Effective health and safety in schools requires a coordinated approach to supporting pupils with allergies.
In this guide, we offer practical advice on developing effective policies, implementing day-to-day procedures, carrying out suitable risk assessments and building a positive allergy safety culture. We also include examples of good practice, links to authoritative guidance and a comprehensive self-assessment checklist.
What is health and safety in schools?
Health and safety in education is about creating an environment where pupils, staff and visitors can learn and work safely. This means identifying risks, putting practical control measures in place and regularly reviewing arrangements as activities, premises and pupil needs change.
To support pupils with allergies, schools should have suitable policies, risk assessments, trained staff and emergency procedures that help prevent allergic reactions while enabling pupils with allergies to participate fully in school life.
Who is responsible for health and safety in schools?
Overall legal responsibility for health and safety in schools sits with the employer, which may be the local authority, governing body or academy trust, depending on the type of school.
In most schools, responsibility for the day-to-day management of health and safety is delegated to the headteacher and senior leadership team.
| Role | Responsibilities |
| Employer (local authority, governing body or academy trust) | Maintain overall legal accountability for health and safety, ensure suitable policies, resources, training and arrangements are in place to manage allergy risks, and provide appropriate oversight. |
| Headteachers and senior leaders | Implement the school’s health and safety policy, ensure allergy procedures are followed, provide appropriate staff training, make sure emergency medication is readily accessible and monitor the effectiveness of allergy management arrangements. |
| Teachers and support staff | Help prevent allergic reactions by following school procedures, understanding pupils’ healthcare plans and identifying potential allergy risks during lessons and activities. Recognise the signs of allergic reactions, respond promptly in an emergency and report incidents and concerns. |
| Catering teams | Follow food safety and allergen management procedures, prevent cross-contamination, provide accurate allergen information, prepare food safely and communicate any allergen-related concerns promptly. |
| All employees | Follow school procedures, understand their responsibilities for supporting pupils with allergies, help identify and reduce allergy risks, respond appropriately if an allergic reaction occurs and report concerns, incidents or near misses. |
Health and safety policy in schools for pupils with allergies
A school health and safety policy should provide a clear, consistent approach to managing allergy risks. To be effective, it must be communicated to all relevant staff, understood and followed consistently across the school.
A policy should clearly set out:
How pupils with allergies are identified
Explain how allergy information is collected before a pupil starts school, verified with parents or carers, recorded accurately and reviewed whenever medical needs change.
The policy should ensure that staff know which pupils have allergies, understand their healthcare plans and know what to do in an emergency.
Individual healthcare plans (IHPs)
Describe when an Individual Healthcare Plan is required, what information it should contain and who is responsible for preparing and reviewing it.
Plans should include known allergens, signs and symptoms, prescribed medication, emergency procedures, parental contact details and any adjustments needed to support the pupil safely in school.
Medication arrangements
Explain where prescribed adrenaline auto-injectors (AAIs) are stored and ensure they are always readily accessible and never locked away or difficult to reach in an emergency.
The policy should explain how staff know where AAIs are kept, how expiry dates are monitored, how replacement medication is obtained before it expires, and when emergency spare AAIs should be available.
Food and catering controls
Set out how allergen information is managed throughout food preparation and service. This must include preventing cross-contamination, checking ingredients before meals are served, communicating allergen information clearly, supervising younger pupils where appropriate and discouraging food sharing between pupils.
Classroom activities, trips and school events
Explain how allergy risks are considered before classroom activities involving food or potential allergens, educational visits, sports events, breakfast clubs, after-school clubs, bake sales and celebrations.
Staff should know when additional controls or individual risk assessments are required so pupils can participate safely.
Emergency response procedures
Provide a clear step-by-step procedure for recognising an allergic reaction, responding to anaphylaxis, administering an adrenaline auto-injector (AAI), calling 999 and contacting parents or carers.
The policy should also explain how incidents will be recorded, reviewed and communicated after the event.
Roles and responsibilities
Clearly define who is responsible for implementing allergy arrangements across the school. This should include the employer, headteacher, senior leaders, teachers, support staff, first aiders, catering teams and educational visit leaders, ensuring everyone understands their role before an incident occurs.
Communication, training and review
Explain how allergy information will be shared with parents, healthcare professionals, catering providers and relevant members of staff.
The policy should also describe how staff receive allergy awareness training, how procedures are communicated to new employees and how policies will be reviewed following incidents, near misses or changes in legislation or pupil needs.
What health and safety procedures in schools help protect pupils with allergies?
Effective health and safety procedures in schools help staff manage allergy risks consistently throughout the school day. Procedures should state exactly what staff need to do before, during and after activities where pupils could be exposed to allergens.
Procedures should cover:
- Before pupils arrive – Check that emergency medication is present, readily accessible and within expiry date. Confirm any planned activities involving food or potential allergens have been reviewed and appropriate controls are in place.
- During lessons and activities – Follow agreed procedures before using food, ingredients or other materials that could trigger an allergic reaction. Check whether adaptations are needed so pupils with allergies can participate safely without unnecessary exclusion.
- At meal and snack times – Verify allergen information before food is served, supervise younger pupils where appropriate, discourage food sharing and follow agreed arrangements to reduce the risk of cross-contamination.
- When supervising trips and events – Confirm emergency medication is available, ensure accompanying staff understand pupils’ healthcare plans, check catering arrangements in advance and review any additional risks presented by the venue or activity.
- If an allergic reaction occurs – Follow the school’s emergency procedure, administer medication where required, call 999 without delay if anaphylaxis is suspected and ensure the incident is communicated to the appropriate staff and parents or carers.
- After an incident or near miss – Record what happened, review whether procedures were followed, identify any lessons learned and update risk assessments, healthcare plans or working practices where necessary.
- When new staff or volunteers are involved – Ensure they receive information about relevant pupils, understand the school’s allergy procedures and know who to contact if they need advice or support.
Following clear, well-rehearsed procedures helps staff respond consistently, reduces the likelihood of mistakes and ensures pupils with allergies are protected throughout the school day.
What should a risk assessment in schools include for pupils with allergies?
A suitable risk assessment in schools should identify where pupils may meet allergens, who could be harmed, the control measures already in place and whether further action is needed.
| School area or activity | Potential allergy risks | Examples of control measures |
| Classrooms | Food-based learning, science experiments, craft materials, sensory play, latex products or shared equipment. | Check materials before lessons, substitute higher-risk products where possible, encourage handwashing and clean surfaces before and after activities. |
| Dining halls and catering | Cross-contamination, incorrect allergen information, food sharing between pupils or mistakes during food service. | Verify ingredients before serving meals, separate allergen-containing foods where appropriate, train catering staff, supervise younger pupils and discourage food sharing. |
| Educational visits and residential trips | Unknown ingredients, unfamiliar catering arrangements, delayed access to emergency treatment or medication being forgotten. | Contact venues in advance, discuss dietary requirements, carry emergency medication at all times, ensure trained staff accompany pupils and know the nearest emergency medical facilities. |
| Breakfast clubs, after-school clubs and holiday provision | Different staff, different food suppliers and activities outside normal school routines. | Share healthcare plans with club leaders, brief temporary staff, review menus and ensure emergency medication remains readily accessible. |
| Sports, outdoor learning and playgrounds | Insect stings, pollen, mould, exercise-induced allergic reactions or food consumed outdoors. | Identify seasonal risks, ensure medication accompanies pupils outdoors where appropriate and brief supervising staff before activities begin. |
| Special events and celebrations | Birthday treats, bake sales, cultural events, fundraising activities and food brought in from home. | Request ingredient information, communicate restrictions in advance, consider non-food alternatives and supervise food distribution. |
| Visitors, contractors and external providers | Bringing food onto site or running activities involving allergens without understanding individual pupil needs. | Inform visitors of relevant restrictions, brief external providers before activities begin and ensure they know how to summon assistance in an emergency. |
Risk assessments must be reviewed whenever a pupil’s medical needs change, new activities are introduced, an allergic reaction or near miss occurs, or lessons can be learned from previous incidents.
How can schools build a culture of allergy safety?
When allergy awareness becomes part of the school’s wider safety culture, staff are more likely to identify risks early, support pupils confidently and take appropriate action before an incident occurs.
Schools can help build a positive safety culture by:
- Discussing allergy risks during staff meetings and briefings – Use regular meetings to share reminders, discuss upcoming activities that may present allergy risks, communicate changes to pupils’ medical needs and reinforce emergency procedures before educational visits or special events.
- Encouraging staff to report concerns and near misses without fear of blame – Create an environment where employees feel comfortable raising concerns about unsafe practices, medication issues or potential allergen exposures. Investigating near misses can identify weaknesses before someone is harmed.
- Involving pupils in age-appropriate discussions about food sharing and inclusion – Help pupils understand why some classmates must avoid certain foods, do not allow them to share food or drinks, and promote a supportive, inclusive environment where pupils with allergies do not feel excluded from activities.
- Working closely with parents to understand changing medical needs – Maintain regular communication with parents or carers to ensure healthcare plans remain accurate, medication is up to date, and staff are informed about any changes to allergies, treatment or emergency contact details.
- Reviewing lessons learned following incidents and sharing improvements across the school – After an allergic reaction or near miss, review what happened, identify what worked well and where improvements are needed, then communicate any changes to policies, procedures, training or risk assessments so the same issues are less likely to occur again.
Where can schools find allergy health and safety advice?
These resources provide reliable information on health and safety in the classroom to support pupils with allergies:
- Department for Education – Allergy Safety in Schools – Statutory guidance for schools in England covering allergy policies, Individual Healthcare Plans (IHPs), staff training, emergency procedures, incident reporting and the use of spare adrenaline auto-injectors (AAIs). It also includes template policies and healthcare plans.
- Department for Education – Allergy Guidance for Schools – Practical advice on meeting pupils’ dietary needs, managing allergens safely, catering arrangements and links to additional resources for schools.
- Health and Safety Executive (HSE) – Leading Sensible Health and Safety Management in Schools – Guidance on proportionate health and safety management, helping school leaders focus on real risks while embedding a positive health and safety culture.
- Spare Adrenaline in Schools – A dedicated resource developed with allergy specialists and government organisations, providing practical guidance on adrenaline auto-injectors, allergy action plans and supporting pupils with allergies in educational settings.
School allergy management checklist
Use this checklist to review your school’s current allergy management arrangements.
Policies and planning
✔ Is your health and safety policy up to date and does it include allergy management?
✔ Have all pupils with allergies been identified and is their information reviewed whenever medical needs change?
✔ Does every pupil who requires one have an up-to-date Individual Healthcare Plan (IHP)?
✔ Have allergy risks been assessed for classrooms, catering, educational visits, sports activities and special events?
Staff awareness
✔ Do all relevant staff know which pupils have allergies and understand their responsibilities?
✔ Have teachers, support staff, catering teams, lunchtime supervisors and first aiders received appropriate allergy awareness training?
✔ Are supply teachers, volunteers, contractors and external activity providers briefed where appropriate?
✔ Do staff know how to recognise the signs and symptoms of an allergic reaction and anaphylaxis?
Medication and emergency response
✔ Is prescribed emergency medication readily accessible at all times and never locked away?
✔ Are adrenaline auto-injectors (AAIs) checked regularly to ensure they are in date and available when needed?
✔ Do staff know where emergency medication is stored and how to access it without delay?
✔ Have staff practised the school’s emergency response procedures so they can respond confidently in a real incident?
Day-to-day management
✔ Are catering teams following procedures to reduce the risk of cross-contamination and communicate allergen information accurately?
✔ Are allergy risks considered before classroom activities involving food, science experiments, sensory play or other potential allergens?
✔ Are educational visits, breakfast clubs, after-school activities and special events planned with allergy risks in mind?
✔ Are pupils told not to share food and supported to participate safely in school life?
Review and continuous improvement
✔ Are allergic reactions, medication errors and near misses recorded, investigated and reviewed?
✔ Are lessons learned used to improve policies, procedures, risk assessments and staff training?
✔ Are parents or carers kept informed whenever healthcare plans or allergy arrangements need to change?
Anaphylaxis & Allergy Awareness Training for schools
Creating a safe and inclusive approach to health and safety in schools depends on staff who understand how to manage allergy risks confidently. Our Anaphylaxis & Allergy Awareness Training covers allergy awareness, adrenaline auto-injectors (AAIs), Individual Healthcare Plans (IHPs), risk reduction strategies and emergency procedures.
Available as SCORM-compliant eLearning or through our online learning platform, the course helps schools deliver consistent allergy awareness training to all staff.
Find out more about Anaphylaxis & Allergy Awareness Training on our website, or contact our friendly team today on 0203 011 4242 / [email protected]
Tom Paxman
Managing Director (Digital)
