Become a Asthma Allergy Friendly School

Asthma is a common and treatable long-term condition that affects the airways. Tower Hamlets has one of the highest rates of childhood asthma in the country, with more than 3,000 children and young people under 19 diagnosed with asthma. Effective asthma management, including regular review of personalised care plans, can improve wellbeing, reduce school absences and help prevent avoidable asthma attacks.

While parents/carers and healthcare professionals are responsible for a child’s clinical care, schools play a vital role in creating a safe environment, supporting children to manage their condition during the school day and identifying when further support may be needed.

The Asthma and Allergy Friendly Schools (AAFS) Programme helps schools develop robust systems and procedures to support pupils with asthma and allergies, promoting a safer and more inclusive learning environment.

The programme is designed to help schools meet recognised standards for asthma and allergy management by:

Increasing knowledge, awareness, and confidence among staff, pupils and parents/carers.
Improving asthma and allergy management within the school setting.
Reducing school absences associated with asthma and allergies.
Supporting the safe storage and use of emergency medication.
Reducing the risk of serious asthma attacks and allergic reactions.
Promoting a whole-school approach to asthma and allergy awareness.

Supporting Schools to Meet Benedict’s Law

The Department for Education has introduced new statutory allergy safety requirements, often referred to as Benedict’s Law, which come into effect from September 2026. Schools will be required to:

Stock appropriate-dose spare Adrenaline Auto-Injectors (AAIs) for emergency use.
Provide annual allergy awareness for all staff.
Develop and publish a dedicated Allergy Safety Policy.
Have Individual Healthcare Plans (IHCPs) and Allergy Action Plans in place for pupils with significant allergies.

By joining the Yearly Asthma and Allergy Friendly Schools Programme, schools gain access to guidance, template policies, practical resources, awareness sessions to help achieve compliance with these new requirements while ensuring pupils with asthma and allergies are safe, supported and able to thrive in school.

Join the programme today and take the next step towards becoming an Asthma and Allergy Friendly School.

Please complete the self-assessment form and email it back to us so we can understand where your school is on its Asthma and Allergy Friendly School journey. Once you have successfully met and signed off all standards, your school will receive accreditation and be awarded a certificate.

Self-certification form

The six care standards that schools must achieve to be recognised as an Asthma and Allergy Friendly School are:

1. Have a signed-off Asthma and Allergy policy

2. Have and maintain an Asthma and Allergy register

3. Appoint Asthma/Allergy Champion or team

4. All pupil-facing staff should complete asthma and allergy awareness

5. All children should have a Standard Asthma/individual Plan

6. Have an Asthma/Allergy Emergency medicine kit

Help and Support

Asthma Community Nurse Specialists: Contact if you have concerns regarding poorly controlled asthma.

Tel: 07591989962 Email: th.paedasthmanurse@nhs.net

Healthy Lives Advisor: Supporting Asthma Friendly Schools.