UPDATED DECEMBER 2023
What is an allergy action plan for school?
An allergy action plan is a form of training for teachers and a set of guidelines for how teachers and staff will deal with your child’s food allergies daily. It goes through every scenario that could occur at school from morning to day end and gives specific instructions to ensure your child is safe and included.
In the US, it can be made legally binding as a 504 plan, but whether you go this route or not, it is still essential to have an allergy action plan for school.
Honestly, having an allergy action plan for school is essential.
It helps create an inclusive & safe environment for your food-allergy child, and it can keep you from stressing when your child is at school and out of your reach and care.
So why does the thought of creating an allergy action plan for school make us squirm?
Maybe it's because,
You want to do all you can to keep our child safe but you’re sure that the school has dealt with food allergies before so you send an email or mention food allergies at Meet the Teacher night, instead of figuring out how to create a comprehensive plan (both of which I have done!).
You love the idea of creating a relationship with your school, but you’re afraid you’ll come across as a forceful & opinionated helicopter mom (this was me).
You’re completely on top of food allergies at home, but your school is already peanut & nut aware so you’re not sure a school allergy plan is necessary (yep, guilty). OR maybe you’re hoping for a milk or egg ban; definitely check out myth #2.
You need to know that having an allergy action plan for school is ESSENTIAL because it will make the classroom safer and more inclusive which will lower your worry and your child’s worry too.
So what might be stopping us from creating one?
In my experience, I’ve noticed 5 myths that are stopping parents from creating a safe, confident environment that your kids need and crave at school. I’ll debunk these myths for you and show you that an allergy action plan for school is not only essential but EASIER to create than you think.
Myths About Allergy Action Plan For Schools
Myth #1. Our teacher or daycare will think we're crazy & overprotective & therefore won’t take us seriously.
Yes, I have to admit, this is a possibility if you come at this the wrong way. But there are ways to make sure you’re heard and taken seriously. Going into the meeting with a plan that focuses on real information (and proof to back it up) is the first step. The next is to make sure we’re not overwhelming our teacher with a lot of extra information. This can be a bit of an art, but trust me, it’s doable.
I teach you how to avoid feeling overprotective and instead get teachers to listen and fully understand their role in keeping food allergy kids safe and included with The School Allergy Plan Template and School Success Pack.
NOTE: If you buy the School Success Pack WITH the School Allergy Plan Template, you can get it for 50% off. Just go to the School Allergy Plan Template Checkout and click the School Success Pack upgrade.
Myth #2. Our school has a peanut & nut-aware policy so my child will be safe without an allergy action plan.
This myth is especially for peanut and nut allergy families, but families with all allergies need to take note. While it’s awesome some schools take a proactive approach to peanut and/or nut allergy safety, it’s not all roses, unfortunately.
According to a study, peanut-aware policies in schools did NOT decrease epinephrine use compared to schools that had no policies in place. This means peanut-free and nut-free policies are not as effective as we would hope. Because of this, it’s just as important to make sure you’ve got a solid allergy action plan in place with your teacher directly, even if your school has a peanut or nut-aware policy.
For ALL allergy families:
I want to put your mind at ease because there are other ways to ensure food allergy safety, without allergy bans at school. After being at a school with an allergy ban, I even argue that bans may create a false sense of security. The important thing is to create policies that will create safety and inclusion, instead of just using a band-aid.
Myth #3. To create an allergy action plan for school, I need to be forceful & opinionated so my school will listen.
The exact opposite is true.
Because you’re creating an allergy action plan for school, you’re also setting the groundwork of expectations and safety procedures. The idea is to prioritize cooperation and collaboration.
Working WITH your teacher and school to create an allergy action plan that works for everyone will reduce the chances of misunderstandings and the need for difficult discussions later. If you find out something isn’t going as discussed, the door is already open for discussion and mutual communication. These circumstances allow for cooperation which means you can leave forceful opinions at the door!
Myth #4 An allergy action plan for school is a ton of effort and I have no idea where to start. It’s easier just to send an email or give a binder of resources to my teacher.
It’s true. Creating an allergy action plan for school can feel complicated, and you need to put thought and effort into preparing one. But they can be a lot easier if you’re using the right blueprint and step-by-step instructions.
After 13 years of talking to teachers & schools (preschool-grade 10), I’ve learned that an email or a binder of resources doesn’t cut it.
Sitting down and working through the details with your teacher is invaluable and required.
This is because although some teachers are somewhat allergy-aware, MOST are not. How do you know who you will get?
No doubt creating a solid allergy action plan for school will take effort, but as a food allergy mom and parent, you’ve already proven that you’re not afraid to do what it takes to keep your child safe and help teach others in the process.
It’s just a lot easier knowing that you’re putting your precious time into the RIGHT efforts that will get results. The last thing you need is to spin your wheels and become stuck as you figure it all out.
KEEP READING FOR THE MOST MISLEADING MYTH! I’ve saved it for last…
Myth #5. I’m sure my school already knows how to deal with food allergies.
I wish this was the case, but unfortunately, the knowledge of food allergies at school is lacking in so many ways. Even if teachers and staff understand the signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis (which many don’t), and how to use an epinephrine injector, they still need to understand the nitty gritty things like how allergies impact the classroom.
For example, Teachrs may not understand how important label reading is for anything that enters the classroom, or that treats made in homes with allergens are unsafe (even if the allergen isn’t actually in the item). Teachers often use food as a part of their curriculum and celebrations and do not understand how this can cause exclusion for food allergy kids.
Food impacts the classroom and school in SO MANY ways and it will be your job as the parent to ensure this is known and understood.
Now that you know the 5 common myths about allergy action plans, you can find out how to prepare your child and school.
First, I’ve got this FREE Ultimate Food Allergy Kid’s Empowerment Guide to help you educate your child so they can help keep themselves safe when you’re not there.
Then, I have a comprehensive Allergy Action Plan For School Template that will make this whole process easier and less concerning.
With the right help and step-by-step instruction, creating your allergy action plan for school will be less worrisome and less time-consuming. Grab yours today.
