Benedict’s Law: What schools need to know ahead of September 2026
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What is Benedict’s Law?
Benedict’s Law is a new piece of legislation that makes allergy safety mandatory in all schools in England. From September 2026, schools must have a whole-school allergy policy, trained staff, spare adrenaline auto-injectors (AAIs) on site, and Individual Healthcare Plans (IHPs) for pupils with allergies.
It forms part of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026, which received Royal Assent on 29 April 2026. The official statutory guidance is currently in consultation and is due to be published in July 2026, ahead of coming into force in September 2026
Why was Benedict’s Law introduced?
In December 2021, five-year-old Benedict Blythe tragically passed away at school after suffering a severe allergic reaction to cow’s milk, which was an allergy his school was aware of. His parents, alongside the Benedict Blythe Foundation and several allergy charities, campaigned tirelessly for stronger allergy protections in education settings. Their efforts led directly to the creation of Benedict’s Law.
What does Benedict’s Law require schools to do?
From September 2026, all schools in England will need to meet the following statutory requirements.
- A whole-school allergy policy
Schools must develop and maintain a dedicated allergy policy that outlines how they will manage allergies and respond to emergencies. This must be a separate policy from the medical conditions policy and must be published on the school’s website.
- Allergy awareness training for all staff
Every member of staff including caretakers, minibus drivers and lunchtime supervisors, must complete allergy awareness and anaphylaxis training. This training must cover:
- Recognising the signs and symptoms of allergic reactions and anaphylaxis
- How to respond in an emergency, including calling 999
- The safe storage and use of adrenaline auto-injectors (AAIs)
- Incident recording, reporting and lessons learned processes
The expectation is that any staff member present will be able to recognise an emergency and act without delay.
- Spare adrenaline auto-injectors (AAIs) on site
Schools must hold spare AAIs on site for use in life-threatening emergencies. These are additional devices kept by the school, and are not a second set prescribed for an individual child.
- Individual Healthcare Plans (IHPs)
Schools will be required to have Individual Healthcare Plans in place for children with food allergies, as well as for pupils with other serious allergies, such as to animal dander or insect venom (bees, wasps and hornets), where reasonable adjustments and emergency arrangements need to be made.
The guidance also expects a named governor and senior leader to actively oversee allergy safety, including reviewing incidents and running anaphylaxis drills where appropriate.
When does Benedict’s Law come into force?
Benedict’s Law comes into force in September 2026. The official statutory guidance is expected to be published in July 2026 following its current consultation period.
How can iHasco help schools comply with Benedict’s Law?
Our Anaphylaxis & Allergy Training for Schools & Carers courses are designed to support schools in working towards compliance with Benedict’s Law. They cover the key knowledge staff need, including:
- Understanding what allergies and anaphylaxis are
- Common allergy triggers in school settings
- The safe use of auto-injectors
- Emergency procedures and good record-keeping
Our existing courses already cover the foundational knowledge schools need. We’re also completing a full course update to make sure that they are fully aligned with the final statutory guidance and the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026, once the official wording is confirmed in July. In the meantime, we’ve added clear signposting within the course to highlight Benedict’s Law and what will be expected of schools from September 2026.
Check out all training courses for education settings here.
Erin Field
Production Development Assistant