A FIVE-YEAR-OLD boy who suffers a severe allergic reaction to nuts is being taught at home because teachers have been advised not to administer his medication.

Single mum Jacqueline Slater has been trying to get her son Aaron a place in a school since last September, but because of his allergy she cannot find a school willing to accept him.

If Aaron comes into contact with nuts or any nut derivative, his face swells and his airways block off and he needs an early injection of adrenaline or the effects could prove fatal.

Jacqueline, of Burdett Street, Burnley, successfully appealed for a place at Rosegrove Infants, but claims she has been going round in circles trying to get an agreement for him to be taught there.

The former auxiliary nurse said: "Firstly they insisted on pen injections so I arranged that. Then I had to pick him up each lunchtime and not bring him back until school started in the afternoon, but that would involve eight trips to the school each day and I have three other children.

"Finally, I got a letter just before Easter saying the teachers had been advised not to take responsibility for giving him injections if he had a reaction."

Jacqueline, 31, was living in Blackpool when Aaron should have started school, but left because youngsters found out about his allergy and started posting peanuts through the letterbox.

"I was terrified of what might happen - they could have killed him," said Jacqueline.

Jacqueline's other children Tara, 11, Jerome, nine and Ashley, eight, all go to Lowerhouse Junior School, but don't have the same allergy.

Rosegrove head teacher Mrs Angela Barker said: "We have been warned by our union if we volunteer to give the injections we leave ourselves in a very vulnerable legal position. It is a catch 22 situation.

"Even if he has packed lunches, we cannot guarantee another child is not going to offer him something with a nut product in it."

A spokeswoman for Lancashire's education department said it was actively looking to find a school close the Aaron's home.

"There are some other children in the county with this problem and we do rely on parents working closely with the school."

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