Finding a Nursery for Jonah Has Been A Team Effort
As soon as I stepped into Jonah's new nursery, I could tell what a fantastic nursery setting it was, but it didn't take away that deep feeling in the pit of my stomach, all the ”what-ifs” because my child is allergic.
The nursery staff right from the start listened. They were compassionate, caring and meticulous in their approach to Jonah's allergies. So much so that I wanted to share everything they’ve done to create a safe space for him, to help others going through the same thing as I was.
They have regular EpiPen training and they always ensure that their caterer is able to make Jonah’s food completely free of his allergens. The nursery manager and owner discussed with me everything they would do to ensure his safety. This included notifying all parents that they had a child in the setting with serious food allergies and for them to avoid giving their child foods such as peanut butter before coming into nursery. They did a really thorough risk assessment. This included ensuring all staff were trained in what to do in an allergy medical emergency. They sent the risk assessment to me so I could read and contribute to it.
I created a comprehensive written document for them with Jonah’s medical history, details of his medication and when and how to use it. They reviewed his emergency action plan and they knew if in doubt, to use the Jext. I also got a trainer Jext so all staff could be given training and be able to practice using it.
All staff get training on Jonah's allergies and care plan and I made a video explaining what I’d like them to think about when caring for him.
If I had any tips for parents finding a safe nursery setting after this experience, I’d say to trust your instincts. Communication is key and it is important that you become ‘a team’ working together and sharing knowledge and each others’ expertise.
They made a very emotional separation turn into a positive and wonderful experience for my son. He loves his nursery and so do I.
Jonah’s Mum - Sarah x