Allergy Awareness Training for Schools

Yes. Schools in England have a responsibility under Benedict’s Law and the statutory Allergy Safety in Schools guidance to put allergy safety training in place for staff. The guidance states that all staff present when pupils are scheduled to be on site should receive allergy awareness training, including permanent and temporary staff, supply teachers, agency workers, regular volunteers and catering staff.

School staff should receive allergy awareness training that enables them to recognise and respond appropriately to allergies and allergic reactions in a school environment.

Training should cover common allergens, the signs and symptoms of an allergic reaction and anaphylaxis, what to do in an allergy emergency, and the use of adrenaline devices. Staff should also understand their responsibilities for reducing allergen exposure, following the school’s allergy safety policy, supporting pupils with allergies and knowing the arrangements for prescribed and spare emergency medication.

Our Allergy Awareness for Schools course covers these key areas and has been developed in line with Benedict’s Law and the statutory Allergy Safety in Schools guidance.

Under Benedict’s Law, schools in England must ensure staff receive appropriate allergy awareness training so they understand how to keep pupils with allergies safe.

Training should cover how to recognise and respond to allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, what to do in an allergy emergency, and the use of adrenaline devices. Staff should also understand the school’s allergy safety policy, how to reduce the risk of allergen exposure, and the arrangements for pupils’ prescribed and spare emergency medication.

Our Allergy Awareness for Schools course has been developed in line with Benedict’s Law and the statutory Allergy Safety in Schools guidance, helping school staff understand their responsibilities and respond confidently to allergy risks and emergencies.

The course is designed for anyone working in a school in England who may encounter pupils with allergies. This includes teachers, teaching assistants, support staff, lunchtime supervisors, catering staff, office staff, senior leaders, supply staff, coaches, breakfast and after-school club staff, and volunteers working under the school’s supervision.

Yes. The course explains how to recognise the signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis and what to do in an allergy emergency. It also covers the use of prescribed and spare adrenaline devices, including when they should be used.

No. The course covers allergies more broadly, including different allergic conditions and allergic reactions. Food allergies are given particular attention because they are common among children and can present significant risks in schools.

The course is designed primarily for schools in England. However, much of the practical content is also relevant to early years settings, including recognising allergic reactions, preventing allergen exposure and responding to anaphylaxis. Early years providers should also follow the legislation and guidance applicable to their own setting.

The course takes approximately 1 to 2 hours to complete. This is an estimated time, and learners can take longer if they need more time to review the course materials.
You do not need to complete the course in one sitting. You can stop at any time and return later to continue from where you left off.

At the end of the Allergy Awareness for Schools course, you will complete a short online assessment consisting of 15 questions. Questions are generated from question banks, so they may vary each time you take the assessment.

There is no limit to the number of attempts. If you do not pass first time, you can review the course materials before trying again. Once you successfully complete the assessment, your certificate will be available to download and print immediately.

No. The Allergy Awareness for Schools certificate does not have an expiry date. However, we recommend that learners renew their training annually to keep their knowledge and understanding up to date.

A recommended refresher date is shown on the certificate as a reminder of when the training should be renewed.

The Allergy Safety in Schools statutory guidance recommends that allergy safety training is renewed annually to ensure staff knowledge remains up to date and that staff remain confident in recognising allergy risks and responding appropriately to allergic reactions and emergencies.

Yes. Schools can purchase multiple course licences and assign them to individual members of staff when they are ready to begin their training. This makes it easy to manage training across your school and provide access as and when required.

Individual learners can also purchase a single course licence for their own training.