Allergy Policy
Revolution Performing Arts Limited is committed to the safety and wellbeing of every child and young person in our care, including those with allergies.
| Policy owner | Fiona Da Silva Adams, Founder and CEO, Revolution Performing Arts Limited |
|---|---|
| Applies to | All staff, freelance teachers, volunteers, pupils, parents/carers and visitors at Revolution Performing Arts Limited |
| Date approved | 28th July 2026 |
| Review date | 28th July 2027 |
| Next review due | 28th July 2027 |
| Statutory basis | Section 34, Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 |
1. Introduction and Purpose
Revolution Performing Arts Limited is committed to the safety and wellbeing of every child and young person in our care, including those with allergies. This policy sets out how we identify, manage and reduce the risk of allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, and how we respond in an emergency.
This policy has been produced in line with Section 34 of the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026, which requires schools, academies, colleges and settings such as ours to have an allergy safety policy. It reflects the accompanying statutory guidance.
Fiona Da Silva Adams, Founder and CEO, Revolution Performing Arts Limited has overall responsibility for allergy safety at Revolution Performing Arts Limited, including implementation of this policy and leading its review.
This policy is reviewed at least annually, and more frequently where an incident or “near miss” suggests a need for change. Any review takes account of incidents and near misses recorded in the period, so that lessons are learned and risks to individuals with allergy are reduced.
This policy is published on our website and is available in hard copy on request from the studio office.
2. Culture
2.1 Allergy Awareness Training
All staff, freelance and peripatetic teachers, volunteers and any other adults who are present when pupils are on site receive allergy awareness and emergency response training at least annually. This includes staff supervising pupils before or after classes, and covers agency or cover staff booked in on an ad hoc basis. It does not extend to contractors on site for maintenance work with no pupil-facing role.
New staff and freelance teachers receive allergy awareness training as part of induction, before they are left unsupervised with pupils. Cover and supply staff are briefed on allergy arrangements, including known allergies among the pupils in the class they are covering, before the session begins.
Allergy awareness training ensures all staff:
- Have an awareness of allergy, the risks it poses, how allergic reactions can occur and how to manage it
- Understand that allergy includes multiple conditions (food allergy, asthma, eczema, hay fever and others), which can co-exist
- Understand the difference between food allergy, coeliac disease and food intolerance
- Know where to find information on allergy triggers for pupils in their classes
- Can identify the range of symptoms of allergic reactions and understand and can recognise anaphylaxis
- Know how to respond in an emergency, including calling emergency services and informing parents/carers, how to locate and administer emergency medication (adrenaline for anaphylaxis, an asthma reliever inhaler for an asthma attack), and how to use the relevant medication or device
- Understand the impact allergy can have on a child or young person's wellbeing
- Understand this allergy safety policy
- Know how to check whether a pupil is on the record of those with known allergy and how to use an Allergy or Asthma Action Plan
- Understand their responsibilities in reducing the risk of pupils with known allergy coming into contact with their known allergens
- Understand how to report an allergic reaction or case of anaphylaxis, whether an incident or a near miss
This training is allergy awareness and emergency response training. It does not replace any separate clinical governance, competency or delegation arrangements needed where a pupil requires individual healthcare support beyond our setting-level allergy safety arrangements.
2.2 Wellbeing
We recognise that allergy, and the possibility of anaphylaxis, can be a significant source of anxiety for pupils and their families. Staff are attentive to the emotional wellbeing of pupils with allergy, ensure they are not made to feel different or excluded from classes, performances, trips or social activities, and involve pupils and parents/carers in decisions about how their allergy is managed.
Bullying or teasing relating to a pupil's allergy is treated as seriously as any other form of bullying and is addressed under our anti-bullying policy. Staff are alert to signs of exclusion or unkindness relating to allergy and act promptly to address it.
2.3 Minimising Risk
We take reasonable steps to minimise the risk of pupils, staff, freelance teachers, parents/carers and visitors coming into contact with their known allergens. This includes:
- Measures to manage the risk of exposure to food allergens through any food or drink provided by and not provided by Revolution Performing Arts Limited (see section 3, Food Allergy)
- Measures to manage the risk of exposure to a food allergen brought in by parents, pupils or staff, for example snacks brought to classes, or food brought in to mark birthdays, end-of-term celebrations or performances
- Where a pupil has a known allergy to an airborne or contact allergen, reasonable measures put in place to manage the risk of exposure in the studio, changing rooms and performance spaces
- An expectation that staff planning any activity consider the risk of exposure to allergens, for example in craft or costume-making activities, make-up and stage make-up, use of props or materials such as latex, and any activity involving food, animals or shared equipment
- Specific risk assessments to manage the risk of exposure to allergens for pupils with allergy when planning external visits, performances, competitions or trips
3. Food Allergy
Where food or drink is provided at Revolution Performing Arts Limited (e.g at our holiday programme), allergen information is collected during enrolment, checked with the food supplier and checked again when handing food over to the young person.
Where food is brought into the setting by parents/carers or pupils, for example for celebrations or for young people bringing packed lunches, Revolution Performing Arts Limited states explicitly that no nuts, or food containing nuts can be brought into the building. Also sharing of food is strictly prohibited. Parents/carers of pupils with known food allergies are informed in advance so they can advise on safe alternatives, and staff check ingredient information where it is available.
4. Individual Pupils
4.1 Identification
We ask parents/carers to tell us about any known allergies, asthma or other medical conditions when a pupil enrols, and to update us whenever this information changes. This includes details of known allergens, whether the pupil carries medication such as an adrenaline autoinjector (AAI) or asthma reliever inhaler, and information from any previous school or setting where relevant.
We keep a record of all pupils with known allergies, including whether they have an Individual Healthcare Plan and/or an Allergy or Asthma Action Plan. This record is kept up to date and is accessible to staff teaching that pupil, including cover and freelance teachers, while remaining appropriately confidential (see section 8, Information Sharing).
4.2 Individual Healthcare Plans
A pupil should have an Individual Healthcare Plan (IHP) where their allergy has a functional impact on them at Revolution Performing Arts Limited, they are at risk of harm as a result of their allergy, and they require arrangements that are additional to or different from those made generally.
The IHP sets out the additional or different arrangements in place to support the pupil, including in an emergency. This covers pupils whose allergy requires flexibility or reasonable adjustments (for example around costumes, props, food-based activities or performance venues), as well as those who require medication, either proactively or in an emergency.
Where a pupil has an Allergy Action Plan and/or Asthma Action Plan issued by a healthcare professional, their IHP refers to or attaches it. Where an updated Action Plan becomes available, the pupil's IHP is reviewed to incorporate it.
4.3 Prescribed Adrenaline
Where a pupil is prescribed an adrenaline device, we ensure it can be reached rapidly at all times the pupil is with us, including during classes, in changing rooms, at breaks and during rehearsals or performances. In a case of anaphylaxis, adrenaline should be administered within five minutes.
When on site in a school, Revolution Performing Arts Limited will request the young person’s AAI from the school office at arrival and also return it back to the school office after the session. Parents are asked to ensure the AAI’s are in date.
We keep a record of which pupils have been provided with a prescribed adrenaline device and, where applicable, an Allergy Action Plan.
5. Setting-Wide Arrangements
5.1 “Spare” Adrenaline Devices
Revolution Performing Arts Limited does not hold spare (unassigned) adrenaline devices. Revolution Performing Arts Limited checks and locates each spare kit when arriving at each school, in case of emergency.
5.2 Visits, Trips and Performances
Where a pupil with allergy takes part in a visit, trip, competition or external performance, we put in place the arrangements and adjustments needed for them to participate safely, including access to their adrenaline device where required.
A risk assessment is carried out for any pupil at risk of anaphylaxis taking part in an activity off our premises. Pupils at risk of anaphylaxis bring their own adrenaline device with them, and at least one member of staff attending has been trained to administer adrenaline in an emergency.
5.3 Serious Incidents and “Near Misses”
We record, report and respond to any serious incident or near miss involving allergy safety. This includes any occasion where a pupil is exposed to a known allergen, experiences an allergic reaction, or where a planned safeguard (such as a spare device or checked ingredient list) was not followed as intended.
Because the effects of exposure to an allergen are not always apparent until after a pupil has left our setting, we encourage pupils, parents/carers and healthcare professionals to report any reaction or suspected reaction to us as soon as possible, even where it becomes apparent only after the pupil has gone home. Reports should be made to Fiona Da Silva-Adams, office@revolutionpa.co.uk, 07799 691328.
6. Information Sharing
We share information about a pupil's allergy with staff and freelance teachers who need it to keep that pupil safe, including cover and supply teachers taking a class. We do not share it more widely than is necessary.
A pupil's health information, including details of an allergy, is special category data under UK GDPR and is handled with particular care. We have a lawful basis to hold, use and share this data where necessary for the pupil's safety, and we do so in a controlled and respectful way, mindful that unnecessary sharing can be distressing or embarrassing for a pupil who does not wish to be singled out.
7. Awareness of This Policy
This policy is published on the Revolution Performing Arts Limited website and is available in hard copy on request. All staff and freelance teachers are made aware of and understand this policy as part of their annual allergy awareness training.
Where appropriate, and always in discussion with the pupil and their parents/carers, we consider how to raise awareness among a pupil's peers of how to seek help in an emergency, for example where a pupil is prescribed an adrenaline device. This does not replace staff emergency response arrangements.
8. Review
This policy is reviewed at least annually by Fiona Da Silva Adams, Founder and CEO, Revolution Performing Arts Limited, and sooner where an incident, near miss, or change in statutory guidance indicates a need for earlier review.