ALEX DAVIES-JONES, MP for Pontypridd, visited St Michael’s R.C Primary School on Friday, March 20 to present a certificate to pupils and staff in recognition of their efforts to keep children with food allergies safe.
Ms Davies-Jones was taken on a tour of the school by pupils, visiting different classes to see their work and find out how they support and keep their friends with allergies safe.
She then gave a talk to Year 6 students about what it’s like to be an MP, and presented the school with a certificate from The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation, the UK’s food allergy charity, for ‘being allergy-friendly and committing to empower, include and protect all children in their care’.
The school was one of the first to adopt Allergy School, free educational resources and training from Natasha’s Foundation, designed to improve awareness of food allergies in schools.
During the visit, Ms Davies-Jones spoke to pupils to find out what a difference the new free educational programme had made.
Ms Davies-Jones said: “I was thrilled to visit St Michael’s R.C Primary school and hear about how the students have been learning about food allergies and why the vital importance of allergy awareness.
“The school has been doing essential work to support students with allergies, including working with The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation who provide free food allergy awareness resources to schools.”
Last month, pupils from the school presented Welsh First Minister Eluned Morgan with handwritten letters about the importance of food allergy awareness in schools.
In September, new statutory allergy guidance will be introduced for schools in England, which includes compulsory provision of spare adrenaline auto-injectors (AAIs) – life-saving medication to treat a severe allergic reaction, allergy awareness training for teachers, and all schools to have a dedicated allergy policy.
Ms Davies-Jones is calling for comparable guidance for schools in Wales.
Joanna Taylor, Headteacher of St Michael’s R.C Primary School, added: “We were delighted to meet with Alex and give her insight into how we’ve been working to protect our pupils with food allergies.
We have been using the Allergy School resources since the launch of the programme last February, and my staff are now far more confident having conversations about food allergy concerns.
“I know first-hand how important this is, as I have food allergies myself, to nuts and fish, and I rely on those around me to understand how they can help keep me safe.”
Around one in 13 children has a food allergy and 20% of food allergic reactions occur in schools.
However, research carried out by the NASUWT teachers’ union, in collaboration with Natasha’s Foundation, shows that 67% of teachers have had no allergy awareness training, and one in five teachers has never been taught how to use and administer an AAI.(3)
To help fill this knowledge gap, Natasha’s Foundation developed the £1million Allergy School programme, a suite of free educational resources and training designed to transform understanding of food allergies in schools so that children with food allergies feel empowered, included, and protected.
Since its launch in February 2025, the high quality, free resources have been welcomed and utilised by both senior leaders and teachers, guiding them on how to become more food allergy aware and inclusive, and helping with safeguarding.
Over 22,000 people have now engaged with Allergy School by signing up for the free resources or completing free allergy training delivered through partner organisation High Speed Training.
Initially aimed at primary schools, the programme has been extended to secondary schools, early years and out of school settings, and will soon move into higher education.
Natasha’s Foundation hopes the visit will help raise awareness of food allergies and encourage more schools across Wales to sign up to the free Allergy School programme.
Tanya Ednan-Laperouse OBE, founder of The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation and Natasha’s mum, added: “We recognise that schools are seeing more children with food allergies come through their doors than ever before and the challenges that can bring.
“Allergy School helps to improve understanding and awareness of food allergies and just how serious they can be – and we are delighted that so many schools and teachers have already downloaded these free resources.
“We would urge schools across Wales to make use of these free resources, so that all children can be fully involved in activities in and out of the classroom. Simply go to www.allergyschoool.og.uk to download for free.”
