Anaphylaxis Training Berkshire: Benedict's Law for Schools

If you’re looking for guidance on Benedict’s Law school allergy requirements, anaphylaxis training for schools in Berkshire, or what your school needs to do to prepare, this guide covers everything you need to know.

Benedict’s Law is bringing stronger, legal protections for children with allergies in schools across England, including Berkshire and Bracknell. From September 2026 (anticipated), schools will need clear allergy policies, trained staff and access to emergency adrenaline to meet the new requirements.

Our training is led by experienced paramedics, so when we teach your staff to respond, it comes from genuine emergency experience. We work with schools in Berkshire, Bracknell and nearby areas to help them meet their responsibilities with confidence.

What is Benedict’s Law?

Benedict’s Law is a national framework designed to improve allergy safety in schools following the preventable death of five-year-old Benedict Blythe from anaphylaxis. The campaign led to the government committing to new statutory guidance and changes in school allergy law across England.

Under Benedict’s Law, schools need to have whole-school allergy policies, ensure staff receive allergy and anaphylaxis training, and hold adrenaline auto-injectors on site. You can find background on the campaign and its aims through Anaphylaxis UK, who have been central to these changes.

Why Benedict’s Law Matters to Your School

Allergies are now one of the most common long-term health conditions in UK children, and the number of pupils at risk of severe reactions continues to rise. Anaphylaxis is rapid and time-critical, and delays in recognition or adrenaline administration can have devastating consequences.

Benedict’s Law aims to close the gaps in allergy safety so every school has clear systems, trained staff and the right medication in place before an emergency happens.

Allergy Risks in Everyday School Life

For pupils with allergies, risk isn’t limited to lunch in the dining hall. High-risk situations include snack times, classroom activities, cookery, food technology, school trips, clubs and celebration events. Cross-contamination, shared equipment and changes to menus or products can all trigger reactions if risks aren’t well managed.

Benedict’s Law expects schools to take a proactive, whole-school approach to identifying and managing these risks, rather than relying on individual pupils to keep themselves safe.

What Benedict’s Law Requires from Schools

The government has confirmed they will introduce the new statutory requirements through updated guidance and legislation. Although we’re awaiting confirmation of the final details, the key expectations are already clear. School allergy policies under Benedict’s Law will need to go further than existing medical conditions policies, with specific allergy provisions expected across the following areas:

A dedicated, whole-school allergy safety policy, in addition to the existing medical conditions policy.
Allergy awareness and anaphylaxis training for all staff, not only designated first aiders.
Access to spare emergency adrenaline auto-injectors (AAIs) on site, alongside pupils’ own prescribed devices.
Robust individual healthcare or allergy action plans for every pupil with a diagnosed allergy.
Better recording, reporting and learning from allergy incidents and near misses.

These measures will apply to state-funded, academy, free and independent schools across England, including primary, secondary, special and alternative provision settings.

Allergy Policies, Safeguarding and Ofsted

Allergy safety is now a core part of how Ofsted and inspectors look at safeguarding and duty of care. Governing bodies and proprietors already have a legal obligation to ensure arrangements are in place to support pupils with medical conditions, and Benedict’s Law strengthens expectations around allergies specifically.

Inspectors increasingly expect to see clear policies, practical systems and evidence that staff understand how to keep pupils with allergies safe in everyday practice and in emergencies. High-quality training, clear documentation and well-rehearsed procedures all support that.

Do Schools Need Anaphylaxis Training for All Staff?

Under the new approach, allergy and anaphylaxis awareness needs to become part of whole-staff training, not just something a handful of first aiders have completed. Anaphylaxis training for school staff is one of the most important steps a school can take right now, and Benedict’s Law makes clear that it shouldn’t stop at the designated first aider.

All staff who work with pupils, including teachers, support staff, lunchtime teams, office staff and activity leaders, may need to recognise symptoms quickly and call for help. Training should cover recognising early allergic reactions, identifying anaphylaxis, calling emergency services, using adrenaline auto-injectors correctly and understanding what to do after an incident.

Individual Healthcare Plans and Allergy Action Plans

For pupils with diagnosed allergies, schools need to have clear, up-to-date individual healthcare plans or allergy action plans in place. These plans should outline triggers, early signs and symptoms, medication, emergency steps and the roles of staff, parents and health professionals.

Benedict’s Law emphasises that these plans need to be accessible, regularly reviewed and understood by all relevant staff. They can’t just be filed away and forgotten.

Spare Adrenaline Auto-Injectors (AAIs) in School

The new requirements mean schools need to stock spare adrenaline auto-injectors for emergency use, in addition to pupils’ own prescribed devices. Staff need to know where AAIs are stored, who can use them, which pupils they can be used for and how to administer them correctly and safely.

Effective policies also need to cover storage, expiry checks, replacement, documentation and what happens after an AAI has been used.

Anaphylaxis Training for Schools in Berkshire and Bracknell

Respire Medical Services provides specialist allergy and anaphylaxis training led by experienced paramedics, tailored to the needs of schools across Berkshire, Bracknell and surrounding areas.We designed our courses to align with the core aims of Benedict’s Law and the evolving statutory guidance, so you can start preparing now rather than scrambling to catch up ahead of the anticipated September 2026 introduction.

We work with primary schools, secondary schools, nurseries, academies, special schools and alternative provision settings to build confident, well-rehearsed responses to allergy emergencies.

Our Allergy and Anaphylaxis Training for Schools

Our anaphylaxis training for school staff in Berkshire and Bracknell is delivered by qualified paramedics and covers everything your team needs to respond confidently in a real emergency. Sessions typically include:

Understanding allergies and anaphylaxis in children and young people.
Recognising mild, moderate and severe allergic reactions.
Identifying anaphylaxis and acting quickly.
Emergency response: calling 999, positioning, airway and breathing considerations.
Practical demonstration and hands-on practice with training adrenaline auto-injectors.
Managing spare AAIs and pupils’ own devices safely.
Writing, reviewing and using individual healthcare and allergy action plans.
Building allergy safety into everyday school activities, trips and events.

We can adapt content to reflect your existing policies, your pupils’ needs and your staff’s experience level.

Flexible Anaphylaxis Training Options for School Teams

We know what school timetables look like, so we offer flexible options for schools in Berkshire, Bracknell and nearby areas:

On-site face-to-face sessions for whole-staff training or focused teams.
After-school or twilight training to keep disruption to a minimum.
Blended approaches combining e-learning with shorter practical sessions.
Refresher sessions to keep skills current as guidance continues to develop.

Sessions can be combined with or delivered alongside your existing first aid and paediatric first aid training where it makes sense to do so.

Additional Support: Policies, Procedures and Scenario Drills

Alongside training, we can help you with:

Reviewing or developing your allergy safety policy in line with Benedict’s Law expectations and current best practice.
Building allergy considerations into trips, clubs, catering and curriculum activities.
Running realistic emergency scenarios so staff can rehearse their roles, communication and use of AAIs in a safe environment.

This helps make sure that what staff learn in training translates into everyday practice, and gives you the documentation to support governance and inspection.

Who We Provide Anaphylaxis Training For

We provide allergy and anaphylaxis training for:

Primary and infant schools.
Secondary schools and sixth form.
Nursery and early years settings.
Special schools and alternative provision.
Multi-academy trusts and independent schools.

If you’re supporting children or young people with allergies anywhere in Berkshire or the surrounding region, we can put together a package that fits your setting.

Next Steps: Get Your School Ready

Now is the right time to start preparing, so your school is ready and confident before the new requirements come into force.

Book anaphylaxis training for your school in Berkshire, Bracknell or surrounding areas.
Request support reviewing your school allergy policies, procedures and individual healthcare plans.
Combine allergy safety with wider first aid or paediatric first aid training for a joined-up approach.

Get in touch to find out more about our Benedict’s Law anaphylaxis training for schools in Berkshire and Bracknell