Benedict’s Law: What Schools Need to Know for September 2026
Allergy safety in schools is changing.
From September 2026, schools in England will be working under strengthened allergy safety requirements introduced through the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 and new Department for Education statutory guidance.
Commonly referred to as Benedict’s Law, the changes are designed to create a more consistent approach to preventing, recognising and responding to allergic reactions and anaphylaxis in schools.
For school leaders, governors and staff, this means allergy safety can no longer sit solely with the school nurse, designated first aiders or the staff members who directly support a child with an allergy.
It requires a whole-school approach.
What is Benedict’s Law?
Benedict’s Law is the commonly used name for new allergy safety measures introduced following the death of Benedict Blythe, who suffered a fatal allergic reaction while at school.
The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 introduces statutory allergy safety duties for schools, including the requirement to have an allergy safety policy.
The Department for Education has also published dedicated Allergy Safety in Schools statutory guidance, setting out how schools should support pupils with allergies and reduce the risk of serious allergic reactions.
For maintained schools, academies and pupil referral units covered by the guidance, allergy safety should now form part of the school’s ongoing policies, training and emergency arrangements.
What do schools need to do?
The new framework goes considerably further than simply knowing which pupils have allergies.
Schools should have arrangements covering several key areas.
1. Create and publish an allergy safety policy
Schools need a dedicated allergy safety policy setting out how allergies are managed.
This should cover areas such as:
- identifying pupils with allergies;
- preventing exposure to known allergens;
- emergency procedures;
- medication;
- staff responsibilities;
- school trips and activities;
- catering arrangements;
- staff training; and
- recording and reviewing allergy incidents.
The allergy safety policy must be reviewed at least annually and published by the school.
2. Provide allergy awareness training for staff
One of the most significant changes is the expectation for whole-school allergy awareness training.
The Department for Education guidance says that staff should receive allergy awareness training regularly and at least annually.
This is not limited to designated first aiders.
Staff who may be present while pupils are on site can include teachers, teaching assistants, office staff, lunchtime supervisors, catering teams, site staff, temporary or supply staff, agency workers and regular volunteers.
Schools also need arrangements to ensure new staff receive appropriate information and training.
3. Understand that first aid training alone is not sufficient
Schools may already have excellent First Aid at Work, Emergency First Aid or Paediatric First Aid provision.
That remains extremely important.
However, the Department for Education guidance makes clear that first aid training alone is not sufficient to provide the wider allergy awareness expected across the school.
This is because allergy safety is about more than treating an emergency.
Staff also need to understand:
- allergy risks and common triggers;
- how to recognise different allergic reactions;
- how the school’s allergy procedures operate;
- Individual Healthcare Plans and Allergy Action Plans;
- where emergency medication is stored;
- how to reduce the risk of exposure;
- how incidents and near misses should be recorded; and
- how pupils with allergies can be safely included in normal school life.
This is why dedicated allergy awareness training should sit alongside, rather than replace, existing first aid provision.
Does every member of school staff need training?
The guidance takes a whole-school approach.
Staff who are present while pupils are scheduled to be on site should receive appropriate allergy awareness training.
The reason is simple: an allergic reaction may happen in a classroom, playground, dining hall, corridor, sports lesson, trip or after-school activity.
The closest adult may not be one of the school’s designated first aiders.
A wider level of staff awareness means more people can recognise that something is wrong, know where emergency support is located and understand what action needs to be taken.
How often should schools provide allergy training?
The Department for Education guidance says staff should receive allergy awareness training regularly and at least annually.
That makes allergy training different from many regulated first aid qualifications that may have a three-year certification period.
Schools should therefore consider how allergy awareness will fit into their normal annual training cycle.
Possible opportunities could include:
- INSET days;
- annual staff training;
- twilight sessions;
- new-starter induction;
- catch-up sessions; and
- trust-wide training programmes.
Multi-Academy Trusts may also benefit from coordinating training across several schools to create a consistent approach.
What about pupils with known allergies?
Schools need systems for identifying pupils who require additional support and, where appropriate, creating Individual Healthcare Plans.
These arrangements should clearly communicate the pupil’s allergy, emergency treatment requirements and the actions staff should take if a reaction occurs.
Schools should also consider how this information is shared appropriately with the staff who need it while protecting the pupil’s personal information.
What about adrenaline auto-injectors?
Emergency adrenaline is a critical part of responding to anaphylaxis.
Staff allergy-awareness training should include understanding:
- when adrenaline may be required;
- where emergency medication is located;
- how emergency devices are used;
- the importance of calling 999;
- monitoring the casualty; and
- handing over to the emergency services.
Practical training can be particularly valuable because it allows staff to become familiar with training versions of adrenaline devices before they ever need to respond to a real emergency.
Organisations requiring a regulated practical qualification can also view our Anaphylaxis Training Courses.
What should schools do now?
Schools do not need to wait for an allergic emergency before reviewing their arrangements.
A useful starting point is to ask:
- Do we have a dedicated allergy safety policy?
- Is it published and reviewed annually?
- Do we know which pupils have allergies?
- Are appropriate Individual Healthcare Plans in place?
- Do staff know where emergency medication is kept?
- Have all relevant staff received allergy awareness training?
- Do new, temporary and supply staff receive appropriate allergy information?
- Do staff understand how to recognise anaphylaxis?
- Do we record and review allergic reactions and near misses?
- Is allergy safety included when planning trips, catering, activities and after-school provision?
If the answer to any of these is unclear, now is a good time to review your arrangements.
How Frontline Training Can Help
Frontline Training provides Allergy & Anaphylaxis Awareness Training for Schools designed to support schools implementing the new allergy safety guidance.
Training can be delivered on-site to whole staff groups and can include allergy awareness, recognition of anaphylaxis, emergency response, school procedures, Individual Healthcare Plans and practical familiarisation with emergency adrenaline devices where appropriate.
We can support individual schools as well as larger organisations and Multi-Academy Trusts that need a coordinated approach across several sites.
Already have qualified first aiders?
Great — keep them.
Dedicated allergy awareness training is designed to complement your existing First Aid and Paediatric First Aid provision, not replace it.
View our Benedict’s Law Allergy & Anaphylaxis Training for Schools →
Or contact Frontline Training to discuss staff numbers, locations and the most appropriate training option for your school or trust.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Benedict’s Law actually law?
The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 introduces new statutory allergy safety duties, including requirements around school allergy safety policies.
“Benedict’s Law” is the commonly used name for these changes and the wider campaign that led to them.
When do the new school allergy requirements apply?
The new arrangements are being implemented from September 2026, alongside the Department for Education’s new Allergy Safety in Schools statutory guidance.
Is allergy awareness training mandatory every year?
The DfE guidance says school staff should receive allergy awareness training regularly and at least annually.
Schools should also ensure arrangements are in place for new, temporary and cover staff.
Does Paediatric First Aid count as allergy-awareness training?
Paediatric First Aid includes important emergency skills, including the management of anaphylaxis.
However, the DfE guidance makes clear that first aid training alone is not sufficient for the wider whole-school allergy awareness expectation.
Dedicated allergy training covers the broader prevention, policy, communication and emergency arrangements required across the school.
Does the guidance apply to independent schools?
The current DfE statutory guidance directly applies to the maintained schools, academies and pupil referral units identified within the guidance.
The Government has stated that equivalent allergy safety requirements are intended for independent schools through the relevant regulatory standards.
Other education and early-years settings may also find the guidance useful when reviewing their allergy arrangements.
Can Frontline Training deliver allergy training to an entire school?
Yes.
Whole-school delivery is one of the main purposes of the programme.
Training can be arranged for individual schools, multiple staff groups or across several locations within an academy trust or education organisation.