By Stewart Hansen, Founder and Principal Instructor at Vital Signs First.
Since 1 September 2026, schools in England have been working under new statutory guidance on allergy safety, widely known as Benedict’s Law. The term is under way, so the question for most schools is no longer “what’s coming?” but “have we actually got everything in place?” This guide sets out what the guidance expects and gives you a simple checklist to test your arrangements.
What is Benedict’s Law?
Benedict’s Law is named in memory of Benedict Blythe, a five-year-old who died after an allergic reaction at school in 2021. Following a long campaign by his family, section 34 of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 strengthened schools’ duty to support pupils with medical conditions. The Department for Education then published its statutory guidance, Allergy safety in schools, in July 2026, and it came into force at the start of this academic year.
The guidance applies to schools in England, including maintained schools, academies and pupil referral units. Governing bodies and academy trusts must have regard to it when meeting their legal duties.
What schools now need to have in place
- A dedicated allergy safety policy. A standalone policy, published and kept under review, setting out how allergy risks are managed and how staff respond in an emergency.
- Allergy awareness training for staff. Not just first aiders. Teachers, teaching assistants, lunchtime supervisors, office staff, kitchen teams, caretakers and drivers all need to know how to spot a severe reaction and what to do.
- Spare adrenaline devices. Schools are expected to hold spare adrenaline auto-injectors on site, stored where they can be reached quickly.
- Individual healthcare plans. Up-to-date plans for pupils with known allergies, shared with the staff who need them.
- Recording and reviewing incidents. Allergic reactions and near misses should be recorded, investigated and used to improve the plan.
The guidance also encourages schools to run allergy emergency drills, in the same way you would practise a fire drill. Ofsted’s inspection arrangements now look at how schools support pupils with medical conditions, including their allergy safety policies.
A quick checklist for your school
- Is your allergy safety policy written, published and dated for review?
- Has every member of staff completed allergy awareness training, including part-time, supply and support staff?
- Do you hold spare adrenaline devices, and does everyone know where they are?
- Are individual healthcare plans up to date, and do the right staff know about them?
- Do you have a simple way to record reactions and near misses?
- Have you practised what happens in an allergy emergency?
If you answered “no” or “not sure” to any of these, it’s a gap worth closing now rather than after an incident or an inspection.
Know the signs of anaphylaxis
Anaphylaxis is a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction. Signs can include swelling of the face, lips or throat, difficulty breathing or wheezing, feeling faint or collapsing, and hives, vomiting or stomach pain. If a severe reaction is suspected, follow the pupil’s allergy action plan, use an adrenaline auto-injector without delay and call 999. The NHS has clear guidance on anaphylaxis. Reading is a good start, but hands-on practice is what builds the confidence to act quickly.
Benedict’s Law FAQs
Does Benedict’s Law apply to nurseries, colleges and universities?
The statutory guidance is aimed at schools in England. However, nurseries, day care settings, colleges and universities carry the same duty of care for the young people with them, and the same training gives their staff the confidence to act.
Does it apply in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland?
No, Benedict’s Law currently applies in England only.
Is paediatric first aid enough on its own?
Paediatric first aid covers recognising and responding to severe allergic reactions as part of a wider syllabus, which makes it ideal for your designated first aiders. Benedict’s Law asks for allergy awareness across the whole staff team, so most schools will want both.
Training that fits around your timetable
We offer allergy awareness and anaphylaxis training in two formats, so you can choose what suits your staff:
- Online: self-paced, taking around two hours, so staff can complete it around the working day.
- In person: around two hours at your premises, ideal for INSET days and staff training sessions.
We also run paediatric first aid courses for schools, nurseries and childcare settings across Milton Keynes, Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Cambridgeshire.
Get in touch, email [email protected] or call 0300 303 0724 to talk about getting your whole team trained.
This article is general guidance and is not a substitute for the Department for Education’s statutory guidance, accredited training or professional advice. In an emergency, always call 999.