🥪 Allergy Safety Reminder

Keeping Every Child Safe

At Edleston Primary School, we are committed to providing a safe and inclusive environment for all pupils. As part of our allergy awareness work and preparations for Benedict's Law, children are regularly taught about allergies and how they can help keep their friends safe.

Our Simple School Rule

Eat your own food. Drink your own drink.

To help protect pupils with allergies, children should never share:

• Food
• Snacks
• Sweets
• Drinks

Even a small amount of the wrong food can cause a serious allergic reaction for some children. Allergies are not always visible, so the safest approach is for every child to eat only their own food and drink only from their own bottle.

How Parents Can Help

Please reinforce these simple messages at home:

✅ Eat your own food.

✅ Drink your own drink.

✅ Never share snacks, sweets or drinks.

✅ Tell an adult if you are worried about a friend.

By working together, we can ensure that all children feel safe, included and able to enjoy school. Thank you for your continued support.  

Kindness is sharing smiles, not sharing snacks! 😊

 

Allergy Awareness – Parent FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

As part of our commitment to keeping all children safe and our preparations for Benedict's Law, we have answered some of the questions parents may have about allergies and food safety in school.  

What is an allergy?

An allergy occurs when a person's immune system reacts to a substance that is normally harmless. Common food allergens include nuts, milk, eggs, fish and sesame, although children may be allergic to other foods as well.  

Why are allergies taken so seriously in school?

For some children, exposure to an allergen can cause a severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. Symptoms can include difficulty breathing, swelling and collapse, and require immediate medical attention.

What is Benedict's Law?

Benedict's Law introduces statutory expectations for allergy safety in schools. It requires schools to have clear policies, staff training, emergency procedures and systems to help prevent, recognise and respond to allergic reactions.

Why is the school talking to children about allergies?

The school's allergy policy includes age-appropriate teaching about allergies, keeping others safe and understanding the importance of not sharing food. These messages are reinforced through assemblies, PSHE and daily school life.

Why can't children share food or drinks?

Even if food appears safe, it may contain ingredients that could trigger an allergic reaction in another child. Because children may not know exactly what ingredients are in their snacks, sharing food or drinks presents an unnecessary risk. For this reason, children are encouraged to eat their own food and drink only from their own bottle or cup.  

My child doesn't have allergies. Why do they need to follow this rule?

Not all allergies are obvious or visible. By following the school's "no sharing food or drinks" rule, every child plays a role in protecting the safety and wellbeing of others. This helps create a safe and inclusive environment for everyone.  

How will the school care for children with allergies?

The school maintains systems to support pupils with diagnosed allergies, including individual healthcare plans, allergy action plans and a central allergy register. Relevant staff are informed of pupils' needs and receive allergy awareness and emergency response training.  

What happens if a child has an allergic reaction in school?

Staff are trained to recognise the signs of an allergic reaction and to respond immediately. Emergency procedures include seeking medical assistance, administering emergency medication where required and contacting parents or carers.

What should I do if my child has an allergy?

Please ensure that the school has up-to-date medical information and notify us of any changes to your child's condition, medication or care requirements. Working closely together helps us keep your child safe.

How can parents help at home?

We would appreciate your support in reinforcing these simple messages:

✅ Eat your own food.

✅ Drink your own drink.

✅ Never share snacks, sweets or drinks.

✅ Tell an adult if you are worried about someone.

Consistent messages at home and school help children understand that these rules are there to protect everyone.

Our Simple Allergy Safety Message

Eat your own food. Drink your own drink. Keep everyone safe.

Thank you for supporting us in creating a safe, inclusive and caring environment for all pupils.

 

Birthday Celebrations

We know that birthdays are very special occasions for children and we love helping them celebrate with their friends at school. However, to keep all of our pupils safe and to support our allergy management procedures under Benedict's Law, we are no longer able to give out sweets, cakes, chocolates or any other food treats for birthdays or celebrations.

As an alternative, we would love families to consider donating a book to their child's class. This creates a lasting gift that can be enjoyed by all children and helps us continue to build our classroom libraries. To make the donation extra special, we will place a personalised birthday sticker inside the book to recognise your child's special day and their kind contribution to the class.

Choosing a Book Donation

To help us ensure that donated books are suitable for our pupils and can be enjoyed by everyone, please use the guidance below.

Suitable books:

• Age-appropriate fiction, picture books and chapter books.
• Non-fiction books linked to children's interests, such as animals, space, nature, sport, history or science.
• Books that promote kindness, inclusion, diversity and positive values.
• Popular children's authors and well-loved classics.
• New books or books in excellent condition.
• Books that support learning and foster a love of reading.

Unsuitable books:

• Books intended for older children, teenagers or adults.
• Books with inappropriate language, violence or mature themes.
• Religious or political materials intended to promote a particular viewpoint.
• Activity books that can only be used once (e.g. sticker books, colouring books or puzzle books).
• Damaged, heavily worn or incomplete books.
• Books containing advertisements or content unsuitable for primary-aged children.

If you are unsure whether a book is suitable, please speak to your child's class teacher before purchasing it. We will be delighted to help you choose something that will be enjoyed by the whole class.

Thank you for your understanding and support in helping us maintain a safe, inclusive and enjoyable environment for every child while still making birthdays feel special. A donated book is a wonderful way for your child to leave a lasting gift that can be shared and enjoyed for many years to come.