Benedict's Law

From September 2026, all schools in England are required to comply with Benedict's Law, which introduces new measures to improve allergy safety in schools following the tragic death of Benedict Blythe from an allergic reaction at school. The legislation aims to ensure that all children with allergies are safe, included and well supported throughout the school day. 

Under Benedict's Law, schools must:

• Have a published Allergy Safety Policy.
• Provide allergy awareness and emergency response training for all staff.
• Hold spare Adrenaline Auto-Injectors (AAIs) for emergency use.
• Maintain Individual Healthcare Plans for pupils with diagnosed allergies.
• Record and review allergy-related incidents to help keep children safe. 

Further information about Benedict's Law can be found on the Benedict Blythe Foundation website.

 

Our Nut-Aware Approach

To support the safety and wellbeing of pupils with severe nut allergies, Queens School operates a nut-aware environment and asks all families to avoid sending nuts or products containing nuts into school.

Whilst every effort is made to reduce the risk of exposure, it is not possible to guarantee a completely nut-free environment. We therefore work in partnership with pupils, parents, carers and staff to minimise risks, promote allergy awareness and encourage children to develop an understanding of how to manage their allergies safely and confidently.

What do we mean by "nuts"?

For the purposes of our allergy management procedures, the term "nuts" includes both tree nuts (such as almonds, cashews, hazelnuts, walnuts, pistachios and Brazil nuts) and peanuts. Although peanuts are technically legumes rather than nuts, they can cause severe allergic reactions and are therefore included within our nut-aware approach.

Please do not send the following items into school:

• Peanuts and peanut products (including peanut butter)
• Tree nuts and products containing tree nuts (almonds, cashews, hazelnuts, walnuts, pistachios and Brazil nuts)
• Chocolate spreads containing nuts (e.g. Nutella)
• Cereal, fruit or snack bars containing nuts
• Chocolate bars, sweets or confectionery containing nuts
• Cakes or baked goods containing nuts
• Home-cooked meals made with nuts or nut oils
• Sesame seed products, where possible, as some individuals with nut allergies may also react to sesame

Common Peanuts and Tree Nuts Ingredients

Includes, but is not limited to:

• Peanuts
• Almonds
• Cashews
• Hazelnuts
• Walnuts
• Pistachios
• Brazil nuts
• Nut oils and nut-based ingredients

School Meals

Our catering provider, Caterlink, follows the requirements of Natasha's Law and takes extensive measures to manage allergens in the food prepared on site.

However, as ingredients and manufacturing processes can change, no school environment can guarantee the complete absence of nut traces.

Supporting Pupils with Allergies

Parents and carers must inform the school of any diagnosed or suspected allergies and provide all relevant medical information and prescribed medication.

Where required, the school will work with families and healthcare professionals to develop an Individual Healthcare Plan outlining:

• Known allergens
• Signs and symptoms of an allergic reaction
• Emergency procedures
• Medication requirements
• Reasonable adjustments needed to support the pupil in school

Homemade Food and Celebration Treats

Any homemade food brought into school for sharing must be clearly labelled with a full list of ingredients. If there is any uncertainty regarding ingredients or potential allergen contamination, the item may not be shared with pupils.

If you are unsure whether a food item is suitable, please speak to a member of staff before bringing it into school.

Working Together

We respectfully ask all parents and carers to support our nut-aware approach and help us create the safest possible environment for all pupils. By working together, we can significantly reduce the risk of accidental exposure whilst supporting children with allergies to participate fully in school life.

Our allergy lead is Kerry Mclean, Assistant Head & SENDCo.