As an allergy aware school, we are writing to you to let you know that we have recently been informed that we have pupils who have been diagnosed with a severe nut allergy.

As the food allergies are severe and exposure in any form (air borne, skin contact or ingestion) to these substances could result in anaphylaxis, which is a potentially fatal condition that requires immediate medical attention, we must ensure no products containing nuts or coconut are on our site from the beginning of the new term (January 2025).

Due to the severity of the allergy, it is important that all staff, parents/carers and children follow the requested measures to reduce the risk of allergic reaction for these children. We realise this is a significant change but hope that you are able to support us in ensuring we can keep all our pupils safe.

We are asking all members of the school community for their help in minimising the potentially fatal risk to these children by:

• Ensuring that no nuts or nut products, including coconut, are sent in as part of children’s packed lunches. For example, chocolate spreads like Nutella, cereal bars, biscuits, cakes containing or topped with nuts/coconut, condiments such as satay sauce, foods coated in nut/coconut such as satay chicken, coconut or almond milk/yoghurt

• Ensuring that no nuts or nut products, including coconut, are sent in for break time snacks

• Not sending in cakes or food items containing nuts for birthday celebrations, sales or events. For example, boxes of Celebrations, Roses or Quality Street

• Ensuring that any items such as sun cream or lip balms brought into school, do not contain nuts or coconut

• Avoiding sending containers, such as cereal boxes for DT/Art lessons, into school which may have contained produce made with nuts

We appreciate that it is not always obvious that a food product will contain a specific allergen, so it is important that you read all the ingredient and allergy labelling carefully. The allergens are usually identified in bold writing.

If a food item containing nuts or coconuts is sent into school, the product will be removed and where possible, an alternative product will be offered instead.

We will be talking to the children about this change and supporting them in developing their understanding of allergy awareness.

Thank you for your support with this.