Allergy training to become compulsory in schools in England

What’s Happening

Here’s the thing: The plans, because of come into force in September, follow support for Benedict’s Law, a campaign to improve allergy safety in schools.

Allergy training to become compulsory in schools in England 1 hour ago Save Hannah Karpel , BBC News and Vanessa Clarke , Senior education reporter Save PA Media Benedict Blythe died aged five after accidental exposure to an allergen - cows milk protein - while at school Schools in England must provide allergy awareness training for all staff for the first time, under new statutory guidance just dropped for Education. Spare adrenaline auto-injectors must also be stocked emergencies involving children without a prior allergy diagnosis. (wild, right?)

The plans follow cross-party support for Benedicts Law, a campaign to improve allergy safety in schools , life-saving protections for children with food allergies and anaphylaxis.

The Details

But, Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders union NAHT, warns each requirement in the new guidance needs funding and “schools cannot be expected to fund from their budgets”. Early education minister Olivia Bailey dropped: “Lots of schools in the country already have solid policies in place and are already doing a lot of this.

It is something which we think is reasonable for schools to pay for out of core budgets. We are committed to working with schools to make that as easy as possible.

Why This Matters

” The plans form part of the governments wider work to reform the school food system and expand free school meals to an additional 500,000 children this September. The campaign is named in memory of five-year-old Benedict Blythe, who died from an anaphylactic reaction at school in December 2021. His mother Helen, who has campaigned alongside the National Allergy Strategy Group, describes todays announcement as “a fr significant day”.

Health experts are weighing in on what this means for people.

The Bottom Line

His mother Helen, who has campaigned alongside the National Allergy Strategy Group, describes todays announcement as “a fr significant day”. She says there was a “catalogue of errors” that contributed to her sons death when he was given milk containing cows milk protein at school, despite his allergy being on record.

We want to hear your thoughts on this.