As you are aware, we are a nut free school.  Nuts can cause severe allergic reactions, sometimes triggered by surface contact or even airborne particles — not just ingestion.  Peanut allergies affect around 2% of children in the UK, this number has been increasing in recent years.

It’s important to note that peanuts are legumes belong to a different plant family than tree nuts.  A peanut allergy does not automatically mean an allergy to tree nuts, although some individuals may be allergic to both.

As a school, we have a duty of care to protect our pupils, staff, and visitors from avoidable risks.  Given the nature of a busy school environment, we believe the best way to reduce risk is to remove all peanut and nut-based products from school.  

What does this mean?

• Pupils, staff, and visitors must not bring any products containing nuts or peanuts into school.
• Parents and carers should notify staff if their child has any known or suspected allergy to nuts and provide relevant medical information.

What products are not allowed in school?

• Peanuts and tree nuts and any products that contain them.
• Peanut butter, peanut-based chocolate bars (e.g. Snickers) and nut-based chocolate spreads.
• Any item where peanuts or nuts are listed as a main ingredient.
• Nut or peanut oils or any nut-based cooking products.

This list is not exhaustive – please check all food packaging carefully before sending items into school.

What is allowed?

• Products labelled “may contain nuts”, “may contain traces of nuts”, or “made in a factory that uses nuts” — these present a low risk as nuts are not direct ingredients.
• All other nut-free snacks and food that follow our healthy eating guidelines.

To learn more about nut and peanut allergies, visit: www.allergyuk.org/types-of-allergies/food-allergy

Thank you for your continued support in helping to keep our school environment safe for everyone.