Allergy Safety
At The Chandler, we are committed to providing a safe, inclusive environment for all our children, including those who live with allergies. Allergies can range from mild reactions to anaphylaxis, a serious and potentially life-threatening allergic reaction. We therefore take allergy awareness seriously and work closely with children, parents and carers, staff and our catering team to reduce risks and ensure that we are prepared to respond appropriately in an emergency.
Keeping Children with Allergies Safe
We ask parents and carers to make us aware of any diagnosed allergies or changes to their child's medical needs as soon as possible.
For children at risk of a serious allergic reaction, we will work with families to ensure that appropriate information and arrangements are in place. An Allergy Action Plan can also serve as an Individual Healthcare Plan where a child's health needs relate solely to their allergy.
In the event of an allergic reaction, staff will follow the agreed plan for your child, including the use of prescribed medication where required. If your child has an adrenaline auto-injector (for example, an EpiPen), ensure it is in date and that the school has the correct information and instructions. If your child develops symptoms during the school day, we will act promptly and contact parents or carers. For further guidance, please speak to the school office or your child’s class teacher.
How Families Can Help Us
Parents and carers can help us by:
- telling the school about all diagnosed allergies;
- providing current medical information and an up-to-date Allergy Action Plan where required;
- ensuring prescribed medication supplied to school is in date and clearly labelled;
- telling us promptly about any changes to allergies, medication or treatment; and
- speaking to us before sending food into school for birthdays, celebrations or special events.
If your child develops a new allergy or has a change to an existing allergy, please contact the school office as soon as possible.
Working Together
Allergy safety is everyone's responsibility. We encourage children to:
- never share or swap food;
- wash their hands appropriately before and after eating;
- understand that another child's allergy must always be taken seriously;
- never tease another child about an allergy or deliberately expose them to something they are allergic to; and
- tell an adult immediately if they or another child feels unwell.
By working together, we can help children with allergies participate fully and confidently in school life.
Our Allergy Safety Policy can be found here: