Benedict’s Law
Benedict’s Law is a set of national measures designed to improve allergy safety in schools. Currently, these measures apply to schools in England, while campaigning continues to extend into Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The aim is to ensure schools have the policies, training, information and emergency medication they need to recognise and respond quickly to serious allergic reactions.
Key measures include:
- Whole-school allergy policy – setting out how schools manage allergies and respond to emergencies
- Staff training – allergy awareness and emergency response training is provided for all staff (including caretakers, mini-bus drivers, lunchtime supervisors, etc)
- Access to emergency adrenaline auto-injectors (AAIs) – hold spare in-date adrenaline devices (AAIs) on site that are not prescribed for an individual child and can be used on any child or adult experiencing anaphylaxis. Note – currently these can only be purchased by registered UK schools or qualifying businesses with occupational health. This is because they come with a subscription supply of adrenaline pens, which are only allowed to be sold to exempt places as per Human Medicines Regulations, Schedule 17
- Individual healthcare or allergy action plans – implement individual healthcare action plans for children with serious allergies
- Improved communication and record-keeping around allergies and allergic reactions.
Together, these measures are intended to strengthen allergy awareness and help schools respond quickly and confidently when a child experiences a severe allergic reaction.
The Benedict Blythe Foundation also provides resources to support allergy awareness and management in schools, including food allergen awareness training (at a cost), posters and managing allergic reactions: Tools and Resources – Benedict Blythe Foundation
Important information about adrenaline auto-injectors (AAIs) in early years settings
Maintained nursery school settings qualify to be able to purchase the AAIs, but private, voluntary and independent early years settings are not currently covered by the legal exemption that allows schools to purchase spare adrenaline auto-injectors (AAIs) for emergency use. This means that PVI settings cannot generally purchase and hold a stock of spare AAIs in the same way that schools can under the school exemption. Early years settings should ensure children with prescribed AAIs have their devices available in the setting and that staff are trained in allergy management and emergency response.
Similar Articles
Good Practice Spotlight. How Meadowbank Day Nursery achieved NDNA Millie’s Mark.
Top tips: Having difficult conversations
