“We don’t want any other families to go through what we’ve been through,” Helen Blythe said. “The experience of having an allergic reaction is really distressing and we want to guard against that wherever possible.”
According to the DfE, 500,000 days of learning were lost last year due to allergy-related illnesses or medical appointments. The government hopes the new statutory guidance will not only save lives, but also keep more children in school.
Helen Houghton, head teacher of Warter Primary School in East Yorkshire, described the new guidance as “fundamental”. She said 5% of children at her school have allergies, with some that are “quite complex” to manage.
In response, the school has allocated part of its budget towards further staff training and equipment for allergies. “It’s a small amount to have them there and make sure everyone is safe,” said Houghton, who meets in-person with parents of children with allergies to ensure a personalised medical plan is in place.