14/09/2026
Benedict’s Law: What the New Allergy Guidance Means for Schools
September 2026 marks an important change in allergy safety within education.
New statutory guidance for schools in England, developed following years of campaigning around Benedict’s Law, places greater emphasis on how schools prepare for, manage and respond to allergies and anaphylaxis.
For schools, this means allergy safety needs to become part of the whole-school approach — ensuring policies, staff knowledge, emergency procedures and individual pupil plans work together.
So, what does this mean in practice?
1. A whole-school allergy policy
Schools should develop and publish a dedicated allergy policy, setting out how allergies are managed across the school and how risks are reduced.
2. Allergy & anaphylaxis training for staff
Staff need the knowledge and confidence to recognise an allergic reaction, understand the signs of anaphylaxis and know what action to take in an emergency. This isn't limited to teaching staff — allergy safety can involve the wider school team.
3. Emergency medication
Schools should have clear arrangements around adrenaline auto-injectors (AAIs), including pupils' prescribed medication and any permitted spare emergency devices held by the school.
4. Individual healthcare and allergy action plans
Children with serious allergies should have appropriate individual plans in place so that staff understand their allergies, medication and what to do should a reaction occur.
But perhaps the most important message behind the changes is simple:
Everyone responsible for a child should know how to recognise anaphylaxis and what to do next.
How Mediqas Training School can help
In response to these changes, Mediqas Training School is now offering Allergy & Anaphylaxis Awareness training to education and childcare settings.
Our training is suitable for schools, nurseries, early-years settings and childminders and is designed to give those caring for children practical knowledge and greater confidence around allergy safety.
Training covers recognising allergic reactions and anaphylaxis, responding appropriately in an emergency, understanding adrenaline auto-injectors and helping to reduce allergy-related risks within a setting.
While the new statutory school guidance applies specifically to schools in England, allergy awareness and emergency preparedness are equally valuable for nurseries, early-years providers and childminders.
Could your team confidently recognise anaphylaxis and know what to do?
If the answer is anything other than an immediate yes, now is the time to make sure your team is prepared.
📩 Speak to Mediqas Training School about Allergy & Anaphylaxis Awareness training for your setting.
📧 [email protected]
🌐 mediqasgroup.co.uk
