struggling to find a pre-school that will accept multiple food allergies

[alexbcn1]

Hi,
I'm very new to the board but am feeling a little lost with this so thought I would see if anyone is having the same issues here.
My son (aged 3) has multiple food allergies to nuts, egg and sesame. I've been trying to find a pre-school for him but am having a lot of difficulty finding somewhere. All the pre-schools in my area sell themselves as food allergy friendly and inclusive, but all the ones I have contacted have either a) rejected us outright because of the food allergies, b) accepted our registration fee then told us they couldn't adapt to make the setting allergen free and we would have to deal with that or leave, or c) accepted our registration fee and then told us to leave during the settling in period as they didn't want staff to be liable if something happened. I know this is pretty awful but my main concern is finding somewhere safe for my son to attend - he shouldn't miss out on pre-school because of these attitudes.
I've spoken to the allergy clinic we attend who told me to speak to our health visitor. The health visitor just recommended one of the pre-schools we'd already been to (that accepted our fee then told us to leave). Any ideas here? Pre-school is optional so I believe there is no obligation to offer my son a place but he shouldn't have to miss out because he has allergies.
Thanks :)
Melinda

I think it's awful that a pre-school actually let your son attend then asked you to remove him, that must have been difficult for both of you.

I would be very surprised if a manager would agree to make the setting completely allergen free though - is there no way you could compromise on that as long as they could ensure that your son didn't consume or play with anything containing the things he's allergic to? Around here, all the nurseries and pre-schools accept children with allergies but they don't make the places allergen free, I assume because it would be too difficult if they had several children all with different allergies.

Did the places you've tried give lunch? I can see they might have found it more difficult if they did, but could you offer to take in a packed lunch/something for them to heat up instead? I don't think you should have to, but if it's the only way to get a place...

My son has a severe milk allergy but he's just finished nearly two years at pre-school and never had any problems. They used to ask me to bring in dairy-free ingredients whenever they did baking and made sure that his baking was kept separate from the rest, and double checked with me whenever they were planning to do food tastings, to see if he could try the food they were getting. Doing it this way has really helped him, as he now seems to understand more about his allergy and likes to explain to people why he's different!

Sounds like you have had some truly dreadful experiences, and as a childcare professional I think it's worth talking to ofsted about the preschools that have failed to include your son.

I do remember how it felt to despair of any preschool being able to keep my son safe. I had a couple of awful experiences too. I had pretty much decided that I was going to have to home educate him! However, eventually we did did find a lovely preschool where he was very happy.

The preschool allowed me to send in food for my son (he has a range of allergies which made him almost impossible to cater for, and we all felt safer if he only ate food from home). They went through all their junk modeling and craft stuff to make sure it was free of his allergens, and checked every baking activity with me well in advance. I sent in a treat box for when other children brought in birthday cake etc do that he could have a safe treat and not miss out. At snack time, ds was sat next to an adult, with an empty space the other side of him, so that he was on the same table as the other children but safe from cross contamination.

All staff had epipen training, even the Secretary. I felt confident that they would know what to do in a crisis, and also that they were doing everything they could avoid a crisis. Ds was happy there and he thrived, as they were lovely people who were kind to absolutely all of the children and always made him feel totally included.

I know that we were lucky... and that we have also been very lucky with his infant school, who are equally lovely and equally careful. However, finding allergy friendly provision is possible.

Of course, every preschool should be this good as a matter of course - but I do think you have to make a judgement call about whether or not you actually trust the staff and have faith in their procedures.

Worth mentioning that neithe ds1s preschool or infant school have made the whole premises allergen free - but they both made sure that allergens were contained at a table, they never let children run around randomly while holding or eating things ds is allergic to. All children have had their hands wiped after touching or eating allergens, and staff have made sure their clothes aren't covered in yogurt or banana or whatever.

Good luck with this - hope you find somewhere!!!