Important Information for Parents and Carers
At Lea Nursery School, the safety and wellbeing of every child is our highest priority. We take children’s allergies and food-related medical needs very seriously and follow strict guidance and procedures to help keep children safe.
What is Benedict’s Law?
Benedict’s Law is legislation, that came into effect from September 2026, designed to improve awareness and safety around allergies and anaphylaxis in early years and educational settings. It highlights the importance of having appropriate measures in place to protect children who may have serious allergies.
Lea Nursery’s Approach to Allergies
Lea Nursery follows strict guidance from the Department for Education (DfE) regarding children with allergies and medical conditions. We work closely with parents and carers to ensure that we understand each child’s individual needs and have appropriate procedures in place.
Parents and carers must inform the nursery of any known allergies, intolerances, or medical conditions that may affect their child. We ask that all relevant information is kept up to date so that staff can respond appropriately.
Where a child has a diagnosed allergy, we will work with parents/carers to ensure that the appropriate allergy and medical information, risk assessments and emergency procedures are in place.
Keeping Children Safe
Our staff are expected to:
• Take all reported allergies seriously.
• Complete mandatory training on allergy awareness and anaphylaxis response
• Always follow the nursery’s allergy and medical procedures.
• Be aware of children who have known allergies.
• Follow agreed procedures for food, snacks and mealtimes.
• Ensure appropriate precautions are taken to minimise the risk of accidental exposure.
• Follow the child’s individual healthcare or allergy plan where applicable.
• Respond promptly and appropriately if a child shows signs of an allergic reaction.
• Communicate with parents/carers about any concerns or changes to a child’s allergy or medical needs.
What Parents and Carers Need to Do
Please ensure that the nursery is informed immediately if your child:
• Is diagnosed with a new allergy.
• Has a change to an existing allergy.
• Has been prescribed an adrenaline auto-injector (AAI/EpiPen).
• Has experienced an allergic reaction.
• Has had any changes to their medication or emergency treatment plan.
Parents should provide the nursery with all relevant medical information and prescribed medication as requested, ensuring that medication is in date and appropriately labelled.
Working Together
Keeping children with allergies safe is a shared responsibility. We ask parents and carers to work closely with the nursery and provide accurate, up-to-date information about their child’s needs.
Lea Nursery School is committed to following current DfE guidance and maintaining robust procedures to support children with allergies and medical conditions.
If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s allergies or our procedures, please speak to a member of the nursery team.