Allergy Support for Primary Schools

The information and resources on this page will support your school to develop best practice policies and procedures to ensure students with allergies are managed safely. This includes the importance of whole school allergy awareness, information about our AllergyWise® for Schools online training course with downloadable lesson plans for all key stages and assemblies. By adopting a holistic approach to allergen management, schools can create a safer, more inclusive environment that fosters trust and loyalty among all students and their parents/carers.

Find out more about Safer Schools Programme

Take an AllergyWise® Course

Unlike other allergy training, Anaphylaxis UK is uniquely placed to provide regularly updated the AllergyWise® courses and content to make sure that you receive the most up-to -date support.

These are our latest and most comprehensive courses.

AllergyWise® for Schools

This course for all school staff covers common causes of allergic reactions, symptoms of anaphylaxis, how to use adrenaline auto-injectors (EpiPen® and Jext®), and how to manage pupils with allergies in school, including responsibilities, risk assessment, Allergy Action Plans, allergy bullying, storage of adrenaline auto-injectors and practical scenarios.

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AllergyWise® for Early Years Settings

This course for all early years providers covers common causes of allergic reactions, symptoms of anaphylaxis, how to use adrenaline auto-injectors (EpiPen® and Jext®), and how to manage children with allergies in early years settings, including allergen avoidance, responsibilities, risk assessment, Allergy Action Plans, storage of adrenaline auto-injectors and practical scenarios relevant to early years settings.

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The Importance of Communication in Allergy Management for UK Schools

It can be an anxious time for parents/carers when they handing over the care of their child to someone outside the family who may not have the same experience in managing allergy. Having an open and transparent allergy aware approach in the organisation will create trust and ensure that the child’s time at the organisation is safe and successful.

It is recommended that the organisation’s allergy policy is placed on the website and the registration form should specifically ask whether a child has an allergy.

Proactive communication is essential for a trusting relationship. It is important for staff to meet with the parent/carer as soon as possible to discuss the procedures in place to protect the child so that everyone is clear and comfortable with the organisation’s plans.

Supporting Pupils with Medical Conditions

Supporting Pupils with Medical Conditions at school details the statutory responsibilities that a school must follow. There are 6 key areas that schools should follow that are detailed below.

AllergyWise for Schools
Allergy policy that is based on statutory guidance, Supporting pupils at school with medical conditions, 2017. Have clear procedures and processes that are known to all staff. Ensure that these include the need for the student’s allergy action plan and individual health care plan or individual risk assessment.
allergy training for schools
Arrange annual specific allergy and anaphylaxis training for all staff including those who join part way through a year. This must include day to day management and emergency response.
taking precautions allergic reaction on school trip
Be inclusive. Ensure that all children are able to safely participate in all activities.
allergy training for schools
Whilst not currently legislation, it is recommended that schools hold ‘spare’ adrenaline auto-injectors. Ensure that these are kept in a central location and not locked away.
AllergyWise for Schools
Record and report any incident that results in an allergic reaction or anaphylaxis. Review risk assessments, policy and procedures as a result.
Communicate regularly with parents/carers to support students with allergies.

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Free Allergy Downloads for Schools

FREE to download best practice resources are designed to support schools to safely manage pupils with allergies.

You will find:

  • Risk assessments
  • Best Practice guide
  • Template letters
  • Dogs in school guidance
  • Posters

Allergy Bullying

In the UK, approximately 1 in 3 children with food allergies report experiencing bullying. To create a safe and inclusive learning environment, it’s essential for schools to establish strong anti-bullying policies that specifically address food allergy bullying. Policies must include measures to prevent all forms of bullying, with clear guidelines on how to respond to incidents involving allergy-related harassment. Allergy bullying should be taken seriously, as it poses both emotional and physical risks to affected students.

Staff, students, and parents should be educated about the importance of allergy awareness and the procedures in place to report and address bullying incidents. Our allergy awareness assembly presentation for schools includes resources on tackling food allergy bullying, helping schools promote understanding and respect among students.

In line with the Department for Education’s statutory guidance on safeguarding, UK schools are encouraged to adopt comprehensive strategies that protect students with allergies and foster a culture of respect and inclusion. Providing training on food allergy bullying empowers school communities to respond effectively and ensures that children feel safe and supported.

  • Food allergy bullying is included in our allergy awareness assembly presentation for schools.
  • The Department for Education has provided statutory guidance for schools and colleges on keeping children safe in education.
  • Other useful websites include, Childline , NSPCC and
    Anti-Bullying Alliance.

Find more guidance

We have guidance for all stages of a student’s educational journey that is based on the relevant sector legislation. Click on the links below to find out more.

Guidance for Early years

Information and resources to support primary schools to meet statutory responsibilities and create allergy aware schools.

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Guidance for Secondary

Information and resources to support secondary schools to meet statutory responsibilities and create allergy aware schools.

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Guidance for Higher Education

Information to support further and higher education establishments develop best practice policies that ensure students with allergies can be fully included in college life.

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Best Practice Resources and UK Guidance

  • Allergy Action Plans

    Allergy Action Plans are designed to function as individual healthcare plans for children with food allergies, providing medical and parental consent for schools to administer medicines in the event of an allergic reaction, including consent to administer a spare adrenaline auto-injector.

    We recommend that all parents and schools use the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology (BSACI) Allergy Action Plan to ensure continuity. This is a national plan that has been agreed by the BSACI, Anaphylaxis UK and Allergy UK. These plans have been designed to facilitate first aid treatment of anaphylaxis, to be delivered by people without any special medical training or equipment apart from access to an adrenaline auto-injector. Please note, the plans are medical documents and should be completed by a child’s health professional, in partnership with parents/carers.

    There are four plans available; a generic plan for individuals assessed as not needing an adrenaline auto-injector, and a personal plan for individuals prescribed an EpiPen or Jext.

    Click here to download the four different Allergy Action Plans here

  • Model Policy for Allergy Management at School

    Anaphylaxis UK and Allergy UK have worked with the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology (BSACI) and the Medical Conditions in Schools Alliance, to develop a Model Policy for Allergy Management at School guide. It is designed to support schools to develop a ‘Gold Standard’ policy to manage children’s allergies safely, so that children and their parents feel reassured that a robust policy is in place.

    The guide has been reviewed by Professor Adam Fox, Paediatric Allergist at Guy’s & St Thomas’ Hospitals, London, Dr Paul Turner, MRC Clinician Scientist in Paediatric Allergy & Immunology at Imperial College and the BSACI Standards of Care Group.

    Click here to view the model policy for allergy management at school guide

    Click here for an example, editable template model policy

  • Early years foundation stage (EYFS) statutory framework

    View

  • Example menus for early years settings in England

    Download

  • Food and nutrition guidance for childcare providers

    View

  • National Minimum Standards for Regulated Childcare

    Download

  • The Early Years Framework

    View

  • Food Standards Scotland - Childminders

    View

  • Early years education and learning

    View

  • Guidance for pre-school education providers

    View

Guidance FAQs

  • How many adrenaline auto-injectors should a child with allergies have at the setting?

    Anyone prescribed adrenaline must have immediate access to two of their own prescribed adrenaline auto-injectors.

  • Who is allowed to administer adrenaline in an emergency?

    Regulation 238 of the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 allows for adrenaline to be administered by anyone for the purpose of saving a life in an emergency.

  • Can milk allergy be serious?

    Milk allergy can cause serious allergic reactions (anaphylaxis). Special care and vigilance are needed. Even a splash of milk or yogurt may cause a skin reaction in a child with milk allergy. Spillages need to be wiped thoroughly and hands washed. If a child with a milk allergy has a milk substitute (such as a soya drink) there needs to be a robust system for ensuring that the child is not given the wrong drink by mistake. For further information about cow’s milk allergy, read our factsheet.

  • Who are spare adrenaline auto-injectors for?

    From 2017, all schools and local authority maintained nurseries in the UK can purchase spare adrenaline auto-injectors for emergency use. Spare adrenaline auto-injectors are primarily for pupils known to be at risk of anaphylaxis and for who both medical authorisation and written parental consent for use of the spare auto-injector has been provided. The school’s spare auto-injector can be administered to a pupil whose own prescribed device cannot be administered correctly without delay.

    A schools’ spare adrenaline auto-injector can also be used for any pupils or other person not known by the school to be at risk of anaphylaxis in an emergency. Written permission is not required in these exceptional circumstances where the reaction could not have been foreseen.

    Further information on the use of spare adrenaline auto-injectors can be found in this Clarification of adrenaline autoinjector guidance for schools

  • Is playdough safe for children with allergies?

    Commercially produced playdough can contain allergens, such as wheat. Find out the ingredients from the manufacturer. You can make your own play dough using cornflour, baking soda, water, bottled vegetable oil and food colouring. Make sure you don’t have a child who reacts to any of these ingredients.

  • Is there a risk for children with allergies from cosmetics, such as nappy creams and sun cream?

    Some cosmetics contain food ingredients, for example, some creams contain nut oils. It’s difficult to determine the level of risk posed by cosmetic products containing food ingredients, however, unless the allergic child accidentally ingests the cream it’s likely to be very low. Anaphylaxis from skin contact with the product alone is extremely unlikely, however, contact reactions such as a skin rash/hives could occur. Nut oils are made from the fats of the nut, so likely have very little amounts of nut protein in, reducing the risks further as the proteins cause allergic reactions.

    Further information about food ingredients in cosmetics can be found in our factsheet.

  • Could children kissing each other be a risk?

    Kissing can be risky if someone eats a food that the other person is allergic to. Allergens can remain in saliva for several hours – anywhere between 2 and 24 hours, and even brushing teeth may not get rid of them effectively. If, for example, a child eats something then kisses a child allergic to that food on the cheek, this is unlikely to cause anaphylaxis, but a contact reaction such as a skin rash/hives could occur.

  • Is it safe to hatch chicks in the classroom around children with egg allergy?

    Generally speaking, watching chicks hatch in an incubator poses no risk to children with egg allergy, but all children should be encouraged to wash their hands after touching the incubation box in case there is any residual egg content on it. There is a little more risk when it comes to children handling the chicks. Speak with the parent/carer about the activity – they may want to ask their child’s allergy specialist, who is best placed to answer a question about an individual child and their sensitivity.