Department of Education publishes new statutory guidance on Allergy safety in schools

On Monday 6th July, the Department for Education concluded its consultation on ‘Supporting pupils with medical conditions at school’ and published long-awaited new guidance on ‘Allergy Safety in Schools’, detailing new guidance that will come into effect from the first of September 2026.

The new changes will be mandatory from this September for the start of for the next academic year 2026-2027. It means all schools in schools in England will be required to:

  • Have a whole-school allergy policy.
  • Provide allergy awareness training for all staff.
  • Stock spare adrenaline auto-injectors (AAIs) for emergency use for any child or adult experiencing symptoms of anaphylaxis.
  • Put Individual Healthcare Plans (IHPs) in place for pupils with allergies.

Further, the measures recommend that:

  • A named senior leader should be responsible for the whole-school allergy policy, which should be reviewed at least annually and published.

These requirements apply to governing bodies of maintained schools (including special schools but excluding maintained nursery schools), management committees of Pupil Referral Units, academies and free schools (excluding 16-19 academies).

(A “maintained school” refers to a state-funded educational institution that receives its funding and oversight directly from a local authority.)

In addition to the above, the Department has made it clear that “the Government intends to introduce equivalent allergy safety requirements…for independent schools including independent special schools) and non-maintained special schools”.

The new law also means that, when schools are being inspected, they will have to show how they have put these new changes in place and how they care for and keep children living with allergies and allergic conditions safe.

The new guidance is intended to improve the safety of children and young people living with allergies while they are at school. It ensures all schools in England adopt a consistent approach in their allergy management, emergency preparedness and staff training. This change will positively impact the many children and young people attending schools where these measures were not in place. Families should continue to provide their child’s prescribed medication and ensure their child’s Individual Healthcare Plan is kept up to date, as spare adrenaline auto-injectors do not replace a pupil’s own prescribed devices.

You can read the full guidance document here

Allergy UK welcomes this vital legislation and understands the positive impact this will have for families. This guidance is long overdue and will go a long way to improve the safety of members of the allergic community in education in England. We are grateful to the government for this pivotal step forward, and to the tireless work of the Benedict Blythe foundation and its supporters in campaigning for this key work.

You can read our previous articles on Benedict’s Law here: