Allergy Safety at St Mary’s

 

At St Mary’s Catholic Primary Academy, the safety, wellbeing and inclusion of all our pupils is our highest priority. We are committed to creating a safe and supportive environment for children with allergies and ensuring that every child can participate fully in school life.

In line with Benedict’s Law, which places a duty on schools to have robust allergy safety arrangements, we have comprehensive procedures in place to reduce the risk of allergic reactions, support pupils with medical needs and respond quickly and effectively in an emergency.

Our approach reflects our Catholic values of dignity, inclusion and care for one another, ensuring that every child is known, valued and protected. 

Our Allergy Leads

The designated Allergy Leads at St Mary’s are:

  • Mrs S Smith
  • Mrs M Carty

Our Allergy Leads are responsible for:

  • Maintaining the school allergy register.
  • Ensuring Care Plans are in place where required.
  • Liaising with parents, staff, healthcare professionals and catering teams.
  • Organising staff allergy awareness and anaphylaxis training.
  • Monitoring emergency medication and ensuring spare adrenaline devices remain in date and ready for use. 

Supporting Pupils with Allergies

We work closely with parents/carers and healthcare professionals to ensure appropriate support is in place for children with allergies.

This includes:

  • Individual Care Plans where required.
  • Allergy Action Plans provided by medical professionals.
  • Staff training in allergy awareness and emergency response.
  • Risk assessments for educational visits, clubs, sporting events and curriculum activities involving food.
  • Clear communication between school staff, parents and catering providers. 

Allergy-Aware School Community

St Mary’s is an allergy-aware school. We actively promote awareness and understanding among pupils and staff through assemblies, PSHE lessons and regular communication with families.

We encourage:

  • Good hand hygiene.
  • Safe food practices.
  • No sharing of food, utensils or drinks.
  • Respect and inclusion for pupils with allergies.
  • Immediate reporting of any concerns or allergic reactions. 

Emergency Adrenaline (EpiPen) Devices

St Mary’s Catholic Primary Academy holds emergency spare adrenaline auto-injectors (EpiPens) for use in an emergency where appropriate. These devices are not a replacement for a child’s own prescribed medication, but may be used in line with national guidance to help save a life during an anaphylactic reaction. 

Emergency adrenaline devices held in school:

  • 2 x 150 microgram EpiPens
  • 2 x 300 microgram EpiPens

Location of emergency anaphylaxis kits:

Location 1

  • Office emergency fire bag
  • Contains:
    • 1 x 150 microgram EpiPen
    • 1 x 300 microgram EpiPen

Location 2

  • First aid point by the playground door (on a hook out of reach of children)
  • Contains:
    • 1 x 150 microgram EpiPen
    • 1 x 300 microgram EpiPen

All devices are stored in white containers clearly labelled “Emergency Anaphylaxis Kit”. 

Recognising Anaphylaxis

Anaphylaxis is a severe and potentially life-threatening allergic reaction that requires immediate treatment.

Symptoms may include:

  • Difficulty breathing or wheezing
  • Swelling of the throat, tongue or lips
  • Persistent coughing
  • Dizziness or collapse
  • Loss of consciousness

If anaphylaxis is suspected, adrenaline must be administered immediately and emergency services called. All staff receive training on recognising and responding to anaphylaxis.

Working in Partnership with Parents

Parents and carers play a vital role in keeping children safe. We ask families to:

  • Inform school of any allergies or changes to medical information.
  • Provide up-to-date Allergy Action Plans where applicable.
  • Ensure prescribed medication is in school and within its expiry date.
  • Work with school staff to review healthcare arrangements regularly. 

Further Information

For further information about our allergy procedures, please contact:

Mrs S Smith (Allergy Lead)  Mrs M Carty (Allergy Lead) or Mrs Minihane (Principal) via the school office.

Our full Allergy Safety Policy can be viewed here  and is reviewed annually in accordance with Benedict’s Law and national guidance on allergy safety in schools.