This is how primary schools ensure that children with coeliac disease can take part as normal

In primary schools, mealtimes play a major role. From treats and Easter breakfasts to baking gingerbread cookies and school trips, these are valuable, enjoyable occasions. But for children with coeliac disease, these are also situations in which things can go wrong. Coeliac disease is an autoimmune condition triggered by eating gluten. Gluten is a protein found in the grains wheat, rye, barley and spelt, as well as in all products made from them. When these children eat gluten, the small intestine becomes damaged. Even a crumb can cause symptoms such as abdominal pain, fatigue and headaches.

So the question is: how can we work together to ensure that these pupils can eat safely and take part as normal?

Two practical tools

Two new, practical tools are now available specifically for this purpose: a poster for the staff room and an agreement card for parents and teachers. These were developed to support primary schools in organising safe and inclusive mealtimes at school.

“Do you understand gluten-free?”

As part of the “Do you understand gluten-free?” campaign, the Dutch Coeliac Association (NCV) sent this poster to all primary schools in the Netherlands. Through this campaign, the NCV aims to raise greater awareness of coeliac disease and create more understanding of the gluten-free diet. Because the more people understand what coeliac disease is and how important it is to follow a gluten-free diet strictly, the better.

By also drawing attention to this in primary schools, we can work together to create an environment in which pupils with coeliac disease feel safe and are not excluded. They can then, just like every other child, take part in treats, parties and other mealtimes without worry.

Bringing treats to class

Bringing treats to class is great fun, but it is not a celebration for everyone. If you have coeliac disease, for example, you often cannot eat what your classmates can. In the animation below from the NCV, you can see how to deal with this. It explains what coeliac disease is, what you can and cannot eat, and what you can do to take one another into account.

For more information about coeliac disease and the gluten-free diet, visit www.glutenvrij.nl.