Benedict’s Law is a new legislation in England aimed at enhancing anaphylaxis awareness and protecting children with life-threatening allergies in schools. Named after Benedict Blythe, who tragically died from anaphylaxis at school in 2021 due to accidental exposure to cow's milk protein, this law is a significant step forward for safety in educational settings.
In March 2026, the UK government enacted primary legislation through an amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, and mandatory statutory guidance under this law is expected to come into effect from September 2026.
Key Requirements for Schools:
Under this new framework, all state-funded and independent schools in England are required to implement essential safeguards:
Mandatory Staff Training: All school staff must undergo comprehensive first aid training to recognize symptoms of anaphylaxis and confidently administer adrenaline auto-injectors.
Spare Adrenaline Pens: Schools must maintain in-date spare adrenaline auto-injectors on-site for emergency use, particularly for children who may experience their first allergic reaction at school without a prior diagnosis.
Whole-School Allergy Policy: Schools are mandated to develop, publish, and regularly review a formal policy for managing allergy risks and emergency responses.
Individual Healthcare Plans (IHPs): Every pupil with a known food allergy must have a personalized allergy action plan created in collaboration with their family and healthcare providers.
Incident Logging: Schools will be required to record and review every allergic incident or "near-miss" to enhance safety procedures.
Cyrene First Aid Training provides specialized anaphylaxis training consisting of a three-hour session that focuses on how to recognize, prevent, and treat severe allergic reactions, emphasizing early identification and the use of adrenaline auto-injectors. For those interested in emergency first aid at work or paediatric first aid, pricing details can be found on our prices page on this website.
