Benedict's Law

What is Benedict’s Law?

Benedict’s Law is a set of national protections designed to improve allergy safety in schools. Currently these protections are agreed to come into force in England, but campaigning continues to extend to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. These measures ensure that schools have the policies, training and emergency medication needed to recognise and respond to severe allergic reactions.

The measures were developed following the death of five-year-old Benedict Blythe, who died from anaphylaxis at school in 2021. His family established the Benedict Blythe Foundation and worked with clinicians, allergy charities and policymakers to lead a campaign for government to address long-standing gaps in how schools manage life-threatening allergies. In 2026, the English Government confirmed that the principles of Benedict’s Law will be implemented through new statutory guidance on supporting children with medical conditions and allergies in schools, and will also be enshrined in primary legislation, making these protections part of the legal framework governing all schools in England.

What does Benedict’s Law require?

Benedict’s Law introduces a consistent national framework for allergy safety in schools. Core measures include:

Whole-school allergy policies setting out how schools manage allergies and respond to emergencies

Staff training so teachers and school staff can recognise and respond to anaphylaxis

Access to emergency adrenaline auto-injectors (AAIs) where needed

Individual healthcare or allergy action plans for pupils with diagnosed allergies

Improved communication and record-keeping around allergies and allergic reactions

These measures aim to ensure that every school has the systems in place to respond quickly and effectively to allergic emergencies.

Who does it apply to?

The measures currently apply to schools in England, including:

State-funded primary and secondary schools

Academies and free schools

Special schools and alternative provision settings

Independent schools

The statutory guidance sets national expectations for how schools support pupils with medical conditions and allergies, while legislation will place key safeguards within the legal framework governing education.

When will it come into force?

The Department for Education has launched a consultation on the new statutory guidance, allowing parents, teachers, clinicians and schools to provide feedback.

Following consultation, the Government will:

Publish final statutory guidance by July 2026

Introduce legislative provisions to place Benedict’s Law into primary legislation

Implement the new framework in schools

The protections are expected to come into force from September, giving schools time to prepare and implement the required measures.

Why this matters

Allergy is common, serious and potentially life-threatening in school settings.

Around two children in every classroom have an allergy

Schools are one of the most common locations for severe allergic reactions outside the home

Up to 30% of severe reactions occur in children with no prior diagnosis

Benedict’s Law aims to ensure that children with allergies can attend school safely and that staff have the knowledge and tools to respond quickly when emergencies occur.

How George Spicer will support:

Supporting Children with Allergies and Anaphylaxis

At George Spicer, we take allergies and anaphylaxis seriously. Our aim is to keep children safe while ensuring they remain fully included in school life.

Where a child has a significant allergy, we will work closely with parents/carers and health professionals to understand their individual needs. Where appropriate, an Individual Healthcare Plan (IHP) will be created, setting out the child’s allergens, medication, practical adjustments, emergency procedures and any additional support required.

The school will:

• complete appropriate risk assessments and reduce exposure to known allergens;
• ensure relevant staff know about the child’s allergy and required support;
• maintain high standards of hygiene and minimise cross-contamination;
• work with catering staff to ensure safe food provision;
• make appropriate adjustments to classroom activities, PE, celebrations, clubs, trips and visits;
• ensure emergency medication is readily accessible;
• train staff annually in allergy awareness and responding to anaphylaxis; and
• review arrangements following any incident, near miss or change in the child’s needs.
• Children prescribed adrenaline should have their own medication available in school. The Federation also holds spare adrenaline devices for emergency use.

If anaphylaxis is suspected

Staff will act immediately. They will stay with the child, administer adrenaline without delay, call 999 and state “ANAPHYLAXIS”, contact parents/carers and, if there is no improvement after five minutes, administer a second dose where available.

Working with Parents and Carers

We ask parents/carers to provide accurate and up-to-date information, prescribed medication and any medical Allergy Action Plan, and to tell us promptly about changes to their child’s allergy or treatment.

We cannot guarantee an allergen-free environment, but we can provide an allergy-aware environment where risks are carefully managed and children are supported to participate safely and confidently in school life.