FREE allergy training offered to all schools

All education staff in the UK are now able to claim free Allergy & Anaphylaxis training for the remainder of 2024.

A leading e-learning provider is heading up the delivery of an online course, in tandem with leading industry experts who will share vital knowledge on how to identify common allergens and the signs of an allergic reaction, including anaphylaxis.

The course also covers emergency situations, including how to administer an adrenaline auto-injector, and empowers staff to implement correct allergy procedures. Learners will also understand the impacts that allergies can have on pupils, covering allergy bullying and the effects allergies can have on mental health.

A recent report created by The Benedict Blythe Foundation found that 1-2 children in every average-sized classroom will have a food allergy, and that almost 1 in 5 (18%) of allergic reactions to food happen in schools.

The free course was created with Dr José Costa MD FRCPCH, a Paediatric Allergy Consultant with over 16 years of experience. Dr Costa holds a postgraduate certificate in Paediatric Allergy from Imperial College London and is a fellow of the Royal College Of Paediatrics and Child Health and a member of the British Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

Expert advice was also provided by Natalie Hopkins, Allergy Trainer & Founder of The Allergy Badge. A parent to a child with life-threatening allergies herself, Natalie is a dedicated allergy and anaphylaxis trainer and is accredited in anaphylaxis by the Royal College of Nursing.

Dr Richard Anderson, Head of Learning and Development for the service provider, said “Over the last few years, there have been far too many stories where people were seriously affected or tragically lost their lives due to allergic and anaphylactic reactions, and research has shown that this sadly does often happen in schools. Correct training and knowledge is crucial to minimise these risks."

Speaking about the training provider, Dr. Anderson said that they had "...created an expert-led course that will equip school staff with the knowledge and confidence to create safe and prosperous environments for all of the children and young people at their establishments, and empower those with allergies to get the most that they can out of their education.

“Teachers and educators are on the frontline when it comes to managing student health, and we know how challenging this can be, from both a workload and a budgetary perspective. By offering this course free of charge, we want to ensure that as many people as possible have access to this vital knowledge.” 

Natalie Hopkins, Founder of the Allergy Badge, said: “It's brilliant to have this course accessible to all members of education staff to allow for a schoolwide approach to allergy care. It could be just one key piece of information that you learn that could potentially save a child's life or make sure that they don't have a reaction.

“When I sent my daughter to school for the first time, it was the most anxious time as a parent, it filled me with dread handing her over to someone else who was having to keep her safe. If we can give staff all of this knowledge, all of the information that I wish the teachers had had when I handed my children over to school, we will have done our job correctly when it comes to training.

The course, which is assured by City & Guilds and accredited by CPD, can be taken for free by all UK education staff, and can be accessed by clicking here.

Alongside the free Allergy course, a free Safeguarding INSET pack has been created, including advice on how to identify and report potential abuse and tips to create an effective safeguarding culture. The free pack, which has been shortlisted for a Teach Award and is fully customisable to suit all schools and age groups, can be downloaded by visiting this link.

A registered B-Corp, the training provider 'High Speed Training' has also donated over 75,000 breakfasts to schoolchildren across the UK in partnership with Magic Breakfast, a charity that provides free breakfasts to children at their schools.