Benedict’s Law: What Schools Need to Know from September 2026

From September 2026, allergy safety in schools across England is changing.

New statutory guidance, widely known as Benedict’s Law, introduces stronger requirements designed to make schools safer for children and young people living with allergies.

For headteachers, school leaders, governors and staff, this means allergy awareness can no longer be treated as something that only concerns the school first aider or the staff members who directly care for a child with a known allergy. Schools need to be prepared to prevent allergic reactions where possible, recognise when a reaction is happening and respond effectively in an emergency.

What is Benedict’s Law?

Benedict’s Law is named in memory of Benedict Blythe, who was just five years old when he died following an allergic reaction at school in 2021. Following Benedict’s death, his family campaigned for improvements to allergy safety in schools so that children with allergies would receive more consistent protection.

The campaign has helped bring about significant changes to the way allergies are managed within schools in England. From the start of the 2026/27 academic year, new statutory allergy guidance comes into effect, placing much greater emphasis on allergy policies, staff awareness, emergency preparedness and the individual needs of pupils with allergies.

What Does Benedict’s Law Mean for Schools?

Schools will need to take a whole-school approach to allergy safety.

Key areas include:

• A clear whole-school allergy policy

• Appropriate arrangements for pupils with allergies, including Individual Healthcare Plans

• Improved awareness of allergies across the school

• Staff who can recognise the signs and symptoms of an allergic reaction and anaphylaxis

• Appropriate allergy awareness and emergency response training

• Access to spare adrenaline auto-injectors (AAIs) for emergency use in accordance with the new requirements

The important point is that allergy safety is a responsibility that extends across the school.

An allergic reaction doesn’t necessarily happen while a first aider is standing nearby. It could happen in a classroom, playground, dining hall, sports field, school minibus or during a school trip.

That is why wider staff awareness is so important.

Recognising Anaphylaxis

Anaphylaxis is a serious and potentially life-threatening allergic reaction which requires an immediate emergency response. Symptoms can develop rapidly and may include breathing difficulties, swelling of the tongue or throat, wheezing, persistent coughing, dizziness, collapse or a sudden change in a child’s behaviour or responsiveness. Staff need to be able to recognise when an allergic reaction may be becoming an emergency and understand what they need to do next.

In a genuine anaphylaxis emergency, every second matters!

Adrenaline Auto-Injectors in Schools

Adrenaline is the first-line emergency treatment for anaphylaxis. Many pupils diagnosed as being at risk of anaphylaxis will have their own prescribed adrenaline auto-injectors. Schools also need to understand the requirements surrounding spare emergency adrenaline auto-injectors. Simply having an auto-injector available isn’t enough!

Staff need the knowledge and confidence to recognise anaphylaxis and understand how an adrenaline auto-injector is used.

Practical training using trainer devices can help remove some of the uncertainty staff may otherwise experience when faced with a real emergency.

Does Every Member of Staff Need Allergy Awareness?

The direction of the new requirements is clear - allergy safety needs to extend beyond designated first aiders.

School staff may be the first person present when a pupil begins experiencing a serious allergic reaction. That could include teachers and teaching assistants, but also lunchtime supervisors, administrative staff, caretakers, sports staff, minibus drivers and others working within the school environment.

Making allergy awareness part of your whole-school approach means more people can recognise the warning signs and know how to respond.

Is Your School Ready for September 2026?

Schools shouldn’t wait until an allergic emergency occurs to find out whether staff know what to do.

Now is a good opportunity to review:

• Your school’s current allergy policy and procedures

• Individual Healthcare Plans for pupils with allergies

• How allergy information is communicated to staff

• Staff allergy and anaphylaxis training

• Access to adrenaline auto-injectors

• What staff would actually do if someone developed anaphylaxis

Ask a simple question:

If a child suffered anaphylaxis in your school today, would the staff around them recognise it and know what to do?

If the answer isn’t a confident yes, training should be a priority.

Anaphylaxis & Adrenaline Auto-Injector Training in Wiltshire

At Wiltshire First Aid Training, we provide practical Anaphylaxis and Adrenaline Auto-Injector training to help schools and their staff understand allergies and respond confidently to anaphylaxis emergencies.

Training can help staff understand the signs and symptoms of allergic reactions, recognise anaphylaxis, understand the emergency response and become familiar with adrenaline auto-injectors.

With the new requirements taking effect from September 2026, now is the time for schools to review their arrangements and ensure their teams are prepared.

Need anaphylaxis and allergy training for your school?

Contact Wiltshire First Aid Training to discuss training for your staff and help make sure your school is ready for the changes.