\"Peanut Ban\" VS. \"Request\"

Peanut ban vs request.
depends on the goal you are seeking.
A request with a full explanation often results in the majority of parents agreeing to avoid bringing in no peanuts or peanut butter. Most parents do find the idea of a child dying at school rather distressing. So , will help, parents are for the most part, human.
A ban as a rule without explanation, or a simple statement , is another rule that is easily forgotton.
Both will work if handled correctly, both will fail if not.
For my sons school , simple requests do help, we had no problem with the food for the children christmas parties.
school newsletter reminded parents not to bring in food with nuts /wholenuts ( did not mention may contain , thats a whole different issue IMO) 7 3/4yr old son was able to choose safely from food provided with teachers observeing and there to guide if neeeded.
the words ban/request are too simple, allergies are not simple, they are complex and management needs adjusting for each child( and age of child) as allergies and responses to allergies are individual.
I dont need to put a ban on may contain, or worry as yet about air borne allergies.
If I did then I would have to work harder with the school, but would achieve what I wanted.
Allergy management or a agreed protocal for each child is a more flexiable agreement between the teachers,parents and medical adivisors, all three parties need to work together to achieve a safe environment for our children.
Parents abilities with regard to relating/ communicating to other adults that have the care of your child must be one of your strongest skills.
the ability to speak in clear no nonsense terms what is needed, (and have the medical back up to prove it ) and to be friendly , approachable and non agressive, will get you what you want.
That and learning how to milk the system, another one of those important parental skills!!
sarah

If william's allergy symptoms indicated that he was air bourne allergic, in a class room /school situation ( rather than an plane!, which is a higher risk) After the trip to hospital and all being well , would get advice from his allergy doc at St Marys. He would give us a new medical plan or care plan. In fact one copy would go to Williams Gp, one to the school, and one for me.
My first step would be to contact the head teacher ,make an appointment with her and with the pead community school nurse.
Then all three of us would sort out a new protocal that we all agreed on.
Any problems with this I would send a letter and copy of protocal and dr's care plan, to the school governing board, also contact the Department of education.( might do that anyway , before any problems start!)
On side note would ask that all teacher have refresher lessons in epi-pen training, offer to speak to all midday supervisors and lunch assistants.
Have a meeting with Williams class teacher, and until protocal is settled and appeared to be working would make sure that I visited the classroom every morning so that they get used to me , and feel that they can approach me with any question, however silly! ( I sort of do this anyway, or I look at the term curriculam and sort out what might involve food etc)
Also head teacher would put a note attached to weekly school newsletter, that would in all likely not mention william by name, but would explain the severity of the problem.
I would also consider williams class to recieve a small letter as well, if I thought that was needed.
If head teacher was finding requests difficult , and I am sure that she would, lean more towards the governers and the local education authority advice to achieve what was needed.
( have copy of the rules and regs for dept of education etc)
At worst the head could ask that William should leave the school, but although she has the legal right , the local education authority would have more influence and a child being expelled or refused a school because of allergy is rare.
Having the school community nurse pressent made all the difference last time, have learnt from my mistakes!!!!
If all this didnt work, next step local MP, get Gp to write letter to school, then I suppose worst case , contact the local press.
That would be the last resort and in all likely would have already found a place for william at another school. But would be very unhappy if that was the case, certainly would make every effort to use the goveners and local education authority to work with us.
i am sure your next question would be would I ban all food with nut traces from school.?!!!
NO , not really.
Air bourne allergic would have more of a severe impact on Williams life.
the protocal would have new steps that he would have to learn to avoid a reaction.
We all would have to adjust not just us as a family, but every adult who is around William.
There has been one very clear and important lesson I have learnt from my nasty lump in boob before christmas, I was expecting to have to spend some time in hospital . My hubby would be hard pressed to find people to look after four kids if I was ill for some time.
So during christmas I began to start adding to the list of those few that are epi pen trained and allergy aware that might be asked to look after my children in an emergency.
My neighbours took William and Emily to the movies, and my BIL and SIL who wanted to be around to help are now allergy aware, and we have taught them how to use an epi-pen.
In fact this saturday BIL is taking William to see Arsenal football team on saturday , on his own. Something I would never have considered before.
So every cloud has a silver linning!
sarah