Asked by: Baroness O'Loan (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government what provision exists to ensure that training is provided to school staff on identifying and responding to severe allergic reactions.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Schools are required under Section 100 of the Children and Families Act 2014 to make arrangements to support pupils with medical conditions, including allergies.
They must have regard to the statutory guidance ‘Supporting pupils at school with medical conditions’, which sets expectations for training and emergency procedures. Governing bodies should ensure that staff receive suitable training to identify and respond to severe allergic reactions, such as anaphylaxis, and that policies and systems are effectively implemented. Ofsted assesses the effectiveness of these arrangements as part of school inspections.