Mura Ahmed, Times Online, September 28, 2007

A boy who suffers from a severe nut allergy has been excluded from school because he is considered to be a health and safety hazard.

Four days into his first term at his new school, George Hall-Lambert was sent home after teachers at Howden School near Goole in North Humberside discovered his allergy. He is being taught at home in the nearby village of Eastrington until the matter is resolved.

His mother Judith Hall-Lambert, 37, said: “I am absolutely appalled. It is a shambles. The school should be able to deal with children like George. He is being discriminated against because he has a nut allergy. He is a bright kid and this could really set back his education.”

George’s nut allergy was diagnosed when he was 18 months old. He carries an Epipen, with which he has been taught to use to inject adrenalin into his thigh should he suffer an allergic reaction, although if he suffered a bad anaphylactic attack it could render him unconscious and he would need assistance.

Mrs Hall-Lambert said: “Howden School is saying they have no teachers in place to deal with George and nobody could take charge of his Epipen because staff don't know how to use it.”

He had no problems during his time at Eastrington Primary School, and it was only when he transferred to Howden School earlier this month that his allergy became an issue.

Mrs Hall-Lambert, who has three other children, said: “I told Howden about his allergy before he went and the junior school forwarded a file with notes on his medical condition. He had only been there four days when I was called into school to see the head teacher as a matter of urgency.

“He told me he was asking me to take George home as the school had no policies in place to deal with George's nut allergy.”

George wears a tag around his neck to alert people to his allergies in case of an emergency. He is also allergic to latex and is asthmatic.

He is receiving 15 hours of tuition a week at home, five hours of which his parents have to pay for.

A spokeswoman for the Anaphylaxis Campaign, which was set up to raise awareness of life-threatening food allergies such as nut intolerance, said: “This is way out of the ordinary. The school should have a policy in place to deal with this.”

The local authority, East Riding of Yorkshire, said that when the school became aware of George’s nut allergy it was agreed that he should be sent home until a support system had been put in place to ensure his health and safety. A spokesman said: “The school is following guidance from the local authority and the Government in ensuring that George can access his entitlement to education in a safe environment.”

Howden School’s head teacher, Andrew Williams, said: “We are working with the parents, health professionals and representatives of the local authority to reach an acceptable solution to this situation as soon as possible. My main concern is to ensure that we meet the health and welfare needs of all students.”