All schools in England will be required to stock epinephrine auto-injectors, commonly known as EpiPens, and provide allergy training to all staff under new government guidance. The Department for Education is set to publish the statutory guidance, named Benedict's Law, on Monday. This measure follows years of campaigning by the family of Benedict Blythe, a five-year-old who died from anaphylaxis in 2021.
The guidance aims to equip all 25,000 schools with the necessary tools and knowledge to manage severe allergies before the start of the new academic term in September. This initiative addresses a significant increase in food-related allergies among children, which has led to a substantial number of missed school days. Figures from the Department for Education indicate that pupils lost over 500,000 learning days last year due to allergy-related illnesses or medical appointments.
Benedict's Law mandates that schools maintain emergency auto-injector pens and ensure all personnel, including temporary teachers, tutors, and catering staff, are trained to recognize and respond to allergic reactions. Schools will also be expected to establish clear allergy policies and individual healthcare plans to reassure parents about their child's safety.
Helen Blythe, Benedict's mother and founder of the Benedict Blythe Foundation, stated that the law will save lives and serve as a lasting legacy for her son. "There will be children who we will never know, who will never know us, whose lives will be saved by Benedict's Law," she said. She also expressed pride that the guidance will position England among the world's leading education systems in safeguarding children with allergies.
Sarah Knight, founder of The Allergy Team, an organization that collaborated with the Department for Education and the Benedict Blythe Foundation, highlighted the guidance's potential to significantly benefit parents, children, and educators. Knight, a parent of two children with allergies, emphasized that the requirement for comprehensive staff training, from music teachers to dinner staff, will reduce system vulnerabilities. She noted that allergic reactions do not occur at convenient times or when trained personnel are readily available.
The new provisions will be incorporated into legislation through the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act, with the allergy-related measures scheduled to take effect in 2027. Benedict Blythe's death in 2021 occurred after he was accidentally exposed to cow's milk at primary school, despite his parents having helped the school develop an allergy plan. An inquest into his death indicated that delays in administering an adrenaline pen were a contributing factor.