Allergy Aware Statement
Hartmore School is an allergy aware school. We are committed to keeping pupils, staff and visitors with allergies, intolerances, coeliac disease and other food hypersensitivities safe, and to making sure that no pupil is disadvantaged or left out of school life because of their allergy.
We do not ban particular foods, such as nuts. Nuts are only one of many allergens, and no school can guarantee a completely allergen-free environment. Instead, we build awareness across the whole school so that everyone understands allergies, knows how to reduce risk, and can recognise and respond to an allergic reaction.
How we keep pupils safe
-
Trained staff: all staff complete allergy and anaphylaxis training every year, including practical training in using adrenaline auto-injectors (AAIs). New staff complete it as part of their induction, and we run regular emergency response drills.
-
Allergy Action Plans: every pupil with a diagnosed allergy has an Allergy Action Plan written by a medical professional. It is kept with their medication, and their medication is never locked away.
-
Spare adrenaline auto-injectors: in line with Department for Education statutory guidance, each of our on-site provisions keeps spare AAIs for use in an emergency.
-
Food and cooking: we check ingredients against pupils’ allergies, display information about the 14 major allergens in our kitchens, and take care to prevent cross-contamination. Pupils are supervised at mealtimes and taught not to share or swap food.
-
Trips and activities: we carry out risk assessments for trips, cooking lessons and other activities, so that every pupil can take part safely.
-
Kindness and inclusion: pupils learn about allergies so they can support one another with understanding and kindness.
How parents and carers can help
Please tell us about your child’s allergies when they join Hartmore, and keep us updated about any changes. Please also make sure we have your child’s signed Allergy Action Plan and in-date medication. We check medication each term and will remind you if it is close to its expiry date.
Visitors
If you are visiting the school and have an allergy or medical need we should know about, please tell a member of staff when you sign in
.
If you would like to know more about how we support pupils with allergies, please contact the school office. You can also read our full Allergy Safety Policy .