Important: School Snack and Lunchbox Arrangements from September 2026
Dear Parents and Carers,

Following the introduction of the new statutory guidance on allergy safety in schools from September 2026, schools are required to take a whole-school approach to allergy management and reducing the risks associated with allergic reactions.

The DFE guidance states that schools should take measures to manage the risks of exposure to allergen. This includes food brought in by others which includes parents, children and staff.

Please understand that often children swap food and / or share, and it is very difficult to prevent this from happening. The consequences of a pupil eating or coming into contact with an allergen could be potentially fatal, and so we ask all families to adhere to our new rules.

We have considered reasonable adjustments to reduce any risks of exposure to allergens. In order to reduce the risk of children being exposed unnecessarily to allergens, we are limiting the foods that the pupils can have access to during the school day.

Break time snacks are limited to fresh or dried fruit only; which is healthy and not harmful to any of the pupils.

We appreciate that this is a change for some families. The purpose of this approach is to provide a simple, consistent and healthy snack arrangement, while also helping the school to minimise unnecessary food allergens being brought into the school environment.

Packed Lunch Boxes
Please do not send children to school with:
• Crisps
• Biscuits
• Nuts or nut products
• Chocolate or sweets
• Cakes or pastries
• Cereal or snack bars
• Other packaged or processed snacks

Lunch boxes will be checked daily. It is vital that you label all packed lunch boxes with your child’s name and class. In this way we can ensure that children have access to their own lunch only and will not take an incorrect box.

In the case of families preparing food for their children in lunchboxes, please be aware of potential allergens such as nuts as, once again, sometimes children attempt to share food (which we do not allow).

We try as far as possible to ensure an ‘allergen free’ environment, but cannot guarantee this. We do not allow nuts onto our premises, but we are ‘nut aware’ rather than ‘nut free’, as children and families sometimes break this rule.

Children with medical or dietary requirements
We recognise that some children may require an alternative snack because of a medical condition, allergy or specific dietary requirement.

Where this applies, please contact the school so that appropriate arrangements can be agreed in accordance with your child’s individual healthcare needs. No child will be disadvantaged as a result of a medically necessary dietary requirement.

We ask all parents and carers to support us by ensuring that children only bring an appropriate and agreed snack to school.

Thank you for your understanding and continued support in helping us to maintain a healthy, safe and inclusive environment for every child.

Kind regards,
Chris Harrison

Headteacher