On the first day of Prep, as a parent, you have mixed emotions. 

On one hand, you’re excited for your son or daughter, who put their uniform on in a flash, ready to head off to school. On the other hand, you’re feeling a little anxious.
 
Your child has lived with a food allergy or anaphylaxis for most of their life but dropping him or her off into the Prep classroom for the very first time seems a little daunting.

Here are our top 5 tips to managing your child’s food allergies or anaphylaxis at primary school so that your family’s introduction to school life is as seamless as possible:

## 1. Education is Key for Managing Food Allergies and Anaphylaxis at School

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It is important to continue to talk to your child about their medical needs. The more your child understands the symptoms of an allergic or anaphylactic reaction, the better prepared they will be to alert teachers, should the need arise. Ask your school to set up a meeting with your child’s teacher/s to discuss specific requirements and provide medication.

The Camp Australia team of educators at your school are also trained in managing food allergies and anaphylaxis. We are there to reassure you and your child that before and after school care and Rocketeers are **safe places** too. [Contact us](https://campaustralia.com.au/contact-us) to find out more or come and see us at your school.

## 2. Complete all of the Necessary Forms Relating to Food Allergies or Anaphylaxis

Similar to kinder and childcare, your new school will require certain forms to be completed, for example, an Action Plan and Individual Management Plan. There are some handy resources available that will answer some of your questions with regards to [policies](https://caprdstdlrs.blob.core.windows.net/public-cms/assets/OP_017_V1_08_M_Medical_Conditions_and_Practices_for_Children_Camp_Australia_d535fa677e.pdf) and other [useful information](https://allergyfacts.org.au/), in preparation for starting primary school. Be sure to check with your school too, as they may have specific school-related forms to complete or policies to read through.

As part of Camp Australia’s management of allergies and anaphylaxis in-service, specific forms will need to be completed. You will be guided during the registration process, and we recommend registering your child early so that the necessary documentation can be organised prior to attending.

## 3. Encourage your Child to Talk to their Friends about their Food Allergies

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It can be difficult to understand if you don’t have allergies or anaphylaxis in your family or know children who live with this medical condition.

Nowadays, there are a growing number of people living with allergies or anaphylaxis. You’ll be pleased to know that children are accepting of others with allergies and anaphylaxis and are in fact eager to learn about it.

Encourage your child to talk to their class and friends about what they are allergic or anaphylactic to, in order to create awareness and promote a safe place for them. The more your child talks about their food allergies, the more others will understand and the more comfortable your child (and you!) will be.

## 4. Get to Know other Children with Allergies and Anaphylaxis

Take the opportunity to get to know other children with food allergies and anaphylaxis and organise social gatherings where you can all bring food that EVERYONE can safely eat. Your child will love it!

Don’t forget that other parents are apprehensive too, so invite those who don’t have allergies and anaphylaxis as well so their questions can be answered. 

Knowing who has allergies and anaphylaxis will benefit everyone when it comes to birthday parties so that alternative foods can be arranged.

## 5. Provide Special Treats or Other Non-edible Alternatives

Celebrating birthdays and other special occasions may be fun for most children but it can bring a tremendous amount of fear to children with food allergies and anaphylaxis. 

Your school will have guidelines as to what each classroom can bring for such occasions – there may be other children with varying allergies, so it’s best to check before sending along a treat box for your child to select from when they can’t eat what others are having. Be sure to label your child’s treat box with their name and specific allergies. If your school policy states that food is not permitted to be brought from home, it’s a good idea to discuss non-edible alternatives with your teacher.

Any child with food allergies or anaphylaxis will tell you that they don’t like missing out; nor do they like being “different” to their peers. A treat box (edible or non-edible) is a good way to make your child feel included…it’s also good for parents to know that their child isn’t left out of special events.



Managing food allergies and anaphylaxis can be challenging but following the tips above will help with easing your mind and giving your child confidence as they head into their primary school years. Primary school is an inclusive environment and is a place where all children can feel safe and actively participate in their learning journey. 

At Camp Australia, we care for many children with food allergies and anaphylaxis. Child safety is our **number one priority**, and we take this very seriously. Call our friendly team on 1300 105 343 to discuss your child’s requirements at [before and after school care](https://campaustralia.com.au/your-oshc) or [Rocketeers](https://www.campaustralia.com.au/rocketeers).


Here are our top 5 tips to managing your child’s food allergies or anaphylaxis at primary school so that your family’s introduction to school life is as seamless as possible:

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Top 5 Tips for Managing Food Allergies and Anaphylaxis When Starting Primary School

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Camp Australia


Camp Australia has clear protocols in place to manage the risk associated with COVID within services for the safety of the children attending our services and their families, the local community, those visiting our services (e.g. providers), and our dedicated team members. We follow state government health advice, and as communicated with families, our services will remain open for Rocketeers school holiday programs and before and after school care. 

**Important:**
If your child is unwell or showing symptoms of COVID, please ensure to keep them at home to minimise the risk of spread within our services. 

### Update: Friday, 21 January 2022

**SA Services Only – Staged Return for start of Term 1**

*Note: if you attend the following schools, you have received a different email* - Pembroke School, Immanuel Primary School and Calvary Lutheran Primary School (Rocketeers running 31 January) / Bethany Christian School (Rocketeers running until 4 February).

We have communicated to families via email following the announcement that there will be a [staged return to term 1](https://www.education.sa.gov.au/parents-and-families/covid-19-coronavirus/start-term-1-2022) for South Australian schools. We understand that this news may be upsetting, and we sincerely thank all South Australians for their resilience through these challenging times. 

As stated in the announcement, schools will remain open for children where it is not possible to access education at home. Similarly, Out of School Hours Care (OSHC) services can continue to operate before and after school care for any children that require it. 

Following the guidelines from the Department of Education, please see the following schedule for the staged return:

- Monday 31 January and Tuesday 1 February are preparation days. Schools will offer supervision to those children requiring care. Your OSHC will be open for before and after school care for any child requiring care.
- Wednesday 2 February, reception and Year 1 are back to face-to-face learning and Years 2 to 6 are back to remote learning. Your OSHC will be open for before and after school care.

To ensure all eligible families who meet the above eligibility are able to book the care that they need, we have **cancelled all previously made bookings from Monday 31 January – Friday 11 February (inclusive)**. Should you meet the above eligibility criteria and require Outside School Hours Care, **please visit the [Parent Portal](http://pp.campaustralia.com.au/) to book your care as you need it**. 

We apologise for the inconvenience this may cause to you but want to ensure we meet government guidelines and all children eligible and needing care are catered for. Furthermore, we want to reassure you that we are taking a careful and considered approach to our service delivery to ensure the safety of your children and our staff. 

We look forward to welcoming all our families back onsite on Monday, 14th February and your Your OSHC team has been busy preparing an exciting and engaging Term 1 program for your children. All activities will be COVID Safe, adhere to all health guidelines and follow COVID-19 cleaning practices. **Visit the [Parent Portal](http://pp.campaustralia.com.au/) to get your bookings in early** and avoid disappointment. 

### Update: Friday, 14 January 2022

**QLD Services Only – Delay for start of Term 1**

We have communicated to families via email, following [Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s announcement](https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/94234) on Sunday, 9 January 2022 that the start of Term 1 for Queensland schools has been delayed. The first day of term is now Monday, 7 February 2022. We understand that this news may be upsetting, and we sincerely thank all Queenslanders for their resilience through these challenging times. 

We will be open for Your OSHC in Queensland for children of essential workers and vulnerable children.

To ensure all eligible families who meet the above eligibility are able to book the care that they need, we have **cancelled all previously made bookings from Monday 24 January – Friday 4 February (inclusive)**. Should you meet the above eligibility criteria and require Outside School Hours Care, **please visit the [Parent Portal](https://pp.campaustralia.com.au/) to book your care as you need it**. 

We apologise for the inconvenience this may cause but want to ensure we meet government guidelines and all children eligible and needing care are catered for. Furthermore, we want to reassure you that we are taking a careful and considered approach to our service delivery to ensure the safety of your children and our staff. 

We look forward to welcoming all our Queensland families back on Monday 7 February and our Your OSHC team has been busy preparing an exciting and engaging Term 1 program for children. All activities will be COVID Safe, adhere to all health guidelines, and follow COVID-19 cleaning practices. Visit the **[Parent Portal](https://pp.campaustralia.com.au/) to get your bookings in early** and avoid disappointment.

### Update: Monday, 10 January 2022

The new year has brought us all new challenges already with the surge of the COVID Omicron variant within our communities. We have spent many hours preparing for the return of Rocketeers, not least of all to ensure we have very clear protocols in place to manage the increased risk of the presentation of Omicron in our services. Given the high levels of community transmission associated with Omicron around the country, the increased incidence of COVID-19 is inevitable.

**Staffing and Programming**

With the increase in COVID-19 cases, we ask you to be patient and understanding as there may also be increased disruptions to our Rocketeers programs due to staff shortages based on COVID-19 exposure and isolation requirements.

We understand the importance of quality and fun care for children, and while we are working hard to ensure we can support all our families, we will provide as much notice as possible should staff shortages force us to change the program, reduce the capacity of our services or, at worst, close a service. We will also work to provide you with alternative options.

The health and safety of children and our educators are of paramount importance to us. Rest assured we are taking all precautions to ensure our programs are as safe as possible, including more sun safe outdoor activities, reducing extended periods indoors, being mindful of opportunities to social distance, increased cleaning, and as much ventilation as possible.

**Checking In/Checking Out**

When dropping off and picking up children, we ask that State government department guidelines are adhered to, by wearing a mask, using the QR codes for check-in purposes at our services, and social distancing at all times when interacting with our educators. If a child is unwell or displaying any COVID-19 symptoms, please do not attend our service and follow State government health advice. 

**Booking Changes**

Due to the current uncertain environment, and to effectively plan staffing and programming, we request that if your care requirements change due to COVID, any bookings are cancelled as soon as you are aware. Bookings can be updated via the Parent Portal. 

**Changes to Cancellation Notice Periods for January Rocketeers**

During the January 2022 Rocketeers period, we will be waiving the cancellation notice periods in recognition of the current circumstances. 

We realise these are uncertain times and we want to assure that we will navigate them with families, together, as we continue to find the best pathway forward for all children, families, and the community. If you have any concerns or questions, please do not hesitate to contact your local service team.

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Knox Park Primary School has been using Camp Australia to provide Out of School Hours Care for nearly ten years now. During this time the OSHC space has changed significantly, and Camp Australia has led the way with innovation and improvement to benefit children, parents, staff and the school. We have found it to be a very inclusive program, allowing access for all children. Our school-based coordinators have provided consistency and quality, resulting in a well-renowned program that is always attractive to potential families looking to enrol in the school. We continue to receive positive feedback about the care, nurturing and learning experiences that Camp Australia provides. The School Council is happy with the ease that we continue to negotiate our contracts and look after our families by maintaining relatively low costs for users whilst providing a high-quality, engaging service. As a school, we appreciate the consistency that Camp Australia provides to our Out of School Hours Care program and have just rolled over our contract yet again.

Mark Hanson, Principal

We have been in partnership with Camp Australia since 2004 and have just resigned with them this year.  

We did investigate other companies but decided to stay with Camp Australia as they provide a fantastic program which our students love and look forward to attending.

We have watched the company evolve over the years and look forward to this next journey which we think will be very exciting for all involved.

The staff are wonderful and a pleasure to deal with at all levels and we cannot recommend them highly enough.


Tanya Elliott, Business Manager

The team at Camp Australia are brilliant. My child has special needs with the occasional meltdowns that come with it. Ash and the team are great in holding the meltdowns without calling me to leave work to come to get him.

They give excellent care and attention to all children that attend Camp Australia.
My child has a great time when he comes to Camp Australia in the mornings, afternoons and for Vacation Care in the holidays. My child has created a great bond with staff members.

The children would be lost if they were to leave.

Parent

My son loves attending OSHC and the staff has really managed his behaviour challenges beautifully. We are so grateful that you work with him in every way possible. It is all a Mum can ask for.

The Camp Australia team at St. Therese Mascot does a fantastic job taking care of the kids. My sons have been attending OSHC and Vacation Care for several years now and still enjoy their time there with the various activities and games planned for each session. Maddie does an amazing job coordinating the sessions and programs since we have been attending and the children look forward to their time there - in fact, the hardest part is getting them to leave and go home at the end of the day! Big thanks to the whole team who are all wonderful carers. The children would be lost if they were to leave.

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