UK law on allergy pens in schools to change from September - Jersey Evening Post
by Antonia Rubio · Jersey Evening PostPosted inNews
UK law on allergy pens in schools to change from September
by Antonia Rubio 13 July 202610 July 2026
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NEW UK laws requiring schools to hold life-saving EpiPens for any student to use will not be introduced in Jersey – although ministers say the Island already has many of the same safeguards in place.
The UK Government has announced that all schools in England will be required to hold adrenaline auto-injectors, have a whole-school allergy policy, provide allergy training for all staff and ensure pupils with allergies have individual healthcare plans. The new laws comes into force in September.
The measures, known as Benedict’s Law, were introduced following the death of five-year-old Benedict Blythe, who suffered a fatal allergic reaction after accidentally consuming cow’s milk at his primary school in 2021.
However, Education Minister Catherine Curtis said Jersey would continue with its existing arrangements rather than introducing equivalent legislation.
“The Government of Jersey introduced changes in 2025 allowing schools to purchase, store and administer spare adrenaline auto-injectors in emergency situations,” she said.
Since then, 35 state schools as well as Highlands College have been issued with spare adrenaline auto-injectors.
The devices provide an additional safeguard if a pupil’s own prescribed injector is unavailable, out of date or cannot be accessed quickly.
Deputy Curtis said guidance had been provided to schools alongside wider allergy management arrangements – including first-aid procedures, the administration of medicines and individual care or allergy action plans for pupils with known allergies.
More than 300 members of staff have attended face-to-face training on the use of adrenaline auto-injectors, while a further 300 have completed an online training module on children with allergies and anaphylaxis.
The spare devices have been used on fewer than five occasions since the scheme was introduced, primarily when a student did not have their own prescribed injector available.
Deputy Curtis said: “The Children, Young People, Education and Skills Department is aware of the UK Government’s announcement on further allergy safety requirements for schools in England.
“Jersey already has a number of these safeguards in place, including the ability for schools to hold spare adrenaline auto-injectors, central guidance, staff training, and individual plans for pupils with known allergies.
“CYPES will continue to review the arrangements, including training uptake, accessibility, storage, expiry checks, and post-incident learning, so that the approach remains proportionate and effective.
“We will continue to monitor developments in England and elsewhere and will consider whether any further updates are needed for Jersey.”
Deputy Curtis, who chaired the Children, Education and Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel during the previous political term, added that her priority remains “ensuring schools have the right practical arrangements in place” to reduce risks to students and respond quickly should a child have an anaphylactic shock.
The government’s 2025 updates have been welcomed by parents of children with severe allergies, although campaigners say regular oversight is needed to ensure schools consistently follow the guidance.
Dominic Jones, a parent of a child living with food allergies and co-founder of the Jersey Food Allergy Group, described the introduction of Benedict’s Law in England as “a milestone” for protecting children with allergies in educational settings.
He added that families in Jersey had welcomed guidance introduced by CYPES last year to ensure appropriate arrangements were in place to support and protect children with allergies while at school.
However, Mr Jones said that, in the absence of legislation similar to Benedict’s Law, it was important that procedures within schools are regularly monitored.
“It is key that they are followed and, without a similar law in Jersey, that arrangements are put in place by CYPES to audit individual school procedures regularly to ensure they are carried out and maintained,” he said.
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