Glenelg School

Glenelg School is a ‘nut aware school”. This is to protect children with allergies to nut products. This means that we are asking children and staff not to bring foods to school that contain nuts.

Products that contain nuts include:

o        Peanut butter

o        Nutella

o        Some fruit and nut bars and muesli bars

o        Some biscuits

o        Chocolates and any other products that have nuts listed in the ingredients

 WHY? Anaphylaxis is a severe form of allergic reaction and can be potentially life threatening. There are many causative agents, the worst is often nuts, and a minute amount can be fatal.

 Anaphylaxis is preventable.  Avoidance of specific triggers is by far the best option. Treatment is an injection of adrenaline and emergency transfer to hospital.

 It is our aim to provide a safe learning environment for all people in our community.

 STAFF RESPONSIBILITIES

Staff at Glenelg will:

• Support the Nut Aware policy by reinforcing the policy through the class health program.
• Be trained in use of the Epipen and associated triggers and prevention by St Johns.
• Encourage students to wash their hands after eating.

• Educate students about the hazards associated with nut products.
• Discuss strategies on how to reduce the risk to anaphylactic students.
• PD topics to address:

          -What is an allergy?

          -What is anaphylaxis?

          -What are the triggers for allergy and Anaphylaxis?

          -How is anaphylaxis recognised?

          -How can anaphylaxis be prevented?

          -What should be done in the event of a child having a severe allergic reaction?

          -Instruction on Epipen Use.

• At whole school events, students and parents will be reminded of the Nut Aware policy.
• Regularly reinforce the policy through the school newsletter.
• Increase their vigilance when supervising the eating of recess and lunch foods. (A proforma is to be sent home with the child when there is a concern.)

CLASSES WITH AN ANAPHYLACTIC CHILD

• All preventative measures will be put in place to ensure the class is nut free.
• Children are not to share food.
• All children must wash their hands after eating.
• Additional parent information will be provided via class newsletters and at class information sessions.

 SCHOOL RESPONSIBILITIES

Students with anaphylactic reactions require the following:

• A photo in roll book, TRT package, canteen, first aid room and staff room.
• A health care plan with a documented plan for first aid response.
• The name and contact details of doctor who signed the Health Care Plan.

• Support the class teacher/s and other staff in implementing the Health Care Plan.
• Reinforce appropriate avoidance and management strategies at assemblies and through the newsletter etc
• Ensure that the canteen and other school lunch providers complying with the Nut Aware policy
• Provide additional information to classes with anaphylactic children

 PARENT RESPONSIBILITIES

Parents of anaphylactic students will provide the school with a Health Care Plan for school records and an Epi-pen to be held in the first aid room.

 Parents are asked to support the school’s Nut Aware policy by:

• Being sensitive and supportive to the needs of anaphylactic students
• Providing children with healthy food options that do not contain nuts.
• Encouraging your children to wash their hands after eating.
• Considering our Nut Aware policy when sending food to school for a birthday (birthday cakes) or a class party.

 PROMOTING THE NUT AWARE POLICY

The policy will be promoted by:

·         Parents and caregivers will be informed regularly via the newsletter.

·         New families to the school community will be informed via the Enrolment Information Package, and reinforced by the class teacher.

·         Governing Council will be informed and approval and support sought.

·         Staff will be informed and provided with training opportunities.

·         Students will be informed via teachers, assemblies and the newsletter.

 ·         This school acknowledges that it is impractical to ask parents to not send food, which after the list of ingredients state “may contain traces of nuts”. This nut aware policy applies to those ingredients specifically listed on the product label.

 ·         This policy outlines the steps that the Glenelg School Community will take to ensure risk minimisation.

Policy developed February 2007

Disclaimer / Copyright  Minister for Education, Children's Services and Training