A Snapshot of Client Queries
We’ve picked three of the most interesting questions we’ve dealt with since our last issue, which may be useful if you ever find yourself in a similar situation at your school.
QUESTION: “A parent asked me to meet with the kitchen as he felt the menu was too restrictive for his daughter's allergies. He was reassured that there were more meals that she could eat off the main menu than were on the allergy menu. At the meeting we agreed that it would be useful to see the allergy grids for the main menu, but is there more that we can do?”
All allergy information should be correct and available both in advance when ordering and at the point of delivery. In a primary school, this is usually managed by the food being pre-ordered and the plate being labelled for that student. As long as that is all done correctly, then the compliance side of allergy management is fulfilled, and the discussion is simply about whether the prepared meal is something each child will choose to eat. That is completely different and subjective.
It is usual for a minimum of two choices to be available. However, it is not unusual to see only one on a particular day, as long as over a two-week period, a balanced nutritious diet has been provided by the school. There are nutritional standards which your kitchen or your meal provider should adhere to.
By offering a reduced menu the school is minimising the risk to all students with allergies. This is a sensible move. The parent does not have the right to demand a specific menu exclusively for their child as this would be unfeasible.
As long as your kitchen or your meal provider is accommodating students with allergies and displaying the allergy information correctly, then the school is fulfilling their responsibilities correctly. It is not feasible to incorporate a child’s personal preferences in a catering plan in circumstances like this.
QUESTION: “I have tried to look online to see what the guidance is regarding air con units and Covid. There is lots of information, but I just wanted to ask if you have definitive guidance in the event that we want to switch our air con units back on.”
The current government guidance on ventilation to reduce the spread of respiratory infections, including COVID-19 is:
How you maintain or improve ventilation will depend on the space and building. Buildings are ventilated by natural systems such as vents, windows and chimneys, or by mechanical systems such as extractor fans or air conditioning, or a combination of both. Where it is not possible to bring in more fresh air, a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) or ultraviolet (UV) air cleaner could in some cases be useful for reducing the risk of infection.
The current HSE guidance on COVID-19 is:
HSE no longer expects every business to consider COVID-19 in their risk assessment or to have specific measures in place. Employers may still choose to continue to cover COVID-19 in their risk assessments.
In short, there are no longer restrictions or specific guidelines on the use of air conditioners with regard to covid, but the HSE suggests that you consider covid when creating or amending a ventilation risk assessment.
QUESTION: “A member of staff has bought a number of peace lilies in their KS2 class. Reading the plant information they can harmful if eaten and cause eye and skin irritation. As a precautionary measure, we have removed them. Please can you let me advise on the best course of action? Would they be ok for Year 4 upwards, if the risk has been mitigated or reduced by talking to the children about the dangers of them?”
The Royal Horticultural Society has indicated that the peace lily (spathiphyllum wallisii) is potentially harmful. All parts may cause severe discomfort if ingested and can cause skin and eye irritation. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling.
Handsam would recommend that to completely mitigate any risk of accidental or intentional ingestion, the plant should be removed from the classroom.
An article in the TES from June 2020 suggests a number of plants which are suitable for a classroom. These include sansevieria or zamioculcas. To improve the air quality in a classroom, explorelearning.co.uk recommends spider plants, English ivy, and bamboo.