Asthma and Allergy Friendly Schools
Asthma is a common long-term condition that affects the airways in the lungs. In children with asthma, the airways can become inflamed and narrow, making it harder to breathe. Asthma can be triggered by things such as pollen, dust, pollution, exercise, cold air and respiratory infections. Children are particularly vulnerable to a potentially serious asthma attack, and poorly controlled asthma can lead to emergency hospital admissions, absence from school and reduced quality of life.
An allergy occurs when the body’s immune system reacts to something that is usually harmless, such as food, pollen, dust, animal hair or insect stings. Allergic reactions can cause symptoms such as itching, rashes, swelling and breathing difficulties. Allergies can pose a serious risk to children in schools, where pupils may be exposed to allergens through school meals, classroom activities, outdoor environments and insect stings.
While parents/carers and healthcare professionals are responsible for a child’s clinical care, schools play a vital role in ensuring every child is safe, supported and able to participate fully in school life, regardless of their health needs. Children spend the equivalent of 190 days per year in schools and with approximately 3 children with asthma and 2 children with an allergy in every class, schools are key in supporting successful asthma and allergy care.
The Asthma Friendly Schools project is an ambitious cross-sector initiative, which aims to make schools safer for children with asthma; reduce asthma-related school absence and improve local morbidity and mortality rates. From September 2026, every school in England must implement the Department of Education’s statutory guidance ‘Allergy Safety in Schools’ (often referred to as Benedict’s Law). Through the Asthma and Allergy Friendly School initiative, we can support your school to meet the statutory allergy safety criteria whilst maintaining the highest standards of care for asthma.
By joining the yearly accredited Asthma and Allergy Friendly Schools Programme, your school will have access to policies, supporting resources, guidance around emergency medical kits and Asthma & Allergy awareness sessions to help meet the required criteria.
We are inviting your school to join the many schools across Barking & Dagenham, Havering and Redbridge who are already Asthma and Allergy Friendly accredited by the joining programme today.
The following criteria need to be met to become Asthma and Allergy Friendly:
- An Asthma safety policy and an Allergy safety policy
- An Asthma and Allergy register
- Emergency kits and procedures
- Asthma and Allergy management
- Completion of Asthma and Allergy awareness sessions
- An appointed Asthma and Allergy champion/lead
Once you have met the above standards, please complete the self-certification form and email it back to the Asthma and Allergy Friendly Co-ordinator in your borough.
Insert self-certification form here (word document)
Help and support
Children’s Asthma Nurse Specialists: Contact if you have concerns about a child with poorly controlled asthma.
Email: bhrut.cypasthma@nhs.net
Asthma and Allergy Friendly Schools Co-ordinators: Supporting schools to become Asthma and Allergy Friendly Certified.
Barking & Dagenham – Email: rehana.ahmed@nhs.net
Havering – Email: kirsty.cook16@nhs.net
Redbridge – Email: stephanie.tanfield2@nhs.net