If your child has a severe allergy, one of the most urgent questions is: what happens if they have an anaphylactic reaction at school? Can teachers give an EpiPen? Are they allowed to? And what can you do to make sure your child is protected? Here’s everything parents and teachers need to know.
What the Law Says
In England, schools are not yet legally required to store or administer an EpiPen — but this is exactly what the Allergy and Anaphylaxis Trust is campaigning to change.
Under Section 100 of the Children and Families Act 2014, schools must support pupils with medical conditions. This means schools have a legal duty to have a healthcare plan for your child — but they can rely on staff volunteering to administer medication rather than being trained and required to do so.
Importantly, schools can keep a spare, emergency adrenaline auto-injector (AAI/EpiPen) on the premises under the Human Medicines (Amendment) Regulations 2017, without a prescription. This means schools don’t need to wait for a child to bring their own — they can have one ready. But too few do.
What Schools Are Supposed to Do
Under current guidance, schools should:
- Have an individual healthcare plan (IHP) for any child with a diagnosed allergy or anaphylaxis risk
- Train at least some staff in how to recognise and respond to anaphylaxis
- Store your child’s prescribed EpiPen safely and keep it accessible — not locked away
- Call 999 immediately if a child shows signs of anaphylaxis, even after an EpiPen has been given
However, there is no legal requirement for schools to have trained, designated staff who are required to administer an EpiPen. This gap is putting children’s lives at risk.
What Parents Can Do Right Now
If your child has a severe allergy, take these steps now — don’t wait for an incident:
- Ask for a healthcare plan. Request a written individual healthcare plan (IHP) from the school SENCO or headteacher. It should detail the signs of anaphylaxis, where the EpiPen is stored, and who is trained to use it.
- Provide two EpiPens. Always send two prescribed auto-injectors to school — one can fail or be mislaid. Label them clearly.
- Ask who is trained. Find out which staff members have been trained in anaphylaxis response. If no one has, escalate to the headteacher and your local authority.
- Check the emergency action plan. Make sure it says “call 999 first, give EpiPen, call 999 again if no improvement” — not “call parents first”.
- Ask about a spare AAI. Confirm whether the school holds an emergency spare adrenaline auto-injector under the 2017 regulations, in addition to your child’s own.
Signs of Anaphylaxis to Know
Make sure school staff — and your child if old enough — know these warning signs:
- Swelling of the lips, face, or throat
- Difficulty breathing or swallowing
- A sudden drop in blood pressure or feeling faint
- Hives, rash, or skin that is pale or blotchy
- Vomiting or stomach cramps following exposure to an allergen
- Loss of consciousness
Anaphylaxis is a medical emergency. If in doubt, use the EpiPen and call 999 immediately.
What Needs to Change — Our Campaign
Currently, whether a child survives an anaphylactic reaction at school can depend entirely on whether a willing member of staff happens to be nearby. That is not good enough.
The Allergy and Anaphylaxis Trust is campaigning to make it a legal requirement for every school in the UK to:
- Hold a spare, emergency EpiPen on the premises at all times
- Have at least one trained, designated staff member responsible for administering it
- Ensure all staff receive basic anaphylaxis awareness training
Children shouldn’t have to rely on luck. Every school in the UK should be prepared. Please support our campaign — share this page, write to your MP, or make a donation to help us push this into law.