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 set to be published Monday. The measure, dubbed Benedict's Law, aims to prevent fatalities from anaphylaxis, particularly among schoolchildren.
The statutory guidance from the Department for Education comes after years of campaigning by the family of Benedict Blythe, a five-year-old who died from anaphylaxis in 2021, shortly after starting primary school. His death highlighted a critical need for enhanced allergy preparedness in educational settings.
The new rules will apply to all 25,000 schools in England and are intended to be in place before the start of the new academic term in September. The guidance mandates that schools maintain emergency auto-injector pens and ensure all personnel, including teachers, support staff, and catering employees, are trained to recognize and manage allergic reactions. Schools will also be expected to have clear allergy policies and individual healthcare plans for students with allergies.
Benedict's mother, Helen Blythe, founder of the Benedict Blythe Foundation, stated that the law will save lives of children who will never know her family. She expressed pride in the legacy her son's law will create, adding that it will position England among the world's leading education systems in protecting allergic children.
This development follows a significant increase in severe food allergies among children over the past two decades. Figures from the Department for Education indicate that allergy-related illnesses and appointments resulted in over 500,000 lost learning days for pupils last year.
Sarah Knight, founder of The Allergy Team, which collaborated with the Department for Education and the Benedict Blythe Foundation on the guidance, believes the law will significantly benefit parents, children, and educators. "This guidance will give people the tools to support children or fellow staff members with allergies," Knight said. "And the fact that it requires all staff to have allergy training—from the music teacher to an extra member of the catering team—will reduce those vulnerabilities in the system."
Benedict Blythe had multiple allergies, including eggs, kiwi fruit, nuts, and milk, alongside asthma. Despite his parents' efforts to create an allergy plan with his primary school, he died after an accidental exposure to cow's milk in December 2021, when the plan was not followed. An inquest into his death noted delays in administering an adrenaline pen as a contributing factor.
The allergy provisions of Benedict's Law will be incorporated into the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act and are set to come into effect in 2027. The new guidance is being published on Monday, July 7, 2026.