No snack provided for those with special dietary requirements

[Beau2025]

Match Teas - A school has informed us that they will no longer provide a match tea for visiting pupils with special dietary requirements (GF, DF or severe allergies). They will continue to provide a match tea for those without special dietary requirements and also for those children that are vegan or vegetarian. Is this fair? Is this discrimination? My child is Type 1 diabetic and Coeliac. My child has already said she doesn’t want to feel even more singled out.

They clearly don't have the time, space, skill or inclination to ensure there's no cross contamination. I am guessing either someone got sick and threatened legal action, or they just fear that happening. It's not very good but I guess you don't want them to supply it if it's not genuinely going to get fully guaranteed GF.

Match teas at DC’s school are already very restricted, there’s only one option. Some just each the chips/mash/rice etc as it is.

If you’re a visiting team, I would suggest your own school sorts an alternative. Other schools can’t realistically provide for every dietary requirement of visiting children.

So your child will be visiting this school and would ordinarily get match tea?

I think yes it is some kind of discrimination, but I highly doubt it’s unlawful discrimination. You don’t have a relationship with the school and they don’t have to provide a match tea at all.

You could complain/threaten to sue etc but it’s probably more productive to teach your kid to be ok with bringing a packed snack.

I would imagine it would be a logistical nightmare for schools to provide a meal for children they don't know and don't have details about. Sounds like they are saving themselves from a potential serious situation where a child may be given food they should not have.
I don't know if this is legal or not. There is the equality act of course which applies to schools etc where they must provide appropriate food for all pupils but this is not for pupils at the school. I'm sure the school will have been robust in their research into this. You can only ask them. Surely your child's school should be sorting this and either providing an alternative or requesting that you provide one.