Back to School : Preparing for the New Term

September is almost upon us and for many of you that means the start of a new adventure – whether it’s starting school, transitioning to secondary school or moving on to university.

Whilst this is a super exciting time, it can also bring new challenges for those living with serious allergies. But the team at Anaphylaxis UK have got your back!

🏫 STARTING SCHOOL

Starting school can be a stressful time for parents – whether it’s sorting school uniforms, getting feet measured for those brand new shiny shoes or the time consuming task of labelling everything so you don’t spend your first few weeks constantly in the lost property bin! But for parents and carers of children living with allergies, there comes a whole new level of stress and worry. Will the school be able to keep your child safe whilst you’re not there? We know the worry never fully goes away, but with our handy tips below we hope to help you and your little one feel a bit more prepared for the start of this new adventure :

• Positive, open communication

Our number one tip is to start the conversation with the school and staff as soon as possible – positive, open communication is key.

You may find it useful to meet your child’s new teachers to run through your child’s needs and get reassurance that your child’s allergies will be managed properly. For many teachers this may be the first time they have needed to support a child with allergies, so use any conversations you have with the school to also answer any questions or concerns they may have. Remember the majority of teachers will be coming from a good place even if they can be a little clumsy with their wording! By working together with your child’s new school you can share information and support to ensure your child has a safe and happy journey through school.

• Find out about the schools approach to Allergy Training

We can’t recommend enough speaking to the school to find out whether staff have completed suitable allergy training. Are the teachers who will be in regular contact with your child confident in how to administer an adrenaline auto-injector (AAI)? Do they know the signs and symptoms of an allergic reaction and anaphylaxis?

If the answer is ‘no’ then do point them in the direction of our AllergyWise® Training Programme that can help with their allergy training needs. Our Safer Schools Programme can also offer schools advice on best practice guidelines along with the statutory guidance that schools must follow to keep pupils with medical conditions safe.

• Ask about Allergy Policies and Risk Assessments

Ask whether the school has an Allergy Policy already in place, and ask to see a copy. Also check whether the school has completed an Allergy Risk Assessment for your child. Don’t panic if the school doesn’t have either of these in place yet – we have a DfE approved model allergy policy and template risk assessments available to download for free from our Safer Schools Programme. Using these free resources, you can work together with your child’s school to produce these plans to ensure your child’s allergies are managed safely.

• Check your child’s AAIs

This may seem like an obvious one, but don’t forget to check the expiry date of any AAIs your child has been prescribed and order replacements for any that are due to expire, preferably at least one month in advance. And always make sure your child has immediate access to two of their own adrenaline auto-injectors at school. It is also worth checking whether the school has ‘spare’ adrenaline auto-injectors and where they are located. 

• Ask about school trips and extracurricular activities

It can help to ease your nerves about your child starting school if you know a bit more about the curriculum they will be taught over the year. You can then prepare in advance for any trips or activities that need to be prepared for or amended.  If needs be, liaise with trip providers early to make them aware of your child’s allergies. It may also help to ask what steps the school will take to ensure that your child is able to participate safely.

• Communicate with other parents

Don’t be afraid of speaking to other parents, particularly the parents of children your child will be in regular contact with. Some parents have little experience or knowledge of what life is like caring for or living with serious allergies, but most will be more than willing to learn and do what they can to keep your child safe. We have an Awareness Letter template available to download from our Safer Schools Programme which can be sent to parents to start the conversation.

🏫 TRANSITIONING TO SECONDARY SCHOOL

As quick as starting school comes around, time flies by and it’s soon time to start thinking about the transition to secondary school. A time where children are beginning to take more responsibility for managing their allergies and are developing their confidence and independence.

The above tips for when your child starts school are still relevant for the transition to secondary school, but this time it’s even more important to ensure your child is part of the conversations you have with their new school to ensure they get the support they need to help them manage their allergies independently in school.

Our Transitioning to Secondary School with Allergies webpage, and free downloadable guide, covers all of the things you should consider for a smooth transition for both you and your not-so-little one.

🏫 MOVING ON TO UNIVERSITY

Heading to university is an exciting time, but if your child has serious allergies, it can also bring new challenges. Handing over the baton to your young adult to manage their allergies on their own for the first time might seem daunting, but again we’re here to provide practical advice to help students prepare for this exciting chapter.

Our Managing Allergies at University webpage, including a free downloadable guide, has been specially designed to help students navigate university life whilst managing allergies confidently. From tips on safe dining and allergy-friendly accommodation to advice on communicating with new friends and university staff, we’ve got everything covered to ensure a smooth, safe and happy transition into university life.

And finally, we’d like to take a moment to offer some reassurance to all parents and students as you navigate the next step of your allergy journey. With the right information and support, people living with serious allergies can have a bright future and a safe and happy experience of school life and beyond.

You’ve got this and we’ve got you, whenever you need us 💙🧡