Keeping children with food allergies safe in our schools—Time for urgent action: Supporting evidence (Benedict Blythe Foundation, May 2023)

Summary

Food allergy affects around 7-8% of children worldwide, or about two children in an average-sized classroom. As children spend at least 20% of their waking hours in school, it is not surprising that data show that 18% of food allergy reactions and 25% of first-time anaphylactic reactions occur at school. This report by the Benedict Blythe Foundations looks at the prevalence and seriousness of allergies in school-aged children, and the devastating consequences when things go wrong at school.

Content

The report makes a number of recommendations to improve the safety of children with food allergies in UK schools, including changes to the law. The report recommends:

1. Making it mandatory for all schools:

• to have an allergy policy, including an anaphylaxis plan
• for pupils with food allergies, an IHP and anaphylaxis action plan completed (and regularly updated) collaboratively by the child, parents/carers and school staff
• to hold spare AAIs that are in-date
• to implement training for school staff and teachers on allergies and anaphylaxis and a whole school allergy awareness approach

2. Government funding for the additional cost to schools for AAIs and training

3. DfE/FSA commissioned research into the effectiveness of approaches and interventions to optimise the preparedness of schools for preventing allergic reactions and managing anaphylaxis

4. Adherence to these measures to be checked as part of schools’ assessments by Ofsted