Keeping Children Happy and Safe

At Denham Village School, every child’s health, safety and wellbeing comes first. We want all our pupils to enjoy school, take part fully in everything we offer, and feel safe and supported while they do. This includes children who live with allergies or asthma.

Benedict’s Law

Our Allergy Safety Policy follows the Department for Education’s statutory guidance, Allergy Safety in Schools (July 2026), known as Benedict’s Law. It is named after Benedict Blythe. The guidance helps schools make sure that no child is put at risk because of an allergy, and we are committed to meeting it in full.

Around one in five children with an allergy have their first reaction at school. That is why our arrangements are not only for children with a known diagnosis. Every member of our staff is trained to recognise and respond to an allergic reaction, including anaphylaxis, and to an asthma attack.

An “allergy aware” school

We take an allergy aware approach rather than banning particular foods. A “nut-free” label can give a false sense of security, because any food can cause a serious reaction. Instead, we:

• work closely with our caterers so allergen information is available for all food served
• check who has an allergy at mealtimes in more than one way, while making sure children still sit and eat with their friends
• thinking about allergens in cooking, science, art and craft activities.

An Asthma Friendly School

We are proud to be an Asthma Friendly School. Asthma is common, serious but controllable, and with the right support, children with asthma can take part in everything school has to offer. We have:

• a named Asthma Lead and an asthma register, updated every year
• a personal Asthma Action Plan for every child with asthma
• immediate access to reliever inhalers at all times. Younger children’s inhalers are kept in a clearly labelled box in their classroom, and older children are encouraged to carry their own once they are ready
• an emergency salbutamol inhaler and spacer in school.

Ready to help in an emergency

We keep spare adrenaline auto-injectors and an emergency asthma inhaler in a clearly marked kit in our first aid cupboard, unlocked and quick to reach. Staff are trained to bring help and medication to the child, never to send a child who is unwell to the office alone. 

Included in every part of school life

Children with allergies or asthma are never excluded from trips, sport, residential visits, clubs or celebrations because of their condition. Absence linked to their condition does not count against attendance rewards, and parents are never required to come along on a trip as a condition of their child taking part.

Working together with families

You know your child best, and your help makes all the difference. We ask parents and carers to:

• tell us about any allergies or asthma when your child joins, or if anything changes
• provide in-date medication, any Allergy or Asthma Action Plan, and signed consent forms
• return the information and consent form we send home each school year

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the school office, who will put you in touch with our Allergy Safety and Asthma Lead, Mrs Debbie Gonzalez.

Our policies

Our full Allergy Safety Policy and Asthma Policy are available to download below, or in hard copy from the school office on request.