Allergen Awareness at JLK

Learning purpose: By the end of this module, staff should understand what allergens are, why they matter, and why even small mistakes can put a child at serious risk.

JLK practice standard: At JLK, allergy information is treated as safeguarding information. Staff must know which children have allergies, where allergy records are stored, and what action to take if there is a concern.

Key staff expectations:

• Know the children in your care who have allergies or dietary requirements.
• Check allergy information before food is served.
• Never guess or rely on memory alone.
• Ask the manager if anything is unclear.
• Treat all allergy information as serious and confidential.

Practical scenario: A child is offered a snack by a member of staff covering the room. The staff member is unsure whether the child has a dairy allergy. At JLK, the correct action is to stop, check the allergy record, and ask the room leader or manager before serving anything.

• I treat allergy information as safeguarding information
• I know which children in my room have allergies or dietary requirements
• I always check the allergy record before serving food — I do not rely on memory

Learning purpose: Staff should understand how cross-contamination can happen and how to prevent it during snack, lunch, baking, messy play and food-based activities.

JLK practice standard: Food safety is everyone's responsibility. Staff must use clean surfaces, separate utensils where needed, and follow allergy procedures every time.

Key staff expectations:

• Wash hands before handling food.
• Clean tables before and after meals.
• Use separate utensils for children with allergies where required.
• Do not allow children to share food.
• Check baking and sensory ingredients before use.
• Report any concern immediately.

Practical scenario: During baking, a practitioner plans to use flour, milk and eggs. One child has an egg allergy. The practitioner must check the risk assessment, speak to the manager, adapt the activity safely, and ensure there is no cross-contact.

Our Allergies policy: “Where a child has a known allergy, the nursery manager will carry out a full allergy risk assessment with the parent prior to the child starting the nursery”. It is kept in Risk assessments on the portal; ask your room leader or manager what it says for each child in your room. When is a risk assessment needed?

• I wash hands and clean tables before and after every meal
• I check ingredients for baking and sensory activities before they reach the children
• I report any allergen concern immediately rather than waiting

Learning purpose: Staff should understand how allergy information is shared safely between parents, practitioners, kitchen staff, managers and cover staff.

JLK practice standard: Allergy communication must be clear, recorded and consistent. Verbal messages alone are not enough.

The allergy action plan. Since September 2026 every child with a known allergy or intolerance should have a written allergy action plan, developed with their parents and carers and, where appropriate, a health professional. JLK uses the BSACI (British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology) template, because that is the one the framework names.

Two things about it are easy to get wrong:

• It is kept up to date through ongoing conversation — not written once at registration and filed. Children develop allergies at any time, and most often during weaning.
• It is shared with everyone who works with that child or handles their food — including the kitchen, and including cover and agency staff on the day.

And at every meal and snack, somebody is clearly responsible for checking that what is being served meets that child's requirements. If you do not know who that person is at your table, that is the gap — ask before the food goes out, not after.

Key staff expectations:

• Know where the allergy action plans for your children are kept, and have read them.
• Know who is checking the plate at your table, at every meal.
• Record parent updates immediately.
• Inform the manager of any allergy change.
• Check allergy displays and records are current.
• Ensure temporary or agency staff are told essential allergy information.
• Never discuss a child's medical details casually.

Practical scenario: A parent tells a practitioner at drop-off that their child has reacted to strawberries at home. The practitioner must not simply remember this. They must inform the manager, ensure records are updated, and follow the nursery allergy procedure.

• I record parent updates immediately rather than relying on memory
• I inform the manager of every allergy change and ensure records are updated
• I make sure cover and agency staff are told essential allergy information
• I know where my children's allergy action plans are and who checks the plate at each meal