New statutory allergy guidance is coming in September 2026 and will bring important changes to how schools manage allergies – including robust allergy policies, access to spare emergency adrenaline auto-injectors and properly trained staff.
In this guest blog, Sarah Knight, founder of The Allergy Team (which is co-producing the new guidance with the Government), explains what to expect and what special schools can start doing now.
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The government has announced it will be publishing new statutory guidance to “transform allergy safety in schools”, taking forward the campaign for Benedict’s Law. Benedict Blythe was just five years old when he died following an allergic reaction at school, and his parents have been calling for stronger protections for pupils with allergies.
Consultation on the new guidance will take place this spring, and we understand it will be published in time for September 2026. So, what can we expect and how can schools in England start preparing now?
Department for Education minister Baroness Smith of Malvern announced the much-anticipated update in the House of Lords. She said schools will be required to have the following in place:
A dedicated allergy safety policy
The forthcoming guidance will require every school to have a standalone allergy policy, rather than just including allergy in a broader medical conditions policy or relying on an anaphylaxis protocol. A clear policy helps schools identify gaps, consider how allergic reactions may present and ensure all staff know their responsibilities.
For specialist settings, this may include how staff support pupils who cannot self-manage their allergen avoidance, extra protocols for mealtimes, snack times and food-based activities; and how allergy information is shared consistently with the range of professionals who may work with a pupil (therapists, support staff, supply teachers).
To help schools get this right, we have created a free, adaptable allergy policy template that can be used as a foundation for developing a comprehensive policy.
Allergy and anaphylaxis training for all school staff
The new guidance will require all staff to have allergy and anaphylaxis training. Anaphylaxis is a time-critical emergency and everyone needs to know how to identify allergic reactions and how to respond appropriately. In addition to emergency response, it’s important that all staff understand allergy and how to support pupils who live with this medical condition, with a focus on how to reduce risk at school.
The charity Allergy UK recommends a range of cpd-accredited training which covers all these elements. Schools may also wish to explore additional training needs, such as recognising allergic reactions in pupils who cannot clearly communicate symptoms, managing reactions in pupils who may be distressed or resistant to treatment and using adrenaline devices where pupils need additional reassurance or physical support.
A named governor and senior leader to oversee allergy safety
The guidance requires a named governor and senior leader to actively oversee allergy safety, including running incident reporting and anaphylaxis drills. This is something we have long recommended that schools have in place because it means there is someone who can check that allergy policies and procedures are implemented confidently and consistently across the whole school.
Many staff, including those in special schools, report finding Designated Allergy Lead training or peer-support networks useful, as these provide an opportunity to share challenges, solutions and best practice with other allergy leads, and to ask questions relevant to individual settings and pupil cohorts.
Spare adrenaline pens
Since 2017, schools have been permitted to purchase spare adrenaline pens and the Department for Education says that the new guidance will make it clear that schools are expected to have them. Spare adrenaline pens can be bought from a pharmacy (it’s worth knowing that you can buy them at cost-price plus VAT from Simple Online Pharmacy). They serve as a back-up if someone experiences anaphylaxis unexpectedly or if someone’s prescribed adrenaline devices are not available or fail.
In special schools, where pupils may not reliably carry or locate their own medication, ensuring spare pens are rapidly accessible is especially important. Review your storage locations and check that all relevant staff know where they are and when they can use them.
Individual Healthcare Plans for all pupils whose allergies require active management
Ensure that allergy is explicitly addressed in your pupils’ Individual Healthcare Plans. Include what they’re allergic to, how their symptoms have presented in the past, medication details and any reasonable adjustments that need to be in place across the school day
Getting expert support
We understand that implementing this new guidance might feel like a big undertaking before September. The Allergy Team is hosting a free webinar for NASS member schools on 10th March, 3.30pm to 4.30pm, to help special schools get to grip with the new guidance, share more insights, tips and answer any questions for special schools. Book your place: https://members.nasschools.org.uk/events
Useful resources for schools:
- Prepare your allergy lead with Designated Allergy Lead Training
- Allergy training for all staff
- Buy cost-price spare adrenaline pens
- Download our template allergy policy
About The Allergy Team
Backed by the country’s leading experts, The Allergy Team are the school allergy experts and its founders are co-producing the Government’s new statutory allergy guidance for schools. They work with schools to deliver practical solutions to reduce risk and improve the safety and wellbeing of pupils with the allergies. This includes launching the UK’s only training course specifically for Designated Allergy Leadsand building an allergy resource and training hub for schools, funded with a Women in Innovation Award from Innovate UK.
The Allergy Team also runs the Schools Allergy Register, a published list of schools meeting best practice in allergy management.
The company was founded by Sarah Knight who has two children with allergies. You can find out more about The Allergy Team at theallergyteam.com/schools.