All schools in England will soon be required to provide allergy awareness training for staff and maintain emergency medication to improve student safety.
New statutory guidance issued by the Department for Education will require all schools in England to introduce compulsory allergy awareness training for staff members. The move aims to strengthen safety measures for children who live with food allergies and other severe allergic conditions while attending school.
Under the new guidance, schools will also need to keep spare adrenaline auto-injectors available for emergency situations, including cases where a child may suffer a severe allergic reaction without a previously known diagnosis. The policy has received support from lawmakers across political parties and is linked to a campaign known as Benedict’s Law, which calls for stronger and more consistent allergy protections in schools.
The campaign is named after Benedict Blythe, a five-year-old from Stamford in Lincolnshire who died in December 2021 after being accidentally exposed to cow’s milk protein at school. An investigation later found that his symptoms were not recognised quickly enough and that life-saving medication was not administered in time.
Health organisations estimate that about 680,000 children in England are currently living with allergies. Authorities also reported that allergy-related illnesses and medical appointments caused around 500,000 lost school days last year.
While many schools already follow allergy safety procedures, the new rules will make such measures mandatory nationwide. The government hopes the policy will prevent medical emergencies, improve safety standards, and ensure children with allergies can attend school with greater confidence.
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