The new 2026-2027 academic year has brought an important change for schools across England, with new statutory requirements around allergy safety now in place.
We were pleased to start the new academic year by visiting Crookesbroom Primary Academy in Doncaster to deliver our new Allergy Awareness Training, incorporating Benedict’s Law.
For schools, this is an increasingly important area of school first aid training. From September 2026, statutory guidance requires schools in England to have arrangements in place to improve allergy safety, including allergy awareness and emergency response training for staff. Schools must also have an allergy safety policy, appropriate Individual Healthcare Plans and arrangements for spare adrenaline auto-injectors.
What is Benedict’s Law?
Benedict’s Law is the name commonly used for the new allergy safety requirements introduced following the tragic death of five-year-old Benedict Blythe, who suffered a fatal anaphylactic reaction at school.
The new requirements represent a significant step forward in protecting children with allergies in schools. They place greater emphasis on prevention, recognising allergic reactions and making sure staff know how to respond quickly and appropriately in an emergency.
For schools, allergy awareness is no longer simply a matter of good practice. The new statutory guidance means schools need to make sure their staff have the knowledge and confidence to help keep pupils with allergies safe.
Allergy awareness training for school staff
Our Allergy Awareness Training is designed to give school staff practical knowledge they can use in their everyday roles, as well as during an emergency.
The training covers different types of allergies, recognising the signs and symptoms of an allergic reaction and anaphylaxis, understanding the appropriate emergency response and familiarising staff with the use of adrenaline auto-injectors.
This practical approach is particularly important because anaphylaxis can develop rapidly. Staff need to be confident enough to recognise what is happening and know what action to take.
And the feedback from Crookesbroom Primary Academy was excellent.
100% of staff rated the trainer’s knowledge, style and positivity as excellent.
100% of staff rated the overall quality of the course as excellent.
Most importantly, 100% of staff said they felt confident in being able to apply the knowledge and skills they had learnt in their workplace and beyond.
What the school said
“The whole course was brilliant.”
Cassey Smart, Finance Officer
“Extremely useful regarding the information around different allergies and learning how to use different auto adrenaline injectors.”
Tom Chadler, Head of Academy
We are delighted that the team at Crookesbroom Primary Academy found the training so useful and, importantly, came away feeling more confident about responding to allergy-related emergencies.
Is your school ready for Benedict’s Law?
With the new academic year now underway, schools should be reviewing their allergy safety arrangements and making sure staff have received appropriate allergy awareness and emergency response training.
Our school first aid training can help schools develop the practical knowledge and confidence their staff need to respond effectively when it matters.
If your school needs Allergy Awareness Training incorporating Benedict’s Law, we’d be happy to help.
Contact First Aid Schools to discuss your school’s training requirements and find out how we can support your staff.