Northumberland mum backs "allergy awareness" programme in schools
The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation created a programme after discovering the majority of teachers have had no allergy awareness training.
A mum from Northumberland - whose daughter Ellen died to anaphylaxis in 2019 - is backing an 'allergy awareness' programme in schools.
The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation - set up in memory of Natasha Ednan-Laperouse, 15, who died after eating a Pret a Manger baguette containing sesame - created the programme after discovering the majority of teachers have had no allergy awareness training.
The £1 million programme will see training for teachers alongside resources for all nurseries, primary schools and out-of-school clubs and groups to encourage greater awareness and understanding of food allergies.
It includes films, lesson plans and assembly packs created in partnership with the King's Foundation, Coram Life Education, St John Ambulance and Tesco Stronger Starts.
A poll of almost 1,900 union members by NASUWT, published for the launch, found 95% of teachers have children with food allergies in their school, yet 67% have had no allergy awareness training.
One in five has never been taught how to administer an adrenaline auto-injector which could save a life in a food allergy emergency, and 60% did not know, or were unsure, if their school had an allergy policy.
Almost two-thirds (62%) of teachers surveyed said they would find it useful to have more training and resources.
Ellen's mum, Delyth Raffell, said: "Children spend the majority of their day at school. Every parent and every teacher want those children to be safe. You're used to other types of things, whether it's bullying or academically keeping children on the right track, but actually allergies are something that's not always obvious.
"Most people who’ve had a child with an allergic reaction or someone that's died because of that is well aware that this is not something that's actually really taught to the actual support staff in the school, nursery, play group, or anything like that.
"If you have a child with allergies, you are on high alert a lot of the time. You're going to be worried if you don't think that the school is adequately prepared to be able to handle an allergic reaction."