The Free From Food Co

09/10/2025

09/10/2025

Sion School ranks in the top 2% nationally for student progress!

Our Value Added (VA) score results, show that students at SION achieve, on average, one full GCSE grade higher than predicted. That’s real progress and a powerful testament to our teaching, support, and student dedication.

🌟 Highlights include:
English: +1.3 VA – Top 1% nationally
Business Studies: +1.4 VA – Top 2%
Food Tech & Further Maths: +1.5 VA – Top 3%

📖 Read more in our latest article: https://www.sionschool.org.uk/2025/09/30/sion-schools-value-added-score-place-it-among-the-top-2-nationally/

07/10/2025

Just two hours a week in nature can reduce stress, boost mood, and improve focus. Yet many children spend less than 30 minutes a day outdoors.

At Sion School, we are always exploring ways help our young people connect with the natural world.

More recently, we have introduced:

Visits to the Knepp Wilding Project
Equine therapy to support teenage mental health
Mindfulness retreats
Beach and forest school programmes

Nature heals. It grounds. It reconnects. And at SION, it’s part of every child’s journey.

07/10/2025

They really do

Children with food allergies carry enough worry about without the additional weight of exclusion.

Excluding a child ‘for safety reasons’ may seem like protective measures, but they can also do harm:

- 💔 By isolating them emotionally.
- 💔 Implying they don’t fit in with others.
- 💔 This sends the message that they are ‘less than,’ when in fact, they should be receiving more support to ensure they remain included.

We were recently contacted by an allergy parent who told us,

“Our daughter’s school has a ‘Special Street Food’ menu coming up, and every child who tries one of the dishes gets entered into a prize draw to win a £10 voucher. Children allergic to one or more of the top 14 allergens won’t be catered for, so once again children with food allergies are left out.

“Food is meant to be enjoyed. It is at the heart of life, and when children with food allergies are left out, it is very isolating.

“Her school says it wants every child to feel included - with plain uniforms and no big-name branded coats or trainers, to keep costs fair for everyone. Yet school attendance rewards, actively discriminate my child and those with medical conditions. They praise and reward children who never get ill or need medical appointments. It blows my mind that no one thinks about the children who are left behind, and yet children with food allergies are once again excluded.”

This is why we created so everyone is included. Has your child’s school signed up to Allergy School?

It is a suite of FREE and expert-led resources and training designed and developed by Natasha’s Foundation and endorsed by the Dept of Education - to help schools safeguard, empower, include and protect allergic pupils whilst in their care. Visit allergyschool.org.uk to find out more.

02/10/2025

24/09/2025

Just amazing

In just the last 3 months, our small volunteer-led organisation has achieved so much — from launching Benedict’s Law and presenting the Schools Allergy Safety Bill in Parliament, to uniting national leaders, creating policy papers, meeting Ministers, and launching the UK’s first school allergy chatbot. We even reached 13,000 signatures on a petition that made it to Downing Street.

We do this in memory of Benedict — in the belief that no more children should die in school from allergy, and that by channelling his kindness we can help keep your children safe as they enter and pass through school.

Momentum is building, and this is only the beginning. A heartfelt thank you to all the brilliant organisations working with us to drive change. 💙

24/09/2025

24/09/2025

This is really positive step for awareness

A new storyline on the BBC school drama Waterloo Road, is shining a spotlight on life-threatening food allergies in school.

Just released, series 16 features a powerful new storyline about Hope Drake, a student with a severe dairy allergy who experiences anaphylaxis when in secondary school.

Natasha’s Foundation provided advice and guidance to the scriptwriters on the food allergy storyline and how to respond to a severe food allergic reaction. The scriptwriters wanted to highlight the real issues, risks and challenges that young people with food allergies face.

“Too often food allergies are misrepresented in the media, but getting the facts right about the realities and dangers of anaphylaxis, will help raise awareness in society, that I hope will save lives.” – Tanya Ednan-Laperouse OBE

To coincide with Waterloo Road’s food allergy storyline, Natasha’s Foundation has launched FREE Allergy School resources for secondary schools to help increase awareness and understanding of food allergies.

This will give teachers and staff the practical tools they need to keep their allergic pupils empowered, included, and protected.

👉 Schools can sign up to download FREE resources by clicking the link below:

https://www.allergyschool.org.uk/secondary-school-food-allergy-resources/

📺 You can watch Series 16 of Waterloo Road now on BBC iPlayer; or the storyline airs BBC One, Tue 30 Sept, 10:40pm

24/09/2025

We know searching for food when you have allergies and intolerances can be difficult to find. So we've put together a list of food stands at the who offer alternatives:

🍔 Burger unit - Gluten free beef burger, Vegan burger
🌯 Mexican Burrito - Gluten free & dairy-free options available
☕ Coffee & Churros- Gluten free tray bake, Alternative milks
🥙 Greek - Gluten free (not coeliacs), Vegetarian
🦆 Duck Wraps - Gluten free
🍕 Pizza - Dairy free & gluten free
🐔 Chicken Tenders & Loaded fries - Fries Dairy & Gluten free
🍴 Vintage Doritos - Nut and sesame free
🐖 Hog Roast - Gluten & Dairy free. GF buns available
🥞 Coffee & Crepes - Gluten free crepes
🍜 Japanese - Katsu chicken is gluten free, vegan teriyaki
🍟 Loaded fries - Gluten free and vegetarian options

Fivestar Catering

24/09/2025

Shout out to my newest followers! Excited to have you onboard!

Helen Crabb, Malcolm Dickinson, Christopher Tees