Guide

The named senior leader for allergy safety

What the DfE expects of the senior leader responsible for allergy safety, why it should not sit with the catering manager, and a yearly calendar.

Last reviewed 7 October 2026Checked against the DfE guidanceNot legal or medical advice
Short answer: The DfE guidance says a named member of the senior leadership team should be responsible for allergy safety, including driving the allergy safety policy, and that responsibility should not be left with a catering manager. Today this is a guidance expectation; the government intends to make it a legal duty through regulations.

What the role involves

  • Owning the allergy safety policy and its yearly review
  • Making sure every member of staff is trained at least every year
  • Making sure spare adrenaline devices are in place, in date and known about
  • Checking that pupils who need one have an Individual Healthcare Plan
  • Reviewing incidents and near misses and changing practice where needed
  • Reporting to governors or the trust board

A simple yearly calendar

WhenWhat
Summer termReview the policy; ask parents to confirm allergy details for September; plan training
SeptemberTrain all staff, including new and supply staff; tell parents and pupils about the policy; check every device location
Each half termCheck device expiry dates; review any incidents; spot-check kitchen lists
Spring termRun an emergency drill; report to governors

Why not the catering manager?

Allergy safety reaches far beyond the kitchen: classrooms, trips, clubs, training and records. The guidance is clear it needs senior ownership, though catering staff are a vital part of making it work.

Questions schools ask

Do schools have to name a senior leader for allergy safety?

The DfE guidance expects it, and the government intends to make it a legal duty through regulations. It is not yet a separate legal duty in itself.

Can the school business manager be the allergy lead?

The guidance asks for a named member of the senior leadership team. If your business manager is on the senior leadership team, they can be.

Read next

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Official sources

  1. DfE: Allergy safety in schools (statutory guidance, policy template and IHP template), July 2026

Allergy Ledger helps your school record and follow its own allergy procedures. It does not give medical advice and does not replace staff training, the pupil's Allergy Action Plan or Individual Healthcare Plan, or the advice of a healthcare professional. In an emergency always follow the pupil's plan and call 999. Information on this page is general information, not legal advice.