Benedict's Law Training: Allergy Awareness in Schools

Description

Benedict's Law is named in memory of Benedict Blythe, a five-year-old who died from anaphylaxis at school in 2021 after mistakenly being given milk he was known to be allergic to. Following his death, his family and allergy charities campaigned for change, and the government has now introduced new statutory guidance requiring every school to take consistent, demonstrable action on allergy safety.

Allergy safety is now a mandatory, whole-school responsibility and sits alongside existing safeguarding and health and safety duties. Everyone working in a school must be trained in allergy safety, it’s not just for first aiders or medical staff.

This course gives everyone working in a school a clear, introduction to allergies and anaphylaxis, how to recognise the signs of a reaction and respond quickly, and what their own responsibilities are under their school's allergy policy. It uses plain language and assumes no previous medical or first aid knowledge.

Who should take this course?

Benedict's Law is explicit that allergy safety is everyone's responsibility, not just that of first aiders or medical staff. This course is for all adults working in a school in a regular capacity, regardless of role or seniority, including:

• Teaching staff

• Teaching assistants and learning support staff

• Catering and kitchen staff

• Lunchtime supervisors and midday assistants

• Site, premises, maintenance and caretaking staff

• Administrative and office staff

• Minibus drivers and staff supervising trips or off-site activities

• Regular supply staff, exam invigilators, and peripatetic specialists such as music or sports instructors

It's suitable for staff in:

• Primary, secondary and special schools, both maintained and independent

• Multi-academy trusts, training their whole workforce

• Independent and non-maintained schools, including those with residential provision

• Maintained nurseries attached to a school

• Local authorities coordinating training across multiple school sites

• Safeguarding partnerships where allergy safety falls within scope

Designated allergy leads and first aiders should also complete this course to demonstrate compliance, though they're likely to need further role specific training beyond what's covered here.

What does this training cover?

• What Benedict's Law is, and why allergy safety is a whole-school responsibility

• Understanding allergies and anaphylaxis, including how an allergy differs from an intolerance

• Recognising the signs of an allergic reaction, and how quickly they can escalate

• Spare adrenaline auto-injectors (AAIs), and when they can be used

• Responding to an allergic reaction, step by step

• Allergy safety in practice across the school day, including lessons, breaktimes, trips and residentials

• Individual healthcare and allergy action plans, and staff responsibility to know which pupils have allergies

• Recording and learning from incidents

Benedict's Law Course Certificate

After completing this course, learners will be able to download and print a certificate, which they can keep for their records.

At the end of this Benedict's Law training course, you will need to complete a test that consists of 15 multiple choice questions. Learners are required to achieve a 75% pass mark, and - if necessary - may attempt the test six times at no extra cost. If learners do not achieve the 75% pass mark, further attempts may be given by contacting our support team.

Duration

This course takes around 30–45 minutes to complete. As it's all online, you can complete it at your own pace, in stages, with your progress recorded throughout and as long as you like spent on each section.