It's never easy for a parent to leave their child, especially a young baby, at a nursery or childminders. When that child has a potentially life-threatening allergy, the separation is even more fraught with worry. The tragic events that ended with the death of five-month-old Thomas Egan after he was fed milk products in a Jigsaw nursery in Milton Keynes will have set alarm bells ringing for nurseries all over the country. The number of children with allergies to various foods has risen sharply in recent years and few settings will escape having to deal with the issue and practicalities of allergies. Nurseries must ensure that they have in place the right policies and procedures to avoid or cope with allergic reactions, and that staff are trained properly about food allergies. Parents must be confident that they can leave their children in safety.
It's never easy for a parent to leave their child, especially a young baby, at a nursery or childminders. When that child has a potentially life-threatening allergy, the separation is even more fraught with worry.
The tragic events that ended with the death of five-month-old Thomas Egan after he was fed milk products in a Jigsaw nursery in Milton Keynes will have set alarm bells ringing for nurseries all over the country. The number of children with allergies to various foods has risen sharply in recent years and few settings will escape having to deal with the issue and practicalities of allergies. Nurseries must ensure that they have in place the right policies and procedures to avoid or cope with allergic reactions, and that staff are trained properly about food allergies. Parents must be confident that they can leave their children in safety.
This week, the latest edition of Nursery Topics is published free with Nursery World. It takes as its theme Pattern, and offers a complete guide to running a Foundation Stage project, a colour poster to display and some wonderful prize draws for resources sure to enhance the activities carried out. Next week, don't miss your free copy of Nursery Equipment.
