Allergy and Anaphylaxis Awareness for Schools (Benedict’s Law)

Allergy and Anaphylaxis Awareness for Schools (Benedict’s Law)

Food allergies are a major, growing health challenge in British education, with roughly two children in every standard classroom now living with a diagnosed food allergy. Alarmingly, research shows that 20% of severe allergic reactions take place while a child is at school.

This course is named after five-year-old Benedict Blythe, who tragically died from a preventable anaphylactic shock at school in December 2021. His family’s tireless campaign led directly to the creation of Benedict’s Law, closing dangerous compliance gaps across the education sector.

From September 2026, relying on basic, optional first aid training is no longer legally sufficient. Schools are now required to maintain standalone allergy policies, train all staff members, and hold emergency medication on site. This accredited 1-hour course provides a comprehensive solution to help your school fulfill these strict statutory duties easily.

Who Is This Course For?

Benedict’s Law makes it clear that allergy safety is a whole-school responsibility. It is no longer a duty that falls solely on the school nurse or catering team. Consequently, this training is specifically designed for:

• Teachers and Higher-Level Teaching Assistants (HLTAs).
• Early Years practitioners, nursery staff, and childminders.
• Lunchtime supervisors, playground monitors, and school cooks.
• Caretakers, site managers, and administrative office teams.
• School minibus drivers and regular trip chaperones.
• Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs), Headteachers, and Nominated School Governors.

Who does Benedict’s Law 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

Course Syllabus: What Is Covered?

This course blends critical medical theory with hands-on, practical scenarios. It focuses on day-to-day risk reduction and rapid emergency execution.

1. Understanding Allergies and Triggers.
   1. Identifying the common 14 food allergens specified under UK law.
   2. Understanding how the immune system reacts during an allergic incident. 
   3. Recognising the difference between mild allergic reactions and severe, life-threatening anaphylaxis.
2. Spotting the Early Signs of Anaphylaxis
   1. Recognising respiratory warning signs, including airway swelling, persistent coughing, and wheezing.
   2. Identifying circulatory changes, dizziness, and sudden collapses.
   3. Understanding the critical Resuscitation Council 2025 inclusive assessment rules, which state rescuers must not rely on subjective “skin colour” checks across different ethnicities.
3. Emergency Administration of Adrenaline Auto-Injectors (AAIs)
   1. Mastering the physical mechanics of all major UK adrenaline pen brands, including EURneffy, EpiPen, Jext, and Emerade (where still available).
   2. Understanding the step-by-step technique for administering a correct dose.
   3. Fulfilling the legal protocols for accessing, storing, and deploying a school’s back-up, emergency “spare” nasal adrenaline spray and AAIs
4. Risk Avoidance and School Governance
   1. Developing and maintaining a compliant, standalone Whole-School Allergy Policy.
   2. Managing cross-contamination risks in classrooms, dining halls, and during science or craft activities.
   3. Co-creating active, accessible Individual Healthcare Plans (IHPs) alongside parents and medical professionals.
   4. Fulfilling the mandatory new rules for recording, reporting, and auditing near-misses or allergic incidents.

Legal Context & Guidance Framework

This course is firmly anchored within the modern UK legislative framework. By completing this training, school leaders gather the necessary documentation to prove compliance during inspections by bodies such as Ofsted. The course explicitly satisfies the legal requirements of:

• Benedict’s Law (The Schools Allergy Safety Bill 2026): Directing schools to hold spare medication, publish a clear website policy, and enforce whole-staff training.
• Section 100 of the Children and Families Act 2014: Placing a formal statutory duty on governing bodies to make clear arrangements to support pupils with medical conditions.
• The DfE Statutory Guidance: Aligning perfectly with the newly updated handbook, “Supporting Children and Young People with Medical Conditions and Allergy”.

Certificate:

• Valid for 1 year.
• A4 sized pdf certificates are issued.

Course duration:

• 3 guided learning hours.

Self-Study:

• We strongly recommend reading the following pages on the Food Standards Agency website prior to attending the course:
  • Food Allergy & Intolerance
  • Cleaning your kitchen
  • Avoiding cross-contamination

Test:

• You will undertake a multiple-choice question paper & practical assessment.
• Multiple-Choice Question paper:
  • There are 15 questions and you need to score a minimum of 70% correct answers to achieve a pass.
• Practical observation:
  • You’ll need to demonstrate giving first aid as you would in an emergency situation, such including the administration of a nasal adrenaline spray/AAI, providing CPR on the floor.
  • You need to score 100% to achieve a pass.

Pre-requisites:

• We recommend that you have a basic understanding of English (e.g. GCSE grade D/Level 1) before undertaking this course. This is not mandatory – please contact us to discuss any reasonable adjustments to accommodate your needs.
• You should be at least 14 years old in order to undertake the qualification.

Geographical coverage:

• This food safety course is available to candidates across the UK. We can deliver the course in other countries, but the protocols that we teach meet the current UK practice, protocols & guidance.

Venue:

• Scheduled courses run at our training centre in Knutsford, Cheshire. Visit our Joining Instructions page to read about what you will need to bring/wear, etc.
• Why not arrange to have a private face to face course run at your workplace? Simply fill in our quote request form to request a quotation.

Joining instructions:

• Visit this page to read the course joining instructions.
• Where your course is not being run at our main training centre, you’ll also receive an email with additional joining instructions including the venue address.