Life-saving allergy pens must be stocked by schools for the first time under new plans announced today.
The move will also see compulsory training for teachers and a requirement for each school to have a dedicated allergy policy.
As well as saving lives, the new measures will help children stay in school, with 500,000 days of learning lost due to allergy-related illness or medical appointments in the last year alone.
The plans come after the government listened to families and campaigners who have fought for change — including Helen Blythe, mother of Benedict Blythe, who tragically lost his life to an allergic reaction at school, and the National Allergy Strategy Group.
Replacing previous non-statutory advice, the new guidance on supporting children and young people with medical conditions and allergies is now open for consultation, ahead of coming into force in September 2026.
The new statutory requirements mean for the first time schools must:
- Stock “spare” adrenaline auto-injectors for use in emergency situations, including for children without a prior allergy diagnosis
- Provide allergy awareness training for all staff — covering recognition of symptoms, emergency response and the use of adrenaline devices — alongside improved incident recording and lessons learnt processes
- Have a comprehensive policy for supporting children with medical conditions, including Individual Healthcare Plans to record specific arrangements for individuals like an allergy management plan
Schools up and down the country are already undertaking the necessary training to keep children safe. This guidance will standardise practise, pointing to a collection of reliable resources for teachers to use, and work in parallel to the government’s open call to businesses to support with costs such as adrenaline auto-injectors.
Amanda Martin MP said: “Parents should never have to worry that their child could face a life-threatening allergic reaction at school without the right support in place. These new measures are a vital step forward in protecting children with allergies and giving families peace of mind.
By ensuring schools have the right training, clear policies and access to life-saving adrenaline auto-injectors, we can help make classrooms safer and more inclusive for every child.”
Olivia Bailey, Minister for Early Education said: “No parent should have to send their child to school worried that a life-threatening allergic reaction won’t be handled swiftly.
“We have listened to the families and organisations who have campaigned tirelessly on this issue, and we are acting.
“These new requirements will give parents the confidence that every school has the training, the plans and the equipment in place to keep their child safe.”
This works hand in hand with wider work to reform the school food system, such as revising the school food standards and expanding free school meals to an additional 500,000 children this September.
