Coeliac child going on a school residential - help!

[Blossomandblooms]

My DS's school arrange a school residential (week long) every year, and, next September, it will be DS's turn to go (he will be 10). As per their rules, he will not be allowed a phone / to call home during this time.

Last year, DS was diagnosed as a silent coeliac following +ve blood test and OGD (Marsh 3A changes seen in his stomach).

I have emailed the school to ask if DS's dietary requirement will be adhered to on the trip (separate GF food, no contamination etc), and I am waiting to hear back.

I was just wondering if another parent of a coeliac child could give me any advice about how best to navigate this situation? DS isn't the best at checking things are GF (I have a very coeliac DD who will show severe symptoms and she is brilliant at knowing what she can / can't have and checking ingredients / where food has been prepared). I am working with him to know what he can and cannot have and he is getting better (we are a GF household but if his friend offered him a biscuit, I think DS would take it without thinking).

Thank you for any tips / advice - I don't want DS to miss out but at the same time, I don't want him getting sick from GF contamination.

I don't have a coeliac child but have taken one on residential and they were extremely well catered for - they were always served first to avoid any contamination of utensils etc, and all their food was gluten free. They had a different colour tray at the canteen to indicate that they had an allergy, and there were no problems at all. Residential centres are very used to dealing with all kinds of allergies and intolerances and are well equipped.

The only problems might arise with other food consumed, such as sweets and snacks the children (or teachers) might bring with them and share. I would be having a conversation with your child's teacher about exactly what he can/can't have and how to check packaging. Also, your dc does need to take some level of responsibility himself so if a friend offers him something he needs to be certain it's safe to eat, or he only eats the food he's taken himself.

I'm a teacher & have 2 coeliac children. The oldest (11) went on his residential in June & it was extremely well catered for as I expected it would be. There's usually a wide range of dietary requirements from just 1 class never mind over the year. I'd be very surprised if they couldn't do this very successfully. I sent lots of snacks but really they weren't needed. Definitely get confirmation though.

Is it a PGL type place? Or something out together by the school?

Most activity type places will have policies in place so you can ask school to provide you with a copy and also their own risk assessment. My experience with PGL is that they have good procedures in place eg all the kids with medical dietary requirements go first, cross contamination is well managed at the food hatch, food is well labelled.

If school are in charge of the catering, ask how they manage all of these things.

The centre will no doubt accommodate him with meals etc. The issue will be your ds. He needs to take responsibility for not accepting sweets etc from friends. They will not be supervised in rooms etc so if someone has sweets and offer them he needs to be able to say no.