Starting school is a big step for every family, but if your child has severe allergies, it can bring an extra layer of worry. Handing over daily supervision to teachers and school staff means letting go of some control over your child’s environment — what they eat, what they touch, and who’s watching out for them.
Anne Walsh from Allergy Lifestyle, and mother to a child with a serious food allergy, shares her tips for starting school for a child with severe allergies.
Food allergies are more common than many parents realise, with milk, egg, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, wheat, fish and shellfish responsible for the vast majority of allergic reactions. Other triggers to be aware of include bee or wasp stings, animal dander, pollen, dust mites, latex and penicillin.
So what can you do to ensure your child’s allergies are accommodated at school?
The good news is that with good communication and some planning, most children with allergies can be safely accommodated in school and go on to enjoy a healthy, active school life.
As a mother of a child with a serious food allergy, Anne says she has found the school system and other parents genuinely supportive in helping to keep her daughter safe. Her daughter suffered a near-fatal allergic reaction to peanuts as a toddler — the experience that inspired Anne to set up Allergy Lifestyle, sourcing and supplying reliable products for families managing serious allergies and asthma.
Here are her top tips for managing allergies at school.
#1. Meet with your doctor or allergy specialist
They’re best placed to advise on your child’s specific needs and to help draw up an allergy management plan the school can use to recognise the signs of an allergic reaction and respond appropriately.
#2. Meet with the school principal and discuss how allergies are managed
Draw up a school allergy management plan using the information provided by your child’s healthcare professional. Consider including your child’s photo on the plan and displaying it clearly in the staff room, so any staff member can recognise your child if an incident happens outside the classroom. Include your child’s details, along with emergency contact information for your doctor, both parents, and a backup contact in case you can’t be reached.
#3. Discuss medication
If your child has been prescribed medication such as antihistamines or adrenaline, talk through where it’s stored, who has access to it, and who is trained to give it. Ask whether a local public health nurse or other qualified health professional can train school staff on when and how to use an adrenaline auto-injector, if your child has been prescribed one for emergencies.
#4. Discuss lunch
Find out who provides lunch, where children eat, and whether they’re supervised. If your child has a nut allergy, for example, ask whether the classroom or school can be a nut-free zone, or whether there’s a separate allergy-safe table. Check whether there’s a routine of hand washing and wiping down tables after eating.
#5. Be aware of triggers
Allergy triggers can turn up in unexpected places — soaps, face paints, art and craft materials, or bird and animal feed used in the classroom. It’s worth flagging these possibilities to teachers too.
#6. Make sure temporary staff are informed
Check there’s a system in place so that substitute teachers, special needs assistants, or other temporary staff are always made aware of your child’s allergies.
#7. Teach your child not to share food or drinks
Encourage your child not to share food or drinks with classmates, and to tell a teacher straight away if they’re not feeling well — and never to go to the bathroom alone if they feel unwell.
#8. Tell other parents
Make sure other parents in the class know there’s a child with allergies in the group, and use the school newsletter to remind them around events where treats often appear — sports days, school tours, cake sales, and seasonal celebrations like Halloween or Christmas.
If you’d like a deeper resource to share with your child’s school, Managing Chronic Health Conditions in Schools is a helpful pack for teachers, principals and school staff, produced with input from Anaphylaxis Ireland, the Asthma Society of Ireland, Diabetes Ireland and Brainwave (the Irish Epilepsy Association). It’s available from the INTO or Anaphylaxis Ireland.
For more products to support families managing serious allergies, anaphylaxis, hay fever or asthma, visit Allergy Lifestyle.
A note on this article: it is general guidance, not medical advice. Always speak to your child’s doctor or allergy specialist about their specific needs and treatment plan.
Frequently asked questions
What should I do first if my child has severe allergies and is starting school?
Start with your doctor or allergy specialist. They can help you put together an allergy management plan that clearly explains your child’s triggers, symptoms and emergency response, which you can then share with the school.
Should I tell other parents about my child’s allergy?
Yes — most parents are supportive once they understand the risks. Letting the class know, and sending reminders ahead of events like parties, tours or cake sales, helps prevent accidental exposure.
Who should know how to use my child’s emergency medication?
Any staff member who might be with your child during the school day — not just the classroom teacher. Ask the school about training from a public health nurse or other qualified professional so cover isn’t limited to one person.
How can I help keep lunchtime safe?
Talk to the school about where and how children eat, whether hand-washing and table-wiping are part of the routine, and whether a nut-free zone or separate allergy-safe table makes sense for your child.
Related articles
- Top Tips for Managing Allergies at Parties
- Starting School: A Parent’s Checklist
- Helping an Anxious Child Settle Into School
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