Anaphylaxis UK and Allergy UK have worked with the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology (BSACI) and the Medical Conditions in Schools Alliance, to develop a Model Policy for Allergy Management at School guide. It is designed to support schools to develop a ‘Gold Standard’ policy to manage children’s allergies safely, so that children and their parents feel reassured that a robust policy is in place.
The guide has been reviewed by Professor Adam Fox, Paediatric Allergist at Guy’s & St Thomas’ Hospitals, London, Dr Paul Turner, MRC Clinician Scientist in Paediatric Allergy & Immunology at Imperial College and the BSACI Standards of Care Group.
Click here to view the model policy for allergy management at school guide
Click here for an example, editable template model policy
Allergy Action Plans are designed to function as individual healthcare plans for children with food allergies, providing medical and parental consent for schools to administer medicines in the event of an allergic reaction, including consent to administer a spare adrenaline auto-injector.
We recommend that all parents and schools use the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology (BSACI) Allergy Action Plan to ensure continuity. This is a national plan that has been agreed by the BSACI, Anaphylaxis UK and Allergy UK. These plans have been designed to facilitate first aid treatment of anaphylaxis, to be delivered by people without any special medical training or equipment apart from access to an adrenaline auto-injector. Please note, the plans are medical documents and should be completed by a child’s health professional, in partnership with parents/carers.
There are four plans available; a generic plan for individuals assessed as not needing an adrenaline auto-injector, and a personal plan for individuals prescribed an EpiPen or Jext.
Click here to download the four different Allergy Action Plans here
Understanding and managing risk is key to ensuring that pupils with allergies are kept safe in school. A risk assessment that focuses on allergy management should be completed to inform procedures and practice ensuring that the school environment is a safer place for students with allergies.
Click here to download the Allergy Management whole school risk assessment
An individual risk assessment will enable the school to understand the pupil’s allergies and by coproducing it in collaboration with the parent/carer, the school will find themselves equipped to appropriately safeguard the pupil. These were produced by our Education and AllergyWise Manger when she was a serving headteacher and our Education Ambassador.
Click here to download the Allergy Management risk assessment for individual students
Click here to download an example Allergy Management risk assessment for individual students
The allergy in school good practice guide will lead you through the steps necessary to ensure that the school is fulfilling it’s duty of care to pupils (and staff) with allergies.
Click here to download the Allergy in school best practice guide
These template letters have been created by a primary school headteacher which can be adapted for your school’s needs.
Click here to download the Starting Reception Template Allergy Letter
Click here to download the School Template Allergy Letter
This template letter will enable the purchase of spare adrenaline auto-injectors from a pharmacy in line with Guidance on the use of adrenaline auto-injectors in schools
Watch our webinars and podcasts on a range of allergy topics
here.
Use our assembly presentation with your school pupils to help encourage whole school allergy awareness. Depending on the age of your pupils, you can choose which slides are most appropriate to present. Further information for each slide can be found in the slide notes.
With therapy dogs being used in many schools we have a guide that will help navigate the delicate balance between being able to host therapy dogs and keeping students with allergy to dogs safe from reactions.
Use our posters for adults and children to raise allergy awareness in your school.
Anaphylaxis Awareness Week 2024 has highlighted the ‘Hidden Battle with Allergies’. This assembly helps students understand the impact of living with allergy and how they can ensure that others’ do not feel alone.