Allergies in nursery - experiences please to compare

[Angielka]

Morning. I'm looking for someone with experience of dealing with allergies in nursery. We're in Belgium and I don't know whether what we're dealing with at the moment is comparable to what might happen in the UK. It's curiosity really - grateful for whatever you can tell me.

The nursery is attached to a primary school. I recently found out DD1 was given milk products for six weeks in nursery lunches (by her having an extreme face-swelling reaction once her body had had enough), despite telling the school about her allergies from day 1.

The food is shipped in and the company that provides the meals has told the head that they cannot provide a dairy-free meal for DD1. I've now asked the head to ask them to provide a list of ingredients so the dinner ladies know what she can and can't have, but I don't want to back down and give her a packed lunch because I think it's totally unfair on DD1.

I'm a bit shocked nobody seems very bothered about this, and surprised that the situation is as it is so I'd be very interested to hear anyone else's experience... TIA

It seems that despite you informing the school they have no real policies in place to protect your child.

Do you have a emergency treatment plan or have given the school a doctors letter outlining this health problem?

Although from a inclusive point of view I agree packed lunches are unfair for your DD, its also not fair that she has been continually fed her allergen and been unwell.

If the food is shipped in and they cant provide a milk free meal, you have little choice but to have packed lunch.

We are not in the UK either and the bought in midday food provider at school will not provide alternatives for allergy sufferers.

DS has always been able to have a dairy free meal. When he started Nursery, then infants, then juniors, I arranged a meeting with the cooks and gave them a list of foods that are always "safe", foods that are never "safe" and foods to check as they may or may not contain milk.
They have always been co-operative and DS has never had a reaction at school (he's 12 now).
From the other side, I worked in day nurseries for a few years, they were always extremely careful regarding allergens and dietary requirements, often stricter than parents!
At one point I had a "key group" of 4 children, 3 of whom had different allergies. Between them, they were allergic to milk, eggs, wheat, soya, kiwi, strawberries, pork, nuts, citrus and oats.
Cooking activities were a challenge to say the least, especially pancake day (my group had rice cakes with sugar).

Our nursery was fantastic. Not just with my son but also with another child who had a different allergy.

I did provide the spread and dairy-free yoghurt but the cook was amazingly inventive with his main meal. To the extent she experimented at home to see if she thought it was tasty.

Now DS2 is at school. Totally different attitude. Not so much the school but the L/A. For DS2 to have a school meal the local authority required 2 letters confirming his allergy. Then provided a sample menu and was basically a jacket pot and baked beans each day with an apple to follow. As beans make him trump all day we opted for packed lunch. And to be honest I would be wondering about cross contamination.

Wasn't so impressed with the experiment they did last week on making and tasting ice cream and the teachers 'forgot his allergy' good job he is a mouthy 5yr old.

It seems to me, from reading this board, that our experiences are very variable.

I'm hoping that the new guidelines on dealing with children who have long-term health needs will make a difference to this.

My son started reception (in England) in September. The school have been amazing in every way, and are very concerned to include him. However, he still has to come home for lunch every day, as they are not yet confident that they can keep him safe. He is rather upset about this, and I feel his pain, but I am very happy that the school are taking his allergies seriously. All the children in Reception now wear aprons at lunch time to cover their clothes, so they don't start the afternoon covered with yoghurt etc. (and the school has bought a new washing machine to clean these aprons - they have also installed a new phone line in the classroom so that they could call an ambulance without having to go through the school office). All children must have their hands and faces wiped by an adult before going to play. Apparently, the reason my son still has to come home at lunch time is that some children are still running away and have to be chased before they have their hands wiped.

Pancakeflipper at the teachers forgetting your DS's allergies! (although sadly this doesn't surprise me after the experience we had with a preschool DS nearly went to )

Thanks for all your inputs.

Where are you mistyb?

eragon no we have no emergncy plan and didn't think a doctor's letter would be necessary since we talked in person to the head before nursery started and he assured us they had experience with allergies and everything was totally under control . I'm going to speak to the doctor again though and ask her for some extra support.

Nice to hear of a positive experience inmysparetime in amongst the rest!

Pancakeflipper isn't it worrying how easy people in positions of responsibility 'forget' such vital information?!! We have provided alternative desserts and snacks for DD1, and alternativ birthday treats but I am still uneasy about how seriously the situation is being taken

The apron idea is a great one greenbananas but it does confirm what I've heard from everyone I've asked, that the UK seems to be a bit ahead on recognising and dealing properly with allergies in kids.

Thanks again for the experiences. I'll battle on

My DS nursery have been amazing, they have bought him his own high chair, moved messy play area and won't touch him if they have touched dairy. We have various plans in place (due to various allergies), retrained the staff for his medication and are very understanding.

But the manager suffers from allergies herself so very sympathetic. However I think their attitude is common in the UK.

I have to say I would be appalled if I was you, but then my son has had an anaphalexoc shock so I'm very cautious.

We're UK based.

Despite the nursery having a 'Plan' given to them by allergy nurses at DS's allergy clinic, and supposed allergy training etc, nursery insisted that DS was included in nursery meals (no packed lunch) and that they would provide dairy free alternatives.

They gave him a chocolate shortbread with chocolate sauce during his second week, he had a serious allergic reaction. They were giving him quiche all the time (he was flaring up I didn't know why) in the end they gave him a full glass of milk and he drank it.

The allergy nurse said they were negligent and they could have killed a child with their lack of care.

He was age 3 and it was his first experience of nursery. Once he was settled (it was very unsettling for him at first) we didn't want to take him out as were concerned about a smooth transition from nursery to school. The nursery were insisting that they helped with this transition, visited the kids at school etc. None of which they did. I wish now I had reported them to Ofsted and Local authority but at the time we just did what we thought was right for DS and didn't rock the boat.

My son has multiple allergies, some severe and his nursery have been brilliant. Not only do they provide safe cooked meals for him (and other children with allergies) but they also whereever possible make sure his meal is the 'same' as everyone elses (so he will have an adapted shepherds pie for instance). I think this diligence is reflected in their general approach at nursery anyway (eg all food is locally sourced and freshly cooked and the cook puts a lot of care into his menu planning). It isn't any more expensive than other nurseries in the area either.

My dds both have food allergies. They've had a combined 8 years of nursery and 3 of school. They've had a mix of packed lunches and nursery dinners.

In that time there has been just one incident of accidental contact. Incidentally there's just been the one accident at home (grandparents) too.

I think that's good and what I would expect.

I would say that it takes a Lot of work on the parents part. Whilst the allergy nurse is great for teaching the epipen, it is us parents who need to go through every stage of every day routines with nursery staff to ensure that everything has been thought about and safeguarded.
You have to be quite pushy and willing to politely stand up and say you're not happy with something. It helps if you put the expectations in writing and what's agreed becomes a written document.
None of this came easily to me, but now 7 years down the line, I've realised its the only way.
I think my dh has been quite shocked by me sometimes but most teachers want all the help they can get. And I always make sure I really really thank them and give them extra presents at Xmas letting them know how much I appreciate them

I'm in the UK and my son has to have packed lunches as we have been told that the school cannot cater for his dietary needs as the risk of an allergic reaction due to cross contamination is too great.
It isn't ideal but I would much rather send packed lunches than risk an allergic reaction as my son suffers anaphylaxis from even a very tiny amount of one of his various allergens.