failing to put in basic safeguards and is being discriminatory.

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Nicknamegrief · 15/11/2012 12:11

Greenbananas, did your preschool and school do this independently or with support and who helped them set this up?

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CouthyMowEatingBraiiiiinz · 15/11/2012 12:14

He's already been referred to the EP to get statementing in place before he hits preschool.

I could name any preschool in town - but I have to be able to GET him there. These are the only four I can get him to.

I will have a 9yo with Autism (in MS, but not in the local school) to get to school BY BUS before I can start making a journey to preschool. 9yo won't be able to independently travel till...god knows when. He can't yet cross roads safely, he'll probably be 14 before he's safe unaccompanied. If ever.



No good having a statement naming a preschool that can manage DS3's allergies if I can't get him there due to having to use public transport, is there?

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greenbananas · 15/11/2012 12:14

They decided to do it independently, and were then able to access support from various organisations (it was actually very difficult to find out who should train them all to use the epipen and I know they worked really hard on that in particular). The staff think proactively about pretty much every activity they do, and ask me if they are even vaguely unsure.

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CouthyMowEatingBraiiiiinz · 15/11/2012 12:16

Unless transport by taxi from DS2's school to DS3's preschool can be paid for by the LA? That's the ONLY way I can get to any other preschool or Nursery on time.

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CouthyMowEatingBraiiiiinz · 15/11/2012 12:17

I could look slightly further afield then, as I drop DS2 off at 8.45.

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merlottits · 15/11/2012 12:17

That's a shame for you and your boy but I think it's unrealistic for a nursery to be able to make a nursery CMP free too. Nuts are easier to avoid - milk products - aaahh - where do you start?

You've already said how much effort it has taken you, taking into account one child, to narrow down what can/can't be given. To expect the nursery to police that for all children/staff/siblings for one child is unrealistic I think.

I have a peanut anaphalactic child. I wouldn't even attempt to send them to pre-school if it was milk products too. I would also find it unreasonable as a parent of a child in the nursery that was unable to have milk products.

I would also pursue a statement and if he needs 1-1 in a nursery setting then it may be workable.

It's a shitty situation, I am sorry.

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greenbananas · 15/11/2012 12:17

No good having a statement naming a preschool that can manage DS3's allergies if I can't get him there

Any preschool ought to be able to manange them, and is being discriminatory if they fail to even try. You can insist that they include your DS. However, in the real world I personally feel it is not a good idea to risk sending our allergic children to places where the staff have not understood the issues and where we can't trust them to put precuations in place.

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