Nut Aware Policy
Policy: Nut Aware
Policy Coordinator: Deputy Principal and Heads of Campus
Tintern Schools has many students who suffer from severe nut allergies. Even trace amounts of a problem food can cause a life threatening anaphylactic reaction.
In an attempt to make our school environment safe for all students, staff and visitors, Tintern Schools has implemented a "Nut-Aware" strategy *. This strategy will come into effect as of July 15, 2008. Tintern Schools would appreciate your help to maintain a safe community by keeping as far as is reasonable and practicable, all nuts and nut products out of the school. This includes peanuts, walnuts, cashews, almonds and all other tree nuts. Please read all food product labels carefully. "Accidents" happen when foods labelled "may contain" or "traces of" are brought to school. Our goal is to prevent allergic reactions and awareness is the key. We appreciate your help to make the school safe for every student.
Tintern Schools is also working with our primary catering provider, Spotless Catering, to help us to support members of our community and visitors to the school who are nut allergic. As part of this process
Spotless have removed all items on site that have nuts or contain traces of nuts.
Spotless Staff working in the tuckshops, Hawthorn Room and Boarding House have been notified that a Nut Aware strategy for Tintern Schools comes into effect at the start of Term 3, 2008.
Spotless have advised all suppliers that Tintern Schools has become a Nut Aware school and has outlined expectations for client compliance. A Permanent Note has been attached to all delivery dockets advising of the Nut Aware approach adopted by Tintern Schools.
There has been a review all price lists, menu items and ticketing to ensure that no items have nuts.
The ability to order loose and visible nuts from Spotless suppliers has been removed.
Tintern Schools internal procedures for food ordering have also changed:
There has been a review of Tintern Schools Function selector to ensure there are no items available with nuts.
The Nut Aware strategy is to be included on Tintern Schools Function Selector
The Nut Aware strategy has been attached to the Tintern Schools catering booking sheet used for all Tintern Schools Functions
Workplace
Welcome checklists for new Tintern Schools employees advises them that Tintern Schools practices a Nut Aware approach.
As a part of Tintern Schools approach to the management of nut allergies and as a response to the requirements of The Children's Services and Education Legislation (Anaphylaxis Management) Amendment Act 2008 the school has also developed an Anaphylaxis Management Policy (this policy will be available on the Tintern Schools website once approved by the Executive). This policy includes information on:
- individual management plans for each child at risk;
- a communication plan to inform staff, parents and students about anaphylaxis and the school's anaphylaxis management policy; and
- staff training and emergency response procedures.
Families will need to provide medical information concerning a student with a "nut allergy" in the form of an Anaphylaxis Action Plan. The Anaphylaxis Action Plan must be provided by a medical practitioner. This Action Plan must include:
- a clear photo of the child
- documentation of the allergic triggers
- documentation of the first aid response and prescribed medication
- identification and contact details of the doctor who has signed the action plan
The Anaphylaxis Action Plan will need to be reviewed every 12 months
*The school acknowledges that due to food processing practices it is impractical to eliminate nuts or nut products entirely from an environment where there is food. Therefore we have opted to be a Nut "Aware" School rather than to ban nuts altogether.
NB This document is to be read in conjunction with Tintern Schools Anaphylaxis Management Policy.
Download Nut Awareness policy