Calls for mandatory school allergy safety laws to be brought to Wales

Calls have been made for the Welsh Government to introduce compulsory allergy safety measures in schools to protect an estimated 35,000 pupils in Wales living with severe allergies.

Under new statutory guidance coming into force in England, known as Benedict’s Law, all state schools across the border will be required to keep emergency adrenaline auto-injectors on site, train all staff, and implement individual care plans for children with allergies.

However, no similar legal requirement currently exists for schools in Wales.

The campaign for Benedict’s Law was launched by Helen Blythe following the death of her five-year-old son, Benedict, who suffered a fatal allergic reaction at his primary school in 2021. An inquest found that school safety procedures were not followed.

Casnewydd Islwyn MS Natasha Asghar, who is the Welsh Conservatives’ health and social care spokesperson, has met with Mrs Blythe and is now urging Welsh ministers to discuss bringing in matching rules with school leaders and teaching unions.

Ms Asghar said children in Wales are currently being left without equal protection.

“The measures set to be implemented under Benedict’s Law will undoubtedly save lives in England, yet here in Wales we do not have the same protections in place,” Ms Asghar said.

“With around 35,000 pupils in Welsh schools estimated to be living with allergies, it is imperative the Welsh Government considers how these pupils can be better supported in school.”

She continued: “Every child with allergies should be able to go to school knowing the right safeguards are in place and every parent should have the confidence that their child will be kept safe.

“I hope the Welsh Government can urgently raise this issue with school leaders and teaching unions and consider adopting similar measures to improve safety in school for pupils with allergies.”

Under current rules in Wales, schools follow statutory guidance on supporting learners with medical conditions, but there is no mandatory requirement for every school to stock unallocated adrenaline auto-injectors or enforce whole-school allergy training for all staff.

In July, councillors in Caerphilly County Borough unanimously backed calls for better allergy safety measures in schools.

The successful motion, tabled by Labour councillor Amanda McConnell, called on the council to write to the Welsh Government and ask how Benedict’s Law-style measures can be introduced in Wales.