Allergy & Anaphylaxis Training for Schools

From September 2026, schools and state-maintained nurseries in England are expected to strengthen how they keep pupils with allergies safe – including allergy-awareness and anaphylaxis training for all staff. This is part of the new statutory guidance widely known as Benedict’s Law. Here is what your school needs, and how we make it simple.

What Benedict’s Law means for your school

Benedict’s Law is named after Benedict Blythe, a five-year-old who died from anaphylaxis at school. From September 2026, schools in England are expected to:

Train all staff annually in allergy awareness and recognising anaphylaxis – not just designated first-aiders, but teaching assistants, office staff, catering teams, lunchtime supervisors, caretakers and minibus drivers.
Hold spare adrenaline auto-injectors for emergencies, accessible within minutes anywhere on site (and usable for a child with no known allergy – around a third of severe reactions are the first one).
Publish a whole-school allergy policy and keep an allergy register and individual healthcare plans.

The Department for Education’s final statutory guidance is expected around July 2026. Requirements differ in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, which follow their own national guidance. We will update our training when the final guidance is published.

Two parts to getting your school ready

Good allergy training has two parts – the knowledge and the hands-on skill. You need both.

1. Online awareness — free

Our free online course covers recognising an allergic reaction and anaphylaxis in children, giving adrenaline (auto-injectors and the new EURneffy nasal spray), and the school’s emergency response and systems. Ideal for your whole team to complete each year, with a certificate for your records.

Launching soon — register interest

2. Face-to-face practical — also required

The guidance also expects staff to have hands-on practical training in using adrenaline devices – handling a trainer auto-injector and the EURneffy nasal spray. The online course does not replace this. A short onsite session for your team completes the picture and builds real confidence to act.

Book Onsite Training

In an emergency, never wait. Under Regulation 238 of the Human Medicines Regulations 2012, any member of staff may give adrenaline to a child they believe is having anaphylaxis – you do not need a formal qualification first, and you must never delay treatment while waiting for a trained person.

What the free online course covers

What allergies and anaphylaxis are, and the common triggers in schools
Recognising a mild reaction, anaphylaxis, and how it differs from a faint
Adrenaline and the devices – EpiPen, Jext and the EURneffy nasal spray
The school emergency response: the child’s own device and the school spare, lie flat, call 999
Spare AAIs, individual healthcare plans, the allergy policy and incident reporting
Suitable for all school and nursery staff (EYFS / early years included)

Why schools choose First Aid For All

The complete package – free online awareness for the whole team, plus the onsite practical the guidance expects.
Onsite, UK-wide – a qualified trainer comes to you, on a date that suits your school.
Up to date – including the new EURneffy needle-free nasal adrenaline, which many staff find easier to use.
Equipment too – we can advise on and supply your spare adrenaline and storage.

Talk to Us About Your School

The regulatory summaries on this page are provided for general guidance only and were correct at the time of writing, ahead of the Department for Education’s final guidance. Always check the current requirements that apply to your school. The online course provides awareness/knowledge training and does not replace hands-on practical training or a formal first-aid qualification.