School dinners. Can staff really do this?

[SoyUnPerdedor2]

Trying to keep it vague as haven't been able to get a meeting yet.
My dd returned to school after summer holiday. Same school she has been to, for a couple of years. Since she a tarted age 4.

Same staff. Same head. Same catering team.
Small village school. Single class intake.

Dd is key stage 1. So gets free dinners. All ks1 get them.

Dd has a dairy allergy. She has had this since birth. School are fully aware and kept her dairy free in the previous years.

Yesterday, I got a phone call after lunch. Asking me to collect dd as she had got an upset stomach and had pooed in the classroom.
As soon as I got near her, I could smell poo. Not normal poo, but the awful smelly stuff she made as a baby, before we got her allergy sorted.
So I asked what she had eaten. Macaroni cheese. Normal macaroni cheese. With real cheese.
Apparently, she has been taken off the allergy list, due to a paperwork issue?
School haven't updated her care thing, so gave her normal food. Knowing it would make her poorly.

Who is my issue with here?
School? Teacher? Office staff? Catering staff?
Dd is not old enough to fully understand food restrictions. She usually asks if it's OK for her. But with new kids starting, lots of noise.. I would not put the blame on her.

No, I didn't expect my form to be processed overnight. I would expect them to do the reception kids first. Then any that had ticked the "changes" box.
Then check over the remainder.

But as we have been with this school from the start...
There were no problems in reception.
Dd knows enough to not share food. Even in reception she knew.
Moving in to year 1, no problems again.
The information went with her. And the other kids in her class with similar issues.
So when the form came, we checked it. And ticked the "no change" box.
Everything carried on fine.
Reception to year 1. Easy. No changes. Info went with her.
Y1 to y2. I (Obviously wrongly) assumed they would continue using the old forms until the new ones were returned. Unless they were given specific information from a parent/Carer stating otherwise.

You may not have a crystal ball but one should be safely able to assume that at least one brain cell is shared between the school staff.

What a typical response from someone who has probably never worked in a school. Are you insinuating there is no educated staff in a school by this comment? Parents have a RESPONSIBILITY to advise caterers or school staff YEARLY of a continuation of care or changes to any care/dietary requirements of their children. Assumption is dangerous where the dietary requirement of a child is at risk. The OP filled in form yesterday yet expects it to be processed by a day later. A telephone call would have sufficed to ensure the dietary requirements of their child were adhered to. It's not rocket science!

Is anyone suggesting that it is good practice from a school to ignore previous notified allergies until a new form is submitted. That a school will start each year with a blank sheet and say "we no nothing despite the fact the child has been with us for two years already so we will assume no allergies whatsoever and will provide food accordingly" Is that really good practice??

No, I didn't expect my form to be processed overnight. I would expect them to do the reception kids first. Then any that had ticked the "changes" box.
Then check over the remainder.

You assumed and your assumption was wrong. Lesson learned. Perhaps talking to the school would have had a more favourable outcome instead of an expectation? As I have said numerous times on this thread dietary requirements are the responsibility of the parent NOT teachers, NOT HT's, NOT office staff and NOT catering staff. It's a PARENTS responsibility to inform the school at the beginning of the school year. This could be something the school could change and improve on with your suggestion and input.

I have a child with a very severe food related problem.

It has delayed onset and can result in projectile vomiting rapid dehydration and life threatening shock. He has a list of food he cannot eat and cannot be treated in the same way as a allergy can.

So if my child was fed dairy products or soy along without a few other things I wouldn’t know about it for up to as much as 8 hours after which he would very quickly end up unconscious on a drip where he could possibly remain for days.

I do my bit by providing medical evidence of his issues I have only ever had to do so once.

WHy on earth would op need to inform the school, that her dd has been at for 2 years, that she has the same allergies she has had since she was a baby? Its not rocket science to think she will still have them when op has ticked the 'No Change' box.

In a small village school!

It was one of the saddest days of ds1's life when he passed his last allergy challenge and slid into invisibility. The fact that he could now eat whatever he liked without fear of illness and death cushioned the blow a bit, mind (previously allergic to dairy, nuts and celery).

Anyway OP this was a serious, serious cock up and Id be insisting the school treat it as such. They need to totally revise their allergy management procedures before they kill somebody.

Bloody hell I can't believe anyone is enough of a jobsworth to think the paperwork error excuses This. It is 100% unacceptable of the school. The assumption should always be a previously stated allergy still applies until they are told otherwise. If they haven't processed the form then they assume allergy still applies. Otherwise they would very obviously need to give out and process the forms alot bloody quicker. 100% unacceptable.

I would be so angry and I'd not let this go easily, it needs highlighting how serious this is and something put in place to ensure it doesn't happen again. The response from the school is unbelievable.

My DC has a few allergies and their picture is up on the kitchen wall next to the serving hatch. I choose the meal choice each day and a TA agrees with the staff that it's suitable or arranges any changes before its passed on.

The worst part is that they have managed to feed your DD for the past two years. I can't understand why they would so quickly and easily disregard her needs.

I'm sorry this has happened OP I hope your DD recovers quickly.

Our school sends these forms out through summer for new starters and at the end of term for existing students. If they have created a hole in their knowledge by only requesting these forms in the first week of the new term, they have the responsibility to maintain already established requirements.

PP are desperate to blame op. She informed the school in the way they requested to be informed. It’s not a big leap to expect that they can successfully manage information in this way if that is what they request.

Unless notified of changes by parents, we simply update classes each September and reissue the plans.

How can you possibly assume care plans haven't changed? Do you not issue data check forms to ensure the information you hold is correct? Do you not meet with parents to ensure you're meeting their child's needs? We meet with parents to re-evaluate how we can support children every year at the beginning of term (and have review meetings_ depending on individual need) We advise parents that they need to meet with catering for dietary needs due to menus changing. Some children have differing needs year to year.

Soy so sorry to hear your experience, I am worried about the HT's response to what happened, seems flippant, but as your poor DD demonstrated, it is anything but.

I work in a primary school and we take all allergies or medical issues very seriously and if informed on the form that a child has an allergy we will call parent to discuss our menus and ascertain which choices will be suitable. Our kitchen staff are also involved in this discussion.

Mistakes are not acceptable.

Additionally, if we are informed that a child has an allergy to some substance it is presumed that will be the case throughout their primary school life until we are officially informed otherwise.

mylegshurt your comments are ridiculous. Of course parents have no idea about the schools admin, unless they're on the payroll they shouldn't have to. A parent can reasonable assume that the school would have a modicum of common sense and realise that until they're specifically notified otherwise a child has the same allergy they've had since birth.

Just as a PP said they have deliberately created a hole on their knowledge by only asking for this information at the beginning of term.

Yeah sure op

What a typical response from someone who has probably never worked in a school. Are you insinuating there is no educated staff in a school by this comment? Parents have a RESPONSIBILITY to advise caterers or school staff YEARLY of a continuation of care or changes to any care/dietary requirements of their children. Assumption is dangerous where the dietary requirement of a child is at risk. The OP filled in form yesterday yet expects it to be processed by a day later. A telephone call would have sufficed to ensure the dietary requirements of their child were adhered to. It's not rocket science!

Given that you appear to believe that anybody who doesn’t agree with you can’t possibly have ever worked in a school or have any understanding of some fairly basic safeguarding issues and safe policies,
I shall strongly suggest you hold a real life conversation with the person in your school who is responsible for following the statutory guidance for managing medical issues and the DOH guidance.
And I hope to god that person isn’t you.

If your schools policy actually states you are to fully disregard all previously known about allergy information relating to pupils or their care plans on the first day of each academic year unless another form has been processed then that would be an incredibly dangerous unsafe policy which puts your School massively at risk of action being taken along with risking harm

Somehow I suspect your schools policy doesn’t actually state that and you are either
A. Misrepresenting it quite wildly
B. Determined to believe that a school cannot possibly be at fault because you work in one so they all must be fab.

Oh and yes assumptions can be dangerous when it comes to the management of allergies, assuming a child is still allergic to something unless told otherwise is a far far safer action than assuming they are not still allergic to the thing you already knew about because you haven’t been told they still are.

As I have said numerous times on this thread dietary requirements are the responsibility of the parent NOT teachers... t's a PARENTS responsibility to inform the school at the beginning of the school year.

But it's nonsense. Of course it is teachers' responsibility, MyLegsHurt. They have a basic duty of care. Therefore if a child in their care has an allergy in July, they have to assume there has not been a miracle cure as a result of which that child no longer has the allergy six weeks later. Why on earth would they do anything else?

How can you possibly assume care plans haven't changed?

Why wouldn't you, especially with something like an allergy? You have a child with, say, a life-threatening allergy to nuts at the end of the summer term. Come the beginning of the autumn term, are you going to say to yourself "I haven't heard from Gertrude's parents, so obviously it's safe to give her nuts"? Or are you going to say "I haven't heard from Gertrude's parents, so I'm not going to risk giving her nuts "? What precisely do you imagine is the likelihood of an allergy disappearing between July and September?

This is absolutely fucking dreadful. A small one-form entry school should know every child. Even if the entire lunchtime staff had changed since July, I would fully expect them to look at paperwork from last year rather than starting from huge assumptions and endangering pupils. I'd expect the HT or deputy to be directing them in this.

Assumption is dangerous where the dietary requirement of a child is at risk

MyLegsHurt, what precisely would be the danger of assuming that OP's daughter is still allergic to dairy?

OP I really hope your poor DD has improved lots by morning. This afternoon must've been really distressing for her.

I would be writing a formal letter of complaint to the chair of governors. This should not have happened. I'm a school governor and would be appalled if this had happened at my school, we would be making policy changes to ensure that it never happened again.

Is the school part of an academy? I know a lot of small primaries are these days. I would also complain to the board of trustees if it is.

To all of those saying 'no harm done' OP's daughter was seriously ill today. Allergies can get worse with each exposure to the allergen. This large dose of dairy may mean that next time she comes into contact with dairy it will cause an anaphylactic reaction. This should never ever happen in a school and allergy handling needs to be dealt with much much better

I have coeliac disease which makes me very poorly. My mum sent me to school with pack ups. Even when I was old enough to know what ingredients were usually in certain things I took pack ups to be safe. Yes you shoule be able to trust the school etc but if you want total reassurance this is the only way that I can think of.

Thanks for all the advice given.
I will be writing to the safeguarding lady
at the school.
And the governors.

I would like to clarify first

We have known the school for over 10 years. Older siblings attend.

Lovely school generally. Nice family atmosphere.

It was one of the reasons we moved to the village.

I would like some specific advice if anyone can help please?

What is in a care plan? Or what should be?
Could anybody give an example?

I will "invent" a child for this, as I don't want any other children's info...

Can anybody give an example of a care plan for fred?

Frederick Smith has just started year 2.
He was born in June 2012.
He went to a local nursery and was happy there.
He is the youngest of 3 boys. To a single parent.
Doing ok at school. Similar to the other kids in his class.
But he can't eat any dairy. Has never tolerated dairy, since birth.

We have an allergy plan prepared by the dietician using this model.

We have one that specifies how and when to administer epipen, but there is also a generic form for children who do not have an adrenalin auto injector.

www.bsaci.org/about/download-paediatric-allergy-action-plans A generic plan for individuals assessed as not needing AAI

This is in my son's file, on the wall in the school kitchen and I give copies whenever he is left at holiday clubs etc.

You would fill out all known allergies and how it affects her.

So I have one sheet for my son that informs staff he may have anaphylactis if he has sesame, egg, dairy or beef. - anti histimine immediately have epi pen to hand. Be ready to call 999. and me.

Wheat and soya will cause hives and swelling - administer anti histimine but unlikely to need epi pen -monitor closely. Call me.

Pulses may cause vomiting and explosive diarrhoea administer anti histimine as soon as ingested and get to toilet. Call me.

The teacher has a copy in his stock cupboard at school so he can refer to it if necessary.

I stayed with my child for the first year of preschool as it was so hard to monitor what other children were eating, I took him to a seperate area for snack and lunch.

He is now year 4. We have had no reactions at school. The school have been absolutely fantastic, they have asked parents not to send egg boxes in for junk modelling. They have a box of treats he can have if other children have birthdays and bring in cakes etc.

I have always sent in lunch boxes and his best friends mum ensures her son has a lunch box that doesn't contain anything that could cause a severe reaction and they sit together away from the other children.

Allergies are crap. My son has had reactions from a supermarket trolley, from holding a friends hand who had recently eaten something he is particularly sensitive to. We spent a lot of his baby days in hospital and the rest at home - he ate a crumb of someones carpet once which ended up with a 3 day intensive care stay. I couldn't risk that or give someone else the worry of knowing they had caused that.
I am pretty certain that no one my son knows is jealous of his 'special treatment'.

Sorry that started has specific info for you and ended as an insight of what life can be like for those with allergies. Might be useful info for anyone who thinks they are not that serious.

Pananny I don't mean this to sound trite but your son's early years must have been emotionally exhausting for you. I can't imagine how draining it must have been to ensure he was safe but also ensure he wasn't reduced to just his allergy. I doff my cap to you. It was a really insightful post, thank you.

And I agree it's not exactly painting a picture that would lead to jealous screams of 'ooh get him and his special requirements'