Allergies

The board of St Joseph's School is responsible for providing a physically and emotionally safe place where risks to health and safety are eliminated or minimised (Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, Education and Training Act 2020). We aim to provide a safe environment for students, and staff, and others with allergies at school or school-related activities by identifying and eliminating (or minimising) risks, being prepared to respond if needed, and raising awareness about allergies. Allergies can include hayfever, asthma, bee stings, and skin reactions, as well as allergies to specific foods or medicines. We support students with allergies to participate in school activities.

We assess potential allergy triggers within the school environment and work to eliminate or minimise them. We encourage basic hygiene measures (e.g. hand washing), safe food practices (e.g. not sharing food, utensils, and containers), and safe disposal of food waste. We communicate with our school community about allergy matters throughout the year as needed.

School responsibilities

To safely manage allergies at school and school-related activities, we carry out the actions below. In the event of a severe allergic reaction, we follow student individual plans and our school response to injuries and illness procedures. See Managing Injuries and Illness.

We keep a record of student health information in our student management system. We inform relevant staff about specific student needs. Staff have access to specific student health information as appropriate and are familiar with the medical needs of students they have regular contact with.
We communicate with the parents/caregivers of a student with a known allergy to create an individual plan.
Action plans (with the student's photo and details about the location of the emergency medication) are kept in the staffroom, and in the first aid room. A copy is also given to the class teacher.
An individual plan outlines any health conditions a student has and the support they need to manage it. These plans are usually referred to as health, management, or action plans. Students may need a plan if their condition requires regular medication, monitoring, management, adaptation of the learning environment, and/or hospitalisation.

Plans are developed collaboratively, and generally involve the student, parents/caregivers (whānau), and a health professional. The principal and other staff members may also provide input during this process. The plan should be reviewed regularly to ensure it is kept up to date.

An individual plan considers the needs and situation of an individual student and their whānau. This may include assessing expectations around care, supervision, and treatment (e.g. medication), potential barriers to learning, procedures to follow in an emergency, and communication methods. The plan includes student details, information used to develop the plan, agreed processes to support the student, and written agreement from parents.

Action Plans (Allergy New Zealand)

Asthma Action Plans (Asthma Respiratory Foundation NZ)

Diabetes in schools (The Paediatric Society of New Zealand)
We ensure staff working closely with a student with a known allergy are trained to recognise and respond appropriately in the case of an allergic reaction. We also inform release teachers and relievers about any students in their class with a known allergy, so that they can respond appropriately in an emergency.
With parent consent, we provide important information about specific allergies to close contacts of the student as appropriate, so they are prepared to respond in an emergency.
We restrict the use of food in activities (e.g. crafts, cooking, and science experiments), depending on the allergies of particular students. We communicate in advance about activities where allergens may be present.
We consider the needs of students with allergies when planning EOTC events, including bringing allergy medication, planning for any possible medical help required, and having the appropriate emergency contact numbers.
If possible, the parents/caregivers of students with severe allergies attend school trips.
Ideally, students with severe food allergies should only eat lunches and snacks that have been prepared at home or by accredited school lunch providers who follow the requirements noted in the specialised diet form.
We have clear processes for managing allergy medication at school. Medication for specific allergies is stored in the sick bay with a complete list of student conditions. Emergency allergy medication, such as EpiPens, is kept in the sick bay and stored appropriately so that it is readily accessible.

Also see Medicines.

We record any allergic reactions that require emergency medication or first aid. We report any incidents as appropriate (e.g. Anaphylaxis is a notifiable event). See Recording and Reporting Injuries and Illness.

Responsibilities of others

We expect everyone at school or school-related activities to take care of their health and notify school staff if they need support.

In order to ensure the safe management of student allergies, we expect students and parents/caregivers to take the actions below.

Parents/Caregivers are expected to:

advise the school, at enrolment or any time after, if the student has any known allergies
communicate with the school to create an individual plan and keep this up to date
follow school processes for managing medicines including supplying and replacing any necessary allergy medication
provide written consentfor the school to store and/or administer medication, including emergency treatment
help the student to understand and manage their allergy as appropriate.

We expect students to tell a staff member if they are feeling unwell and/or if their are having an allergic reaction or emergency.

Topic Number: 19301	Last Modified Date: 15/10/2025 09:34:53
Topic Version: 1	Published Date: 30/01/2026

Last review	Term 1 2025
Topic type	Core