Planning for Food Allergies at School

[from kidswithfoodallergies.org]

10 School Planning Tips When Your Child Has Food Allergies Most children with food allergies are happy and attend school safely every day. That safety and happiness is the result of planning and persistence. A key to success is to work cooperatively with the school to form a partnership that will support your child along the way.

Start by asking lots of questions before your child begins school or begins attending a new school.

1. Communicate with the school.

• Start early—if possible, in the spring before the next school year.
• Find out if your school or school district has a school nurse.
• Write to the principal and school nurse. Tell them about your child’s food allergies and specific needs.
• Request a meeting with key people to start the planning process.
• Ask if the school/school district has any food allergy management policies in place.
• Inquire about staff training.
• Get copies of the forms you will need to have filled out before school starts. This includes:

✓ Medication Authorization forms. These forms state if your child can self-carry and/or self-administer medications at school. These forms are required even if the medication will be stored and administered by school staff.
✓ Special Dietary Meals Accommodation form. You will need this form if your child will be eating meals provided by school.
✓ Emergency Action Plan (EAP) form. This form tells caregivers what to do in case of an allergic emergency.

• Work with the school to create a comprehensive Food Allergy Management and Prevention Plan. This is typically either an Individualized Health Plan (IHP) or a 504 Plan.

Visit http://www.kidswithfoodallergies.org/page/food-allergy-school-planning-tips-for-parents.aspx to see more tips.