Schools get allergy training and must stock EpiPens from today under new rule following death of boy, five, given milk in class

Schools will now provide allergy awareness training for all staff for the first time under new rules following the death of a five-year-old schoolboy who was given milk. The landmark protections, backed by statutory guidance, were introduced after Benedict Blythe suffered a fatal allergic reaction just months after he started primary school in 2021. The rules, known as 'Benedict's Law', require every school in England to stock EpiPens, provide allergy training to all staff and have a dedicated allergy policy.The campaign, which will see 1.5million adults learning how to recognise an allergic reaction, was run by Benedict’s mum Helen Blythe. Parents Helen and Peter Blythe said: 'This is a huge moment for our family and for every child living with allergies.'Children starting school this September will enter one of the safest education systems in the world for pupils with allergies.'Allergies shaped Benedict’s short life and, ultimately, ended it. The law that carries his name will help stop that happening to other children.'We know that schools are managing many competing demands, but keeping a child physically safe must rank among the very highest of their priorities which is why we urge every school to take these changes seriously.'This cannot become a tick-box exercise - training must leave staff able to recognise a reaction and confident enough to act. The landmark protections, backed by statutory guidance, were introduced after Benedict Blythe suffered a fatal allergic reaction just months after he started primary school in 2021 The campaign for legislation, which will see 1.5million adults learning how to recognise an allergic reaction and respond appropriately, was run by Benedict’s mum Helen Blythe (pictured)'Policies must guide what happens every day, and individual healthcare plans must be understood by the people caring for each child. 'Behind every requirement is a real child and a family relying on their school to get this right. 'The difference between an allergy policy that exists on paper and one that is properly understood and followed can be the difference between life and death.'We would give anything for the protections in Benedict’s Law to have been in place when Benedict started school.'We cannot change what happened to him, but his name will now help protect generations of children who come after him.'The move comes amid a dramatic spike in the number of children with potentially life-threatening allergies to food such as nuts, cow's milk, eggs and fruit over the last two decades. Benedict suffered from asthma and had a number of allergies including eggs, kiwi fruit, nuts and milk. But despite his parents helping his primary school in Stamford, Lincolnshire, to put together an allergy plan to cope with his needs, he was given cow's milk by a teacher in December 2021 when the plan wasn't followed.An inquest heard there were delays administering an adrenalin pen, which was a factor in his death.It also found multiple failings including a lack of training, his allergies not being communicated to people providing his care and his symptoms not being recognised. A legal duty for allergy training covering all schools is due to take effect in 2027, extending the requirements to independent schools and fee-paying special schools. Benedict’s family established the Benedict Blythe Foundation in his memory and have worked alongside allergy organisations, schools, clinicians, parliamentarians and the Government to campaign for national change.Benedict’s Law is intended to address the inconsistent protection previously experienced by children with allergies.Research by the Foundation found that half of schools did not hold spare adrenaline auto-injectors and one in three had no allergy policy. Sarah Knight, founder of The Allergy Team, which has already provided support and allergy training to thousands of teachers and which worked closely with the DfE and the Benedict Blythe Foundation on the development of the guidance, said it would 'make a huge difference' to parents, children and teachers.'As a parent of two children with allergies this is honestly amazing,' she said. 'I know how daunting it can be to navigate these allergies, and for that responsibility to sit on other people is a lot.' Benedict suffered from asthma and had a number of allergies including eggs, kiwi fruit, nuts and milkMrs Blythe added: 'September is not the end of this campaign - it is the moment implementation begins.'The success of Benedict’s Law will not be measured by how many schools download a policy or record that training has been completed.'It will be measured by whether children are safer, whether staff know what to do and whether parents can leave their children at the school gate knowing that every reasonable step has been taken to protect them.'