Allergies and Anaphylaxis
At The Meadows Academy, the safety and wellbeing of pupils with allergies is a priority. We recognise that allergies can be life‑threatening and that pupils and families need confidence that clear systems, trained staff and safe food practices are in place.
We maintain a register of any pupils or staff with allergies.
We follow national legislation and statutory guidance, and work closely with families, healthcare professionals and catering providers to reduce risk and respond quickly if an allergic reaction occurs.
How We Meet Our Legal Duties
Natasha’s Law (Food Allergen Labelling)
Natasha’s Law was introduced to improve food safety for people with allergies. It requires that all ‘pre‑packed for direct sale’ (PPDS) food contains a full ingredients list, with the 14 regulated allergens clearly highlighted.
In school, PPDS food may include items such as:
- sandwiches or wraps prepared in advance
- packaged salads or snack pots
- any food made and packed on site before pupils choose or receive it
At The Meadows Academy, we meet Natasha’s Law by:
- ensuring all PPDS food prepared on site is clearly labelled with full ingredients and allergen information
-
working with our school cooks to ensure consistent allergen control and checks
- ensuring staff know when food is classed as PPDS and when alternative allergen communication is required
- making allergen information available to pupils, parents and carers before food is provided
This approach ensures pupils with allergies can make safe choices and are not reliant on verbal information alone.
Here Page 1 and Page 2 is our leaflet for parents with children with allergies which explains how we implement Natasha's Law in school in more detail.
If you want to know more about Natasha's Law please visit this website:
New Statutory Allergy Safety Guidance (From September 2026)
From September 2026, schools in England must follow new statutory guidance on allergy safety, introduced following the death of Benedict Blythe and often referred to as Benedict’s Law. This guidance sets clear expectations for how schools protect pupils with allergies.
The Meadows Academy already meets and exceeds these requirements. In practice, this means we:
- have a standalone Allergy and Anaphylaxis Policy, which is published on our trust website
- keep spare emergency adrenaline auto‑injectors (AAIs) on site for use in an emergency and ensure staff know their location and how to use them
- ensure all staff receive allergy and anaphylaxis training, including recognising symptoms and responding quickly
- maintain individual healthcare plans and allergy action plans for pupils with diagnosed allergies
- review allergy arrangements regularly, and following any incident or near miss
These measures ensure a rapid, confident response to allergic reactions, reduce risk across the school day, and provide reassurance to pupils and families.
If you want to know more about Benedict's Law please visit this website:
Partnership with Parents and Carers
We believe effective allergy management relies on strong communication.
Parents and carers are asked to:
- inform the school of any diagnosed allergies
- provide up‑to‑date medication and action plans
- work with us to review risk assessments and care plans
We ask that families do not send food into school unless agreed, to help keep all pupils safe.
Further Information
Our full Allergy and Anaphylaxis Policy explains our procedures in detail, including:
- risk assessment
- food management
- emergency response
- staff roles and responsibilities
If you have any concerns or questions about allergy arrangements, please contact the school office.