Schools to give government-backed allergy training after boy’s milk death

By Faye Mayern

Schools in England are providing allergy awareness training for all staff for the first time following the death of a schoolboy who was given milk.

The landmark protections, backed by statutory guidance, have been introduced after 5-year-old Benedict Blythe suffered a fatal allergic reaction in school.

The campaign, which will see 1.5 million adults learning how to recognize an allergic reaction and respond appropriately, was run by Benedict's mom Helen Blythe.

"Benedict's Law" will see the state institutions provide allergy pen stock, compulsory training and a dedicated allergy policy.

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 whish is why we urge every school to take these changes seriously.

"This cannot become a tick-box exercise — training must leave staff able to recognize a reaction and confident enough to act.

"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.

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"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."

A legal duty covering all schools is due to take effect in 2027, extending the requirements to independent schools and fee-paying special schools.

Benedict was given milk containing cow's milk protein by a teacher, despite his allergy being known to the school in 2021.

An inquest jury later found multiple failings, including a lack of training, his allergies not being communicated to people providing his care, his symptoms not being recognized and delays in administering his medication.

Benedict's family established the Benedict Blythe Foundation in his memory and has worked alongside allergy organizations, 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.

Helen 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."