Allergy and school dinners

[flumpster]

Hi all, this is my first go at this, & I hope someone can offer advice! My DD has just started school & has a brazil nut allergy. The sch says any child with an allergy can't have a sch dinner. She is going full time after xmas & the main thing she is looking forward to is hgaving a school dinner. I want her to have them and the catering company is happy toprovide for her. I have already written to the governors outlining my arguments against what I feel is a discriminatory policy and they are looking into the legal arguments. Anyone have any idea what these are (so I can keep one step ahead of them) Cheers

[MetalMummy]

I think it depends on the LEA as to whether schools in each area provide meals for children with special diets.
My DS is allergic to wheat, milk and baked beans and has school dinners. Another boy in his class is allergic to eggs and peanuts and also has school dinners. We had meetings with Stoke on Trent schools catering services nutritionist to plan a menu which was suitable for him. They do a four weekly menu for him and although he doesn't like the fact that he can't choose what he wants for his dinner like his friends at least I know every day exactly what he'll be eating.
If it is just your DDs school that is refusing to allow her school dinners then you could try to find out what other schools the catering company provide meals for and if those schools allow children with allergies to have meals. This would prove to the Governors that it can be done. They are probably worried about you sueing them if your DD had an allergic reaction whilst at school.

[MeMySonAndI]

If the catering company is OK with it, I can't see the point of the school not allowing her to have school dinners.

No idea really, I checked my nearest school and they were less than helpful (they felt they were prepared enough by having someone trained in epipen use, but used nuts in the kitchen and didn't ask parents not to send nuts to school, no policy whatsoever to avoid transcontamination, so... rather than trying to educate them I chose another school.

Accidents happen even when the school is willing and able to protect our children, I wouldn't send my son to one that doesn't realise that in their lack of effort and interest depends the life of my child.

[tatt]

when starting at primary my severely allergic child (peanut and others) took a packed lunch because lots of kids did. Later they had a school lunch. At secondary they eat school lunches all the time. Your school's policy is not a universal policy. There are something like 6 epipens in the first aid office, it's not that unusual in large schools. Sometimes kids with allergies are asked to have special coloured trays to remind the staff to warn them of any problem food. We've not needed that at school because the caterers have always been nut free.

Sometimes companies get a bit paranoid (e.g. they were fusssing about coconut until I said why hadn't they asked me, it was no problem). Oil is a common worry (and not generally an issue).

Keep muttering disability discrimination and refer them to the anaphylaxis campaign website for caterers. If you are a member of the anaphylaxis campaign sometimes a local organiser will talk to the school with you.

[flumpster]

Thanks for all that, I'll let you know how we get on!

[ggirlsbells]

My ds is allergic to tree nuts and he can have school dinners.

I would get the catering company to talk to the school,get the anaphylaxis campaign involved .

[christywhisty]

My DS is allergic to tree nuts and seeds and peanuts at one time. School initially wouldn't let him have school dinners even though they had a no nuts policy.

When I saw consultant they said it was better for him to have a proper dinner than sandwiches . We passed that onto the school and they changed their mind.

Now he is at secondary school there has been no problem at all.