At Allergy UK incorporating Anaphylaxis UK, we believe every child deserves consistent allergy protection at school, regardless of where they live in the UK.
While Benedict’s Law continues to progress across England, the devolved nations are still awaiting decisions on recommended improvements to allergy safety in schools. Last week, we took this important conversation to Northern Ireland during a special visit led by our Education and AllergyWise® Manager, Tracey Dunn, in collaboration with Food Allergy Northern Ireland (Food Allergy N.I.). Food Allergy N.I. is a community-led voluntary organisation founded in 2024 by people living with, caring for, and supporting those affected by food allergy across Northern Ireland.
School guidance in Northern Ireland for managing allergies and other medical conditions is significantly outdated, with the current version having been published in 2008. Since then, the number of children and young people living with allergies has increased, leaving many schools without up-to-date guidance on how best to safeguard pupils.
Benedict’s Law is named after five-year-old Benedict Blythe, who died following an anaphylactic reaction to milk in school. The proposed legislation sets out key measures that all education settings should adopt, including:
For several years, schools across Northern Ireland have accessed our trusted AllergyWise® for Schools e-learning programme, designed by teachers for teachers, with many renewing their training annually.
Drawing on our experience of supporting the Department for Education in England with the development of the Allergy Safety in Schools guidance, published in July 2026, Tracey Dunn met with the Department of Education Northern Ireland, alongside Claire McGuigan and Claire Brown from Food Allergy N.I., and Carla Jones from the National Allergy Strategy. Together, they discussed the implementation of Allergy Safety in Schools guidance and Benedict’s Law ahead of the consultation announced by Paul Givan, Minister of Education. This provided insight into the opportunities to strengthen Northern Ireland’s future guidance by building on the framework already established in England.
Training is one of the key pillars of Benedict’s Law. Around 20% of all serious allergic reactions to food occur in school settings, making it vital that school staff can recognise the signs of anaphylaxis and respond quickly and appropriately in an emergency.
In partnership with Food Allergy N.I., we hosted two seminars for school leaders, principals, governors and education stakeholders focused on food allergy management in schools. During the morning sessions, attendees heard directly from parents and young people living with allergies, who shared the impact that food allergy has on their daily lives and educational experiences. Participants also heard from allergy specialists who support families and schools, helping them access the information and resources needed to keep pupils safe. The seminars explored the current challenges facing schools, highlighted best practice in allergy management, and discussed practical steps schools can take ahead of the introduction of Benedict’s Law and updated allergy guidance.
One seminar participant commented:
“Thank you for taking the time to deliver this seminar. As a teacher and a parent of a child with a severe allergy, this was professionally delivered, but I particularly appreciated the understanding and pastoral support offered around the realities of living with food allergies.”
Tracey Dunn, Education and AllergyWise® Manager, said:
“These seminars would not have been possible without the support of our host schools. We would like to thank Sperrin Integrated College and Regent House School for generously providing their facilities, refreshments and organisational support.
“We are also grateful to Dr Caoimhe Glancy, Carla-Raye Jones and Dr Steven Kinnear for their contributions on the National Allergy Strategy and the realities of living with allergies. Special thanks also go to Carolyn Benson and Stephanie Kerr, who shared their personal experiences of supporting children with allergies and navigating school life. Lastly, we would not have been able to achieve the seminars without Food Allergy N.I. and especially the chairs Claire McGuigan and Niamh Kennedy.”
Educational settings across Northern Ireland can access training through our AllergyWise® for Schools e-learning programme or through live online sessions delivered by one of our trainers. Face-to-face training can also be arranged for clusters of schools where required.
For all training enquiries, please contact allergywise@allergyuk.org.
