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Primary education

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Original poster

Compulsory labelling of allergic children

40 replies

Notmesirnoway · 08/02/2017 17:50

I've name changed for this although probably fairly outing anyway but such is life.

Our school are insisting that all children with allergies or coeliac etc. wear a compulsory lanyard with photo and detail in the lunch hall whether they have school meals or not

My ks2 child who has successfully managed their coeliac disease since age four won't wear it and I don't blame them.

Is this even legal?

It's even packed lunches which really gives me the 😕 rage.

All advice welcome on how to encourage them to "adjust" this policy!

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Spottytop1 · 09/02/2017 09:08

Trust me I know several key stage 2 children who need to have a lanyard or wristband or similar to remind staff they have certain allergies or intolerances.

The main thing is that the children are kept safe and with so many allergies and dietary requirements the school has to find a system that works- you can't memorise lots of photos on the wall and what each individual pupil cannot have.

Bestthingever · 09/02/2017 11:22

We have wristbands which surely no one could object to. However, you obviously don't know what the issue is from that. It's all very well saying staff need to be made aware blah blah but you really need something more rigorous than relying on a lunchtime controller's memory. It does seem OTT for a child with coeliac disease which as far as I'm aware is not life threatening.

Laselva · 09/02/2017 13:26

I Understand a lanyard/ wristband for children with a life threatening allergies, but genuinely don't see why it's needed in other circumstances (I say this as a teacher and mother of coeliac DCs).
I would be seriously worried if KS2 child (without SN) wasn't aware of their allergies, that child is a potential danger to themselve.
However, as a teacher, I get fed up when parents are 'woolly' about allergies. I've taught several children who are 'allergic' to eggs/dairy/wheat yet when I have not allowed them to have something like a birthday treat there parents have come back and said it's fine!

pishedoff · 09/02/2017 13:52

Lasvela- can you elaborate about the woolly parents? A child who is allergic to egg could be able to eat cake due to the way the proteins are broken down during cooking

Laselva · 09/02/2017 14:13

I appreciate that with eggs and milk some children can tolerate them cooked or in small quantities and have no issue with that. It's when parents decide that there child is intolerant and make a big fuss, then a couple of weeks/ months later they have their child back on a normal diet and don't inform the school. Another example I currently have is a child who is gluten free to see if it helps with his ADHD (I genuinely believe it could be beneficial). Except he's not GF 'on Wednesdays or weekends cos dads got him or when there's birthday treats cos I don't want him left out' - that's not GF.

pishedoff · 09/02/2017 14:15

Oh right! Yes that is strange!!

Picklesandpies · 09/02/2017 14:17

My daughter is coeliac too and has been given a bright orange rubber wrist band to wear. She has lost it already!

Laselva · 09/02/2017 14:18

It really annoys me as it makes allergies / intolerances seem faddish and can make some people take them less seriously.

BarbarianMum · 09/02/2017 14:32

bobbis · 09/02/2017 14:42

Not read all the replies but I doubt my 4 year old would want to wear a lanyard either. He is completely egg free and has been since 1 due to an allergy. He gets a bit upset/self conscious about it sometimes, for example at birthday parties when he has little option and can't have cake.
Luckily the school have a more subtle process and he is very aware of his allergy. Each child has a coloured wrist band (hot, hot vegetarian or cold) and the allergy children have a second white band. All their faces and allergy details are on the wall in the kitchen. Not had a problem so far

Laselva · 09/02/2017 14:46

Barbarian mum - that's why schools should have consistent menus, seasonally changed, how would every member of lunchtime staff know a new stock cube was being used?

user789653241 · 09/02/2017 14:55

That's why my ds has packed lunch, even they claim they can/may cater for him...I don't trust anybody but myself!

Original poster

Notmesirnoway · 09/02/2017 16:34

Irvine, they are applying this policy to patent prepared pack lunches, child will still have to wear the stupid lanyard

OP posts:

user789653241 · 09/02/2017 18:51

I think school sometimes overreact to potential danger.
My ds was made to sit alone in reception once, because one of children forced(playfully) him to eat his food ds was fatally allergic to.(Which is one of most common packed lunch contents.)
I had to speak to them and make them understand that ds knows the danger and he can take care of himself.

But allergy and intolerance are totally different, aren't they? Maybe you can explain that to school?

Original poster

Notmesirnoway · 09/02/2017 19:07

Happy to report a compromise, she can have a card which she hands to servers / keeps in her lunch box. Hopefully she won't keep losing it! I've thanked the school and made child appreciate that they didn't have to compromise so all good. I'm still not convinced personally on merits of policy but life is about compromise

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