Every school in England now needs an allergy policy. Here is why
What happened
From 1 September 2026, schools in England have new legal duties on allergy safety. The rules are widely known as Benedict's Law. The Department for Education published its statutory guidance on 6 July 2026, and the duties took effect at the start of this academic year. The legal basis is section 34 of the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026, which received Royal Assent on 29 April 2026. There are four main requirements. Schools must have a written whole-school allergy policy, publish it, including on the school website, and review it at least once a year. They must provide allergy awareness training for all staff. They must keep spare adrenaline auto-injectors for use in an emergency. And they must put Individual Healthcare Plans in place for pupils with allergies. The duties apply to state-funded schools in England, including maintained schools, academies and free schools, special schools and alternative provision. The law is named after Benedict Blythe, who was five years old. Benedict was allergic to cow's milk protein and died on 1 December 2021 after an allergic reaction at Barnack Primary School, near Stamford. An inquest jury concluded that his death was caused by accidental exposure to cow's milk protein, causing fatal anaphylaxis. Among the factors the jury found had probably contributed were a delay in giving him adrenaline, the opportunity for milk to be mixed up or cross-contaminated, and the fact that his allergy plan had not been shared with teaching staff. His mother, Helen Blythe, and the Benedict Blythe Foundation campaigned for the change in the law. Tracey Dunn, Education Manager at Anaphylaxis UK, said schools "now have clear, unambiguous guidance that will keep students living with allergies safe".
Why this matters
Food allergies in children are common, and the numbers are easy to underestimate. The Benedict Blythe Foundation's figures suggest there are, on average, around two children with allergies in every classroom. Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction that can affect breathing and blood pressure within minutes. The treatment is adrenaline, given by injection into the outer thigh, and the single most important factor in how it turns out is how quickly that adrenaline is given. That is why the details in this law are not bureaucracy. Every one of the four requirements maps onto something that has gone wrong in real cases. A written and published policy means parents can see what a school actually does, rather than hoping. Staff training means the adult standing nearest a collapsing child recognises what is happening and does not hesitate. Spare adrenaline auto-injectors mean a reaction is survivable even if a child's own device is at home, out of date, or in a bag on the other side of the building. And an Individual Healthcare Plan means the information about a child's allergy reaches the people who actually teach and supervise them, rather than sitting in an office file. The Foundation's research suggested that about half of schools in England did not have spare emergency allergy medication, and around 70% did not have all of the measures that are now mandatory. If those figures are anywhere near right, this is a substantial change rather than a formalisation of existing good practice. One more point deserves emphasis, because it surprises people. The Foundation's research indicates that up to 30% of serious allergic reactions happen in children who were not previously known to have an allergy at all. So a school's preparedness is not only about the children on the allergy register. It is about any child.
What the evidence actually says
It is worth separating the parts of this that are settled from the parts that remain to be seen. What is settled is the clinical evidence. Prompt adrenaline is the correct treatment for anaphylaxis, and delay is associated with worse outcomes. That is not controversial, and it is why coroners' reports in allergy deaths return to it repeatedly. What is also established is the legal position. These are statutory duties now, not recommendations. Schools are required to comply. What is not yet known is how well it will work in practice. A policy on a website is not the same as a member of lunchtime staff who knows where the auto-injectors are kept and is confident enough to use one. Training varies in quality. Turnover of staff means training has to be repeated, not done once. The statistics from the Benedict Blythe Foundation should be read as campaigning research rather than official statistics. That does not mean they are wrong, and the broad picture they describe is consistent with what allergy charities and coroners have reported for years. It does mean the precise percentages are best treated as indicative. It is also fair to say that no policy eliminates risk. Benedict's Law makes a repeat of specific, identified failures much less likely. It cannot make a school allergen-free, and pretending otherwise would do families no favours. What can reasonably be expected is this: fewer children whose allergy plan never reaches their teacher, fewer schools with no adrenaline on site, and fewer staff who freeze because nobody ever told them what anaphylaxis looks like. Those are meaningful gains.
Qurexa perspective
We are a healthcare logistics company, and adrenaline auto-injectors are one of the things families ask us about, so this is squarely in our territory. The most common practical problem we come across is not families forgetting allergies exist. It is expiry dates. Adrenaline auto-injectors expire, usually after 12 to 18 months, and an expired device is not something to rely on in an emergency. It is very easy to have two in the house, both out of date, and not realise until the moment you need one. The standard advice from allergy charities is to carry two in-date auto-injectors at all times, because a second dose is sometimes needed while waiting for an ambulance. So the useful bit of housekeeping, especially at the start of a school year, is to check the dates on every device your child has: the ones at home, the ones in the school bag, and the ones the school holds for your child. Then set a reminder a month before the earliest expiry so the replacement is ordered in good time rather than in a panic. If you are a Qurexa customer and adrenaline auto-injectors are on your repeat prescription, do talk to us about timing your deliveries so replacements arrive before the old ones run out. It is a small thing that removes a genuinely dangerous gap. We would add one thing we cannot help with, and it matters more than anything we can. Knowing how to use the device is not the same as owning it. Practice with a trainer device, and make sure anyone who looks after your child has practised too.
Practical advice
For parents and carers: Ask to see your school's allergy policy. It should now be published, including on the website. If you cannot find it, ask. Check that your child has an Individual Healthcare Plan if they have an allergy, and that it is up to date. Ask specifically who has seen it. The inquest into Benedict Blythe's death found his allergy plan had not been shared with teaching staff. Check every auto-injector's expiry date now, and diarise the next one. Make sure the school holds what it needs for your child, and that supply teachers and lunchtime staff are covered by the arrangements, not just the class teacher. Ask what happens on trips, at after-school clubs and on sports days. These are the situations where routines break down. For everyone, the signs of anaphylaxis are worth knowing: swelling of the throat or tongue, difficulty breathing or noisy breathing, feeling faint or collapsing, and a sudden widespread rash. If you suspect anaphylaxis, use an adrenaline auto-injector immediately if one is available, then call 999 and say the word "anaphylaxis". Lay the person flat and raise their legs. Do not stand them up, even if they feel better. Always call 999 after giving adrenaline, even if the person seems to recover. Symptoms can return.
What to know
From 1 September 2026, state-funded schools in England must have a published whole-school allergy policy reviewed annually, provide allergy awareness training for all staff, hold spare adrenaline auto-injectors, and put Individual Healthcare Plans in place for pupils with allergies. The statutory guidance was published on 6 July 2026, under section 34 of the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026. The rules are known as Benedict's Law, after Benedict Blythe, aged five, who died on 1 December 2021 after accidental exposure to cow's milk protein at school. An inquest found that a delay in giving adrenaline, the possibility of milk being mixed up, and his allergy plan not being shared with teaching staff had probably contributed to his death. The Benedict Blythe Foundation's research suggested around half of English schools lacked spare emergency allergy medication and around 70% did not have all the now-mandatory measures, so this is a real change rather than a formality. Up to 30% of serious allergic reactions are thought to occur in children not previously known to have an allergy, which is why preparedness matters for every school, not just those with pupils on an allergy register. The practical action for families this term is simple: read your school's policy, check the Individual Healthcare Plan has actually reached the staff who teach your child, and check every auto-injector expiry date today. Sources: Anaphylaxis UK, "Department of Education publishes new statutory guidance on allergies in schools", https://www.anaphylaxis.org.uk/department-of-education-publishes-new-statutory-guidance-on-allergies-in-schools/; Anaphylaxis UK, "Benedict's Law: New Allergy Safety Requirements 2026 for Schools", https://www.anaphylaxis.org.uk/education/benedicts-law/; Allergy UK, "Benedict's Law", https://www.allergyuk.org/information-and-support/at-school/for-schools/benedicts-law/; Anaphylaxis UK, "Our statement regarding the inquest of Benedict Blythe", https://www.anaphylaxis.org.uk/our-statement-regarding-the-inquest-of-benedict-blythe/ This article is for general information and does not replace advice from a doctor, pharmacist or other qualified healthcare professional. If you think someone is having a severe allergic reaction, use an adrenaline auto-injector if available and call 999 immediately.
Related articles
Ofsted has changed how it inspects schools this term
Ofsted's updated inspection materials came into use at the start of this term. The changes apply to inspections from September 2026, and they were published on…
Student nurses will no longer pay upfront to get to placement
On 1 September 2026 the government announced that healthcare students in England will get money up front to cover the cost of travelling to and staying near the…