To guarantee the safeguarding of pupils with allergies, or any other special dietary requirement, it is vital that the service works in partnership, sharing joint responsibility between pupil, parent/guardian and the school to provide as far as possible a nutritionally balanced meal that meets any special dietary requirements of the pupil.
If your child has a dietary need, please contact the school in the first instance.
In advance of further detailed guidance on special dietary requirements, the EA has devised a basic summary guidance that will support schools in their decision-making in relation to special dietary requirements of pupils.
Allergen Management
Under the legislation EU Food Information for Consumers Regulation (No. 1169/2011), all food business operators have the responsibility to provide the correct allergen information about the ingredients that are in the food they make or serve to customers.
The School Catering Service provides allergen information for unpackaged food either verbally or as part of a discussion with a parent or a member of school staff. For this approach, all dining rooms are also required to have a notice (allergy poster) clearly on display in the dining room which states that allergy information is available from the staff. Catering staff are trained to refer any questions regarding an allergy to the catering supervisor.
From the 1st October 2021, new legislation also requires that food prepacked for direct sale (PPDS) is labelled with the name of the food and a full ingredients list, with allergenic ingredients emphasised within the list.
The School Catering Service has taken a number of steps to ensure effective allergen management including staff training and controlled procedures for purchasing, delivery, food storage/segregation, preparation and production, food service and cleaning.