Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Flip

Original poster

Yondr pouches and allergies

21 replies

Raindancer411 · 05/09/2025 18:16

Hi, I just wondered, has anyone’s school brought in the locking the mobile fones away in a pouch during the school day, and how has this been for any child who carries epi pens and not having instant access to call 999 for help.

OP posts:

SunsetGirl · 05/09/2025 18:29

Why would a child need to call 999?

Seriously though, why?

itsabeautifuldayjuly · 05/09/2025 18:31

No pouches here, but phones need to be handed in to form tutor or receptionist at the start of the day/collected at the end.
Several kids with sever allergies, diabetes etc.
No problem, there are teachers around to call emergency services if needed. Kids are never that far from a teacher.

Original poster

Raindancer411 · 05/09/2025 19:06

Sorry, I should have added he has epi pens for a dairy allergy, so it would be in the event of a reaction and having to call 999 the moment an epi pen is used.

OP posts:

HedyPrism · 05/09/2025 19:07

The teachers' phones will not be in pouches. Most schools also have a fair few landlines.

Sirzy · 05/09/2025 19:08

It should be the staff calling 999 anyway.

Original poster

Raindancer411 · 05/09/2025 19:16

I don’t think the staff are allowed their own mobiles, so not sure they have them on them. I work at a primary and we are not allowed to have ours on us, although could be different in secondaries?

OP posts:

Teladi · 05/09/2025 19:19

Your school will have an emergency procedure for medical emergencies, get in touch and ask for details. I'm kind of surprised they haven't shared that with you already if your child is at risk of anaphylaxis, there will be staff members trained to support this type of emergency.

Sirzy · 05/09/2025 19:22

Raindancer411 · 05/09/2025 19:16

I don’t think the staff are allowed their own mobiles, so not sure they have them on them. I work at a primary and we are not allowed to have ours on us, although could be different in secondaries?

They will have a system for emergencies though!

DS school have radios for staff on duty so they can radio if there is an issue.

My primary in small enough we can get someone to the office to call in seconds!

BoredZelda · 05/09/2025 19:28

Classrooms/departments have phones.

Children who have a medical need will be allowed their phones. A vague “might need to call 999” won’t qualify.

LaughingLemur · 05/09/2025 19:58

Epipens qualify at some schools as my DD gets to keep her phone for this reason.

SunsetGirl · 05/09/2025 20:00

Our staff (Secondary with Yondr pouches) are definitely allowed mobiles. They can even take the register on the Teacher app that goes with our MIS.

TheNightingalesStarling · 05/09/2025 20:05

They may well have school phones.
Also I've recieved phone calls from various teachers during the school day. They definitely have landlines access from various offices around the school.

Thinking pragmatically... most likely danger point for your son would be a break time in the school canteen. The staff on duty there will definitely have ways of getting help quickly.

Viot · 05/09/2025 20:07

I am a primary school teacher, and I am told to keep my phone with me at all times in case of emergency.

Ddakji · 05/09/2025 20:10

DD carried EpiPens and also uses a Yondr pouch. Maybe I’m terribly negligent but it’s never occurred to me that my child wouldn’t be able to call 999 if she’s having an allergic reaction!

Come on. What on earth do you think schools did before every and a mobile on them?

Sirzy · 05/09/2025 20:41

Ddakji · 05/09/2025 20:10

DD carried EpiPens and also uses a Yondr pouch. Maybe I’m terribly negligent but it’s never occurred to me that my child wouldn’t be able to call 999 if she’s having an allergic reaction!

Come on. What on earth do you think schools did before every and a mobile on them?

That’s a good point about before phones. My sister is in her 40s now and has had an EpiPen since school for her allergies and even then they managed to have (thankfully) very good plan in place - even when her peers deliberately ate a snickers in class!

apetol · 05/09/2025 20:58

We have a strict mobile phone policy, students that need it to track their blood sugars if they are diabetic have an exemption.

Linguist1979 · 05/09/2025 21:13

My daughter is sixth form now so allowed her phone, but she has a life threatening dairy allergy and wasn’t allowed her phone until this week. At no point has it crossed my mind she would ever call her own ambulance! When I’ve given her herEpiPen, I’ve called it and if she was at school, a teacher or Matron would be calling the ambulance. There are enough people round a school to raise the alarm very quickly. Secondary teachers have their phones and each room has a phone. There’s more to worry about with dairy allergies than the child having their mobile.

Original poster

Raindancer411 · 06/09/2025 08:14

LaughingLemur · 05/09/2025 19:58

Epipens qualify at some schools as my DD gets to keep her phone for this reason.

Thank you, that is reassuring. I am hoping when his school do get back to me, this would be an option. Secondary school is more of an unknown to parents as we don’t have as much involvement, or know access to staff etc. I knew in juniors they had a lunch lady with them at all times.

OP posts:

Original poster

Raindancer411 · 06/09/2025 08:15

SunsetGirl · 05/09/2025 20:00

Our staff (Secondary with Yondr pouches) are definitely allowed mobiles. They can even take the register on the Teacher app that goes with our MIS.

Thank you, that is reassuring to know, as a parent, secondaries are more hands off with involvement so all the internal runnings are unknowns :)

OP posts:

Original poster

Raindancer411 · 06/09/2025 08:19

TheNightingalesStarling · 05/09/2025 20:05

They may well have school phones.
Also I've recieved phone calls from various teachers during the school day. They definitely have landlines access from various offices around the school.

Thinking pragmatically... most likely danger point for your son would be a break time in the school canteen. The staff on duty there will definitely have ways of getting help quickly.

Bless him, he avoids the school canteen as of the risks but they do have outdoor eating areas and not always have a staff member close by.

OP posts:

TheNightingalesStarling · 06/09/2025 08:22

Raindancer411 · 06/09/2025 08:19

Bless him, he avoids the school canteen as of the risks but they do have outdoor eating areas and not always have a staff member close by.

Show quote history

Those are supervised as well!
I'm probably preaching to the choir here as you've actually have the child with allergies... but make sure he does tell his friends about it, and how to recognise it so they can react quickly in getting help.

Flip