Benedict's Law: Helping schools prepare for the new Allergy safety in schools guidance

September 2026 marks a major milestone for allergy safety in schools.

The Department for Education's new statutory guidance, Allergy safety in schools, will come into force across England, introducing stronger protections for children and young people living with allergies.

Known as Benedict's Law, the guidance sets out clear expectations for every school, helping ensure allergy safety becomes a consistent part of school life rather than something that varies from one setting to another.

Through Allergy School, Natasha's Foundation is helping schools prepare by providing FREE accredited allergy and anaphylaxis training, practical resources and expert guidance to support the implementation of Benedict's Law.

What is Benedict's Law?

Benedict's Law is named in memory of five-year-old Benedict Blythe, who tragically died from anaphylaxis at school in 2021 after being given milk despite his known allergy.

Following determined campaigning by Benedict's family, Natasha's Foundation and the wider allergy community, the Government introduced the new Allergy safety in schools guidance to strengthen allergy safety across England's education system.

These landmark changes will help schools become better prepared to prevent allergic reactions, respond confidently to emergencies and create safer, more inclusive environments for every child.

What does Benedict's Law mean for schools?

From September 2026, schools in England will be expected to:

• Stock spare adrenaline auto-injectors (AAIs) for use in an emergency.

• Ensure all staff complete allergy awareness and emergency response training.

• Appoint a named senior lead responsible for allergy safety.

• Maintain clear allergy policies and individual healthcare plans.

• Record allergy incidents and review procedures.

• Support children with allergies so they can fully participate in lessons, school trips, clubs and other activities.

Together, these measures represent the biggest step forward in allergy safety in schools to date.

FREE allergy training for schools

Allergy School is Natasha's Foundation's FREE education programme, helping schools build the knowledge, confidence and practical skills needed to keep children with allergies safe. Whether your school is preparing for Benedict's Law, reviewing its allergy policies or looking to improve everyday practice, Allergy School provides everything you need in one place.

Our FREE resources include:

• Accredited allergy and anaphylaxis training

• Practical guidance for schools

• Lesson plans and assemblies

• School allergy policies and planning resources

• Emergency response advice

• First aid information

• Self-assessment tools

• Resources that help children with food allergy feel safe, included and supported

Supporting schools across the UK

Natasha's Foundation is supporting schools across England as they prepare for the implementation of Benedict's Law.

At the same time, Allergy School continues to work with schools in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, providing free allergy training, practical resources and guidance, including Welsh-language materials.

Our ambition is for every school across the UK to have the knowledge, confidence and support needed to deliver excellent allergy safety.

Every child deserves the same protection

While Benedict's Law represents a huge step forward, it currently only applies in England. Every child with allergy deserves the same protections, wherever they live.

Natasha's Foundation and the Benedict Blythe Foundation are calling for the principles of Allergy safety in schools to be adopted across Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland so that every child can benefit from the same standards of allergy safety.

Tanya Ednan-Laperouse OBE, co-founder of Natasha's Foundation, said:

"All children should feel safe and protected at school, yet for many children with allergy this is not the case.

This statutory guidance will ensure there are allergy protections in place in all schools across England.

While this is a huge step forward for allergy families in England, this now needs to be extended to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland so that every child is protected, no matter where they live.

At Natasha's Foundation we applaud the tireless campaigning of Benedict's mother, Helen, and are so proud to have played a key role in shaping this vitally important guidance."

Prepare your school with Allergy School

Benedict's Law is an important step towards safer schools.

Through Allergy School, Natasha's Foundation is making it easier for schools to prepare by providing FREE accredited allergy and anaphylaxis training, practical resources and trusted guidance that support the implementation of the new Allergy safety in schools guidance.

Together, we can help ensure every child with allergy feels safe, included and supported at school, wherever they live.