Benedict’s Law is now LAW

Original article here

In March 2026, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education, Olivia Bailey, announced that the Government will put Benedict’s law on the statute book through its own amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, marking a historic step forward.

Following 5-year-old Benedict’s tragic death in 2021 from a severe allergic reaction to milk he was accidentally given to drink at school; the powerful advocacy of his parents (Helen and Peter Blythe) has united efforts in protecting children with allergies at school, and now it has been confirmed that we see Benedict’s law officially passed into law.

This legislation – which will require mandatory allergy safety provisions in all schools in England – is a major milestone for child safety and allergy awareness in our schools. The Department for Education (DfE) reached out to members of the allergy community in order to co-create the policy. The decision to move from non-binding guidance to clear legal requirements will help prevent avoidable, life-threatening reactions and give families greater confidence that their children are safe at school.

From September 2026, statutory guidance will require schools to publish allergy management policies, hold spare adrenaline auto-injector devices for emergencies, and ensure all staff receive allergy awareness training to respond to allergic emergencies.

Every child deserves to feel safe at school, and this law will help make that a reality! By creating a safe opportunity for pupils in schools, this law will help to protect the 680,000 children in England living with allergies.

A freedom of information request sent by the Benedict Blythe Foundation in 2024 found that 70% of schools in England did not have the recommended allergy safeguards in place, and half of all schools did not have adrenaline pens and spare auto-injectors on site. With this amendment, children starting school this September will be the first cohort to benefit from a fully safeguarded environment for allergy management.

As well as saving precious lives, the Government hopes the new statutory guidance will also keep more children in school – and according to the Department for Education (DfE), 500,000 days of learning were lost last year due to allergy-related illnesses or medical appointments.

While comprehensive guidance for schools on what to do in terms of managing allergies will offer real sight on what good practice looks like, implementation must be fit for purpose and practical. Without dedicated funding and sufficient resources, schools – which are already under financial pressure – may struggle to implement these measures consistently, leaving children with allergies unevenly protected.

Professor Adam Fox said: “As well as enshrining these protections in law, I urge the Government to consider providing funding to ensure all schools can meet their new duties without diverting support from other vulnerable pupils. By funding their implementation, it ensures that every child is equally protected, and every school is properly supported. 

“The wider allergy community and I celebrate this profound moment in Government engagement around allergy. The amendment is a huge testament to the Benedict Blythe Foundation and the wider allergy community, and these are measures that the National Allergy Strategy Group (NASG) – made up of three major national allergy charities and the British Society for Allergy & Clinical Immunology – has been calling for over a decade, following a series of fatal allergic reactions at school. The bravery, powerful advocacy, and campaigning of Helen and Peter Blythe have strengthened this work, and united efforts even further.”

In October 2025, the Allergy Centre of Excellence (ACE) opened the UK’s first hospital specialising in allergy for adults and children, in the world-renowned Harley Street Health District, London – at 10 Duchess Street.

Mark Kildea, Chief Executive at The Howard de Walden Estate, said: “We are delighted that ACE chose the Harley Street Health District as their home. The passing of Benedict’s Law is an important step in protecting school children with allergies, and it reflects the kind of progress that organisations in the District champion daily. As a community committed to advancing healthcare, we welcome this legislation as a meaningful move towards safer school environments, for the benefit of children and families across the country.”