Benedict’s Law received royal assent in April 2026 as part of the children’s wellbeing and schools act 2026. To comply, all schools – including maintained schools, academies, independent settings, alternative provision and pupil referral units – must ensure that the following are in place: A published allergy safety policy on the school website. Training for all staff (including every adult working on site) covering allergy awareness, prevention, day-to-day management, and emergency response. Spare adrenaline auto-injectors (AAIs) available on site. Individual healthcare plans (IHPs) or allergy action plans for pupils with diagnosed allergies. Improved communication systems and effective record keeping. Alongside this, updated statutory guidance from the Department for Education – Supporting Children and Young People with Medical Conditions and Allergies – is due for release. This will replace the 2014 guidance, incorporate Benedict’s Law, and introduce additional expectations for maintained schools, academies, and AP/PRUs. These include: Appointing an allergy lead from the senior leadership team (not a catering provider), with authority to make strategic decisions. Appointing a named governor responsible for the oversight of allergy provision. Ensuring all incidents and near misses are accurately recorded and reported. Supporting the wellbeing of pupils with allergies. Including allergy in the school risk register. Minimising the risk of exposure for all individuals with allergies. Schools should plan, using both Benedict’s Law and the forthcoming statutory guidance. Although the final version is not yet published, the DfE has indicated that no major changes are expected, allowing schools to begin preparing with confidence. The summer term provides a key opportunity to begin implementation: Appoint key roles Identify and confirm the allergy lead and the named governor. Secure appropriate training Arrange specialist training so these roles can lead implementation effectively. Evaluate training providers Carry out due diligence when selecting whole-school training. Ensure that it: Is clinically up to date. Is approved by healthcare professionals. Meets statutory guidance requirements. The guidance is clear that general first-aid training is not sufficient. Allergy and anaphylaxis training delivered by a first-aid provider must be in addition to standard first-aid qualifications, even where anaphylaxis is included. Engage contractors and external staff Contact organisations working on site – such as sports coaches, supply staff, peripatetic teachers and wraparound providers – to confirm how their staff will be trained in allergy management. Begin individual healthcare plans (IHPs) Use an appropriate template to develop IHPs for pupils with food or venom allergies. These should be co-produced with parents and shared with staff via the school’s system (often the management information system). Update staff guidance Revise staff handbooks to clearly outline responsibilities for accessing, understanding, and following IHPs. Plan staff awareness training Schedule time during September INSET days to ensure that all staff understand the allergy policy, procedures and their responsibilities. Source adrenaline auto-injectors Compare suppliers before purchasing. Some include training, while others provide only the device and storage. Devices do not need to be bought as part of a bundle. They can be purchased from a pharmacy and stored centrally in an accessible location. A letter is required when ordering from a pharmacy. Schools should ask about discounted pricing, including NHS or cost-price options. Await the DfE model policy The DfE is developing a model allergy policy aligned to the new guidance. Waiting for this will reduce the need to cross-check policies from multiple sources. Moving towards compliance Full compliance will take time, but meaningful progress can be made during this term. Schools should view allergy management as an ongoing priority rather than a one-off task. Like safeguarding, it requires: Regular review. Ongoing reinforcement. Continued professional development for all staff. Embedding effective allergy practice means building awareness across the whole school community. Allergy should become part of everyday conversations about inclusion, alongside areas such as neurodivergence and additional learning needs.