From next month, every school in England will be legally required to stock spare adrenaline auto-injectors (AAIs) for emergency use, under new compulsory rules confirmed by the previous government and now overseen by Prime Minister Andy Burnham.
The statutory requirements, which take effect in September, mark the first time schools must hold 'spare' allergy pens, alongside mandatory allergy awareness training for all staff. The move follows sustained campaigning by bereaved families and allergy charities, including the mother of Benedict Blythe, who died from an allergic reaction at school.
What schools must now do
Under the new rules, schools must provide allergy training covering symptom recognition, emergency response, and correct use of adrenaline devices. They must also improve incident recording and implement lessons-learned processes, ensuring any allergic reaction is reviewed and procedures updated.
Additionally, schools are required to maintain a comprehensive policy for supporting children with medical conditions, including Individual Healthcare Plans (IHPs) that record specific arrangements, such as an allergy management plan for each affected pupil. This ensures that individual needs are clearly documented and followed by all staff.
Why the change is needed
The government says it has listened to families and campaigners who fought for change, including Helen Blythe, mother of Benedict, and the National Allergy Strategy Group. A government press release described the new rule as 'compulsory', underscoring its binding nature for all schools.
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."
School leader welcomes the investment
Danielle Thackray, School Business Manager at Walbottle Village Primary School in Newcastle, praised the initiative, saying: "Investing in allergy training has been absolutely necessary for our school. We have eight children with allergies, including one severe case, and while we always had healthcare plans in place, the structured training, emergency drills and support with policies have taken our procedures to the next level."
She added: "For an annual cost, every member of staff is trained as soon as they join, we run scenario drills, and we’ve strengthened everything from lunchtime checks to school trip risk assessments — it gives our teachers real confidence in keeping children safe. The AAIs and training are an expense, but they are worth every penny for the peace of mind they give parents and staff, knowing we are fully prepared should the worst happen."
Impact on schools and parents
The change is expected to affect approximately 20,000 schools in England, requiring them to purchase AAIs and arrange training. While costs vary, schools can expect to spend around £200 per set of pens, with training costs additional, but many will see this as a necessary investment in child safety.
For parents of children with severe allergies, the new rules offer reassurance that schools are better equipped to respond quickly in an emergency. The requirement for IHPs also ensures that specific triggers and action plans are clearly communicated to all staff, reducing the risk of mistakes.
The move has been widely welcomed by health campaigners, who argue that timely administration of adrenaline can be life-saving. With around 2 million people in the UK living with a diagnosed allergy, and hospital admissions for anaphylaxis rising, the new rules are seen as a crucial step forward in safeguarding pupils.
