Allergies in School: Teacher Survey 2023
A survey to understand the management of allergies in schools and hear the experiences of teachers
The Benedict Blythe Foundation was founded in 2022 following the tragic death of a child as a result of a severe allergic reaction. The foundation intends to create awareness of allergies in young people through a national campaign to implement new safeguards for children with allergies to make schools safer and afford them better protection. They are currently researching how schools are dealing with and catering for allergies in addition to providing useful allergy tools and resources.
The Survey
The Allergies in Schools Teacher Survey was conducted between October 13, 2023, and December 7, 2023, among 244 qualified teachers in the UK. The participants were evenly distributed across key educational stages, ranging from Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) to Key Stage 4 (KS4), and represented a variety of maintained and non-maintained schools.
All data collection and analysis were conducted by experienced personnel from The Benedict Blythe Foundation, utilising an online surveying tool. Population equivalents were estimated based on the published figure of 468,371 full-time equivalent (FTE) teachers (DfE, June 2023). Given that the survey did not encompass the entire teacher population, any statistics should consider a margin of error of approximately 2.5%.
This inaugural survey sets a precedent, with plans to conduct it annually for comparative analysis.
Findings: The Headlines
- 1/4 of teachers weren’t aware how many children had allergies in their school;
- 1.5 teachers in every 10 didn’t know which children in their class had allergies;
- 1/3 of teachers have not had any allergy or anaphylaxis training and only 4% had received training in allergy awareness;
- 40% of teachers don’t feel confident or prepared to manage an allergic reaction;
- 25% of teachers weren't aware of how many children had allergies in the school;
- 15% Did not know how many children had allergies in their class;
- Almost 1 in 3 teachers had never received allergy training;
- 4 in 10 teachers reported not having access to an individual healthcare plan (IHP) for a child with allergies; and
- Only 4% received any training covering allergy awareness or prevention beyond anaphylaxis first aid and AAI administration.
Communication
The theme of effective communication emerged as a prominent barrier to successful allergy management. A recurring concern highlighted the challenges faced by parents in conveying and updating their child's allergy information with the school, while also addressing instances of parents of non-allergic children disregarding directives against sending prohibited foods. Strategies must be devised to tackle these issues while accommodating families where English is a second language.
Furthermore, it's noteworthy that over one-third of teachers lack clear allergy policies, making it difficult for them to navigate allergy management effectively. Many teachers expressed uncertainty about their responsibilities in communicating with parents and school nurses, often assuming that such tasks fell under the purview of school leadership or administrative staff. There was a shared sentiment among teachers for increased involvement from school nurses and improved sharing of gathered information.
Confidence
Approximately 40% of teachers express a lack of confidence or readiness in handling allergic reactions. This sentiment is not unexpected, considering the inadequate training and informational resources available to them. Similarly, nearly the same percentage of teachers are unsure if the school possesses spare Adrenaline Auto-Injectors (AAIs).
While many teachers report implementing accommodations and adjustments, these efforts seem to originate from individual initiatives rather than institutional mandates. While this approach allows for a personalised response, it also places reliance on teachers to possess the necessary knowledge and discernment to act appropriately, often necessitating additional planning and research time.
Training and Information
While instances of commendable practices were evident, a notable proportion of surveyed teachers demonstrated gaps in their understanding, particularly regarding which students within their school, and occasionally within their own class, had allergies. Among those who had received training, the feedback was generally positive, citing examples such as university-led sessions, Food Standards Agency (FSA) modules, and AllergyWise courses. However, it is concerning that a minority of teachers have received any form of allergy awareness training.
The combination of inadequate knowledge about students' allergies and a lack of training on how to effectively manage allergic reactions poses risks to both teachers and students.