Informing Schools & Nurseries about an Allergy

Why do I need to do this?

It is vital that you inform your child’s school or nursery about any allergies your child might have. Even if the allergic reactions they suffer are not generally severe, it can minimise the risk to your child if the school has prior knowledge of their allergies. In the case of your child having severe allergies, this precaution is all the more crucial. In doing so, you yourself will feel more comfortable knowing that your child is safe when you are not around to make sure.

Who should I inform?

Primarily, your child’s school or nursery should be informed of any allergies they have. This is also necessary if your child has a child-minder or carer. Similarly, anyone who spends a fair amount of time with your child or ever looks after them while you are not present should be informed of their allergies.


What details should they be informed of?

Anyone who supervises your child while you are not present should be told about the allergens they have a reaction to and the nature and severity of your child’s allergy. You should outline the usual symptoms and how to treat them. The more severe your child’s allergy is, the more important it is to make sure anyone who looks after them in your absence is fully informed. If your child is prone to suffering from anaphylaxis as a result of exposure to certain allergens then anyone supervising them should be fully aware of what to do should they go into shock.

It is a good idea to make sure the school, nursery or caregiver has at least one or two in-case-of-emergency numbers that they can call if something does happen. If your child is taking any medication for the relief of allergy symptoms then they should also be made aware of this. Adrenalin pens to treat anaphylaxis are available so, if your child has one of these, you should inform whoever looks after them to keep it nearby just in case. Similarly, if your child wears a bracelet that identifies them as allergic to penicillin then you should tell their school or nursery. This should prevent it accidentally being mistaken for jewellery and confiscated.

Regardless of the severity of your child’s allergy, the more information you give others, the safer you will feel leaving them in someone else’s care.

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