Benedict’s Law – Context

As you will likely be aware, Benedict's Law is a set of mandatory allergy safety measures for schools in England, stemming from the tragic death of five-year-old Benedict Blythe from anaphylaxis at school in 2021. Supported by the Benedict Blythe Foundation, clinicians, and charities, the campaign aims to make schools safe by ensuring consistent management of food allergies and anaphylaxis, moving away from optional guidance to mandated compliance. The government is committed to implementing these measures via new statutory guidance expected in September 2026.

Core Pillars of Benedict's Law

• Whole-School Allergy Policies: Schools must adopt a mandatory, written, and published allergy and anaphylaxis policy that covers prevention, management, and emergency procedures.
• Mandatory Staff Training: Compulsory training for all staff to recognise the signs of anaphylaxis and understand how to respond to an emergency.
• Spare Adrenaline Auto-Injectors (AAIs): A requirement for schools to hold, maintain, and have immediate access to emergency "spare" adrenaline auto-injectors.
• Individual Allergy Action Plans: Every pupil with a diagnosed allergy must have a personalised healthcare plan (IHP) for emergency action, accessible to staff.
• Incident Reporting & Documentation: All allergic reactions and "near misses" must be logged, reported, and reviewed to ensure systemic improvements.

Implementation and Legal Status

• Scope: Applies to all state-funded primary and secondary schools, academies, free schools, special schools, and independent schools in England.
• Timeline: The new statutory guidance is to be published in summer 2026, with implementation expected from September 2026.
• Accountability: These measures are being embedded within the statutory framework of the Department for Education and are expected to be included in Ofsted inspections.

Key Objectives

• Eliminate Postcode Lottery: Ensure the same standard of safety in all schools.
• Prevent Avoidable Harm: Address gaps in safeguarding that lead to fatal allergic reactions in educational settings.
• Improved Communication: Enhance communication between parents and schools regarding known allergens.

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.