Does your school have an allergy table at school meal times?

Needmorelego · 14/12/2023 16:09

There is no normal because it will vary from school to school and allergy to allergy.

mammabing · 14/12/2023 16:09

No, although any allergy sufferers do always sit in the same place so staff can keep an extra eye and always line up to get their lunches first. Anyone else is free to sit with them though.

Iwishiwasasilentnight · 14/12/2023 16:10

No, I believe the kids with allergies put on their special lanyards when they go into the hall to make sure those serving them know what their allergies are.

megletthesecond · 14/12/2023 16:16

Never. DS has always been able to sit with mates.

savoycabbage · 14/12/2023 16:19

I've never seen this happen ever. And I've been in loads of school dinner halls. The most common method I've seen is badges or bracelets. There are so many allergies that it doesn't seem to be an issue with the children feeling different for having to wear a badge. In some schools they all wear them.

Thosepurpleberries · 14/12/2023 16:21

The children with allergies wear a lanyard detailing their allergy so the dinner ladies can be sure they don't get given anything dangerous to them.'

Oxborn · 14/12/2023 18:00

In the school i work we have a colour coded plate

PostmansKnock · 14/12/2023 20:02

Oxborn · 14/12/2023 18:00

In the school i work we have a colour coded plate

Who gives them the plate? I'm just wondering about the identification part of this as this is where things can go wrong. If it's up to the kitchen staff to identify a child and give them the plate for example that could be problematic.

Usernameundiscovered · 14/12/2023 20:10

Kids aren't separated here. The canteen are notified of allergies and they learn who the kids are. The kids with allergies get a special version of the days meal (if it contains an allergen) but otherwise they are exactly the same as any other child, as they should be.

CuttingMeOpenthenHealingMeFine · 14/12/2023 20:14

Not at our school, my DS has allergies and always just sits with his friends whether he has a packed lunch or school dinner

ColleenDonaghy · 14/12/2023 20:29

Our DD is 5, she goes at the head of the lunch line and gets a special coloured tray I think. She loves this

Approaches will vary from school to school and allergy to allergy - a child who has anaphylaxis to something common like milk may need extra adjustments because of the risk of cross contamination.

ElevenSeven · 14/12/2023 20:48

Lanyards and they go first but still within their normal
classes

Whole school has hot lunches so no packed lunches to avoid

Blinkin · 14/12/2023 20:51

No, but my son has to sit with tbe other vegetarians, which I find very odd! He's not complained yet but if he did I think I'd say something.

PuttingDownRoots · 14/12/2023 20:52

In Reception class when they got their free milk there was a special "milk" table (plus a water table). The milk cups had to stay on the milk table, the allergic child didn't go near the Milk table, and all the kids who had milk washed their hands and faces before being allowed to go back to activities.

Higher up school, DD chose not to have the food her friend was allergic too in her lunch box so she could sit with her friend at lunch.

Oxborn · 14/12/2023 20:55

PostmansKnock · 14/12/2023 20:02

Who gives them the plate? I'm just wondering about the identification part of this as this is where things can go wrong. If it's up to the kitchen staff to identify a child and give them the plate for example that could be problematic.

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Their TAs but also we have pictures and allergy forms in a file (I’m school kitchen manager)

PostmansKnock · 14/12/2023 21:22

Their TAs but also we have pictures and allergy forms in a file (I’m school kitchen manager)

That's a good system I think. Thanks for telling me. It's interesting to hear how others schools do it.

ehb102 · 14/12/2023 21:25

Wristbands for our children.

babybythesea · 14/12/2023 22:11

No but we are a tiny primary school. TAs serve dinner and we only have three children with any intolerances (two dairy and the third isn’t confirmed yet - investigations are underway but we’re treating her as though she’s gluten intolerant just in case). Two vegetarian and no life threatening allergies. We all know who they although their pictures and details of their needs are stuck up in the kitchen just in case.

BringItOnxxx · 14/12/2023 22:12

I've only ever heard of this in Diary of a Wimpy Kid.

Onelifeonly · 14/12/2023 22:13

Lanyard. They just go in with their class and sit where they like.

Ritasueandbobtoo9 · 14/12/2023 22:15

Do they put bells on them too?

wellingtonsandwaffles · 14/12/2023 22:42

In my DS school one child is allergic so much that they are never allowed in the hall and has to have his pack lunch in the classroom.