Coeliac child and School Residential

[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.

How worrying for you. Do you know the site where they will be staying?

I would request copies of their allergy risk assessment as well as the school's own. I would also insist on seeing the menu in advance and want a meeting with the head and the trip lead together.

Would your son wear a medic alert style bracelet or tag?

American alert bracelet would not be of any use to a coeliac.

I'm a teacher with allergies, and have taken lots of children with allergies / coeliac on residentials over the years.
I've been to a few different places and all have been excellent for catering to the different needs.
Everywhere I've been now has cards that children show and food is clearly labelled on menus.
Definitely meet with the school, they should be able to reassure you.

Both of my grandchildren have got coeliac disease, and DD just made sure that they had snacks in plentiful supply just in case they couldn't eat a meal and gave them to the teacher. The teaching staff don't want to be dealing with poorly kids for any reason and they're usually very careful for kids with allergies.

I worked at a school residential activity centre as Head chef for many years. We would get ain't of dietary requirements for the children and would ensure the gf meals were cooked safely. I wouldn't worry about the food that the centre proved but rightly there is a risk that he will get offered something by a friend. All you can do is really drum it into him that he has to be careful.

That should say get a list