Preparing your child with allergies for the new school year

September has a way of arriving quickly. If your child has a food allergy, asthma, eczema or hay fever, the last weeks of the summer holiday are the right time to get everything in order — while there is still time to renew prescriptions, update paperwork and, if needed, see a specialist before term starts. Here are the five checks we suggest to families.

1. Check the adrenaline auto-injector dates now

If your child has been prescribed an adrenaline auto-injector (such as an EpiPen or Jext), check the expiry dates today — pens that were in date at Easter often are not by September, and replacements can take time to obtain.

Children who carry an auto-injector should have two devices available wherever they are, including at school. It is also worth knowing that since 2017 schools have been allowed to hold spare adrenaline auto-injectors for emergencies, but this is voluntary — so never rely on it in place of your child’s own in-date devices.

2. Update the written allergy action plan for school

Schools work from your child’s written allergy action plan — the standard BSACI plan used across the UK — which tells staff exactly what to do if a reaction happens. Make sure the school holds a current copy, that it reflects any changes since last year, and that it is signed by a clinician. If your child has had a reaction over the past year, or their treatment has changed, the plan should be reviewed rather than simply re-sent.

3. Talk to the school early — especially if it’s a new one

Schools in England have a legal duty to support pupils with medical conditions, and most will agree an individual healthcare plan with you. The conversation is much easier in the first week of term than the fifth: who holds the medication, how lunchtimes and snacks are handled, what happens on trips and at birthday celebrations, and which staff are trained. If your child is starting nursery or moving to secondary school, this matters doubly — new settings mean new routines, new food environments and staff who have not yet met your child.

4. Don’t forget the asthma, eczema and hay fever

Allergy rarely travels alone. Well-controlled asthma matters in its own right, and it matters even more for children with food allergies, because poorly controlled asthma makes severe allergic reactions more dangerous. Before term: check the school inhaler is in date, make sure the asthma plan is current, and if your child has been wheezy over the summer, have it reviewed rather than waiting for the winter coughs and colds. The same early-autumn window is when house dust mite symptoms pick up and eczema often flares — a treatment plan that is working now is the best start to the year.

5. Ask whether it’s time for a specialist review

Some children simply need their prescriptions renewed. For others, the new school year is the natural moment for a proper review: if your child has reacted to a food in the past year, if the original diagnosis was never fully confirmed, if you are wondering whether a milk or egg allergy has been outgrown — many are, and testing can help answer that — or if a teenager is about to take charge of carrying and using their own medication for the first time. A review now means any changes are reflected in the action plan the school receives in September, not chasing paperwork in October.

How we can help your child with allergies before term starts

Dr Tammy Rothenberg is our Consultant Paediatrician & Allergist. She trained at Oxford and at St Mary’s Hospital, one of the UK’s leading allergy centres, holds an MSc in Allergy, and is the Paediatric Asthma Lead at Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. She sees children from birth to 18 at our Marylebone clinic, with video consultations available at the same fee.

A first appointment costs £350, lasts up to an hour, and includes any prescriptions — including adrenaline auto-injectors where needed — together with a written allergy action plan and letters for nursery or school. If testing would help, a skin prick test (£200) is done during the same appointment with results in around 20 minutes. One important request: please don’t stop any of your child’s medicines before speaking to us — some affect skin prick test results, but blood tests are unaffected, and we will talk it through with you when you book.

No GP referral is needed and appointments are usually available within a few days. Call 0207 637 9711, WhatsApp us, or book a consultation through the website — you’ll always reach a real person.

Frequently asked questions

Do we need a GP referral for a children’s allergy appointment?

No. You can book directly with us, and you don’t need to be registered with a UK GP. Many families see us for a specialist opinion while they wait for an NHS appointment.

Can my child be seen by video instead?

Yes — video consultations are available at the same fee, and are often available sooner than in-clinic appointments. If testing is needed, it can be arranged at a follow-up visit to the clinic.

What should the school hold for my child?

A current, signed allergy action plan, in-date medication (including both adrenaline auto-injectors where prescribed, and any inhaler), and an agreed individual healthcare plan. Dr Rothenberg can provide the plan and school letters as part of the consultation.

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