Benedict's Law

Benedict's Law

What is Benedict's Law?

Benedict's Law is new statutory guidance from the Department for Education that makes allergy safety a legal requirement in schools across England, rather than optional best practice. It is named after Benedict Blythe, a five-year-old boy who died from anaphylaxis (a severe allergic reaction) at school in December 2021. Benedict's Law turns previously non-mandatory guidance into binding requirements for every school. The requirements come into force from 1 September, 2026 , with annual staff training becoming mandatory from that point.

Why It Matters

Because children spend such a large part of their day at school, eating meals, trying new foods, and taking part in activities away from home, schools play a key role in keeping them safe and knowing how to respond if a reaction happens.

With pupils spending around a fifth of their waking hours in school, having the right training and plans in place matters, which is exactly what Benedict's Law now requires.

When does it come into effect?

Benedict's Law was formally passed by the UK Government in February 2026 and will come into force from 1 September, 2026

Who does it apply to?

Maintained schools
Academies
Independent schools in England
Maintained nurseries attached to a school

What does Benedicts Law mean in practice?

From 1 September 2026 provides children with allergies with a clear, legally enforceable expectation that:

Allergy Policy is published, separate from the medical conditions policy, and made available on the website.
All staff receive annual training to recognise allergic reactions and respond appropriately in an emergency.
Spare Adrenaline Auto-Injectors (AAIs) are kept and must be in-date on site for emergency use, enabling treatment of anyone experiencing an anaphylactic reaction, regardless of whether they have been individually prescribed an AAI.
Individual Healthcare Plans (IHPs) are developed, used and maintained for every child with a diagnosed serious allergy, detailing allergy triggers, symptoms, risk management measures, and emergency response arrangements, hopefully reducing the number of school days missed.

What will Benedict's law do?

Benedict's Law strengthens the allergy and anaphylaxis-specific strand of a much broader duty schools already have to support pupils with long-term medical conditions under existing statutory guidance on supporting pupils with medical conditions.

Benedicts Law provides reassurance for families of children who may also be at risk of severe allergic reactions, that schools must plan for and be ready to respond to medical emergencies.

Note : Your Public Health School Nurse can support schools by providing asthma and allergy awareness training for staff. They can also offer guidance if you need help gathering information for an Individual Healthcare Plan (IHCP) and have been unable to obtain it through the usual channels