Allergies, Medicines and Illness
Higher Bebington Junior School
Allergy Safety at Higher Bebington Junior School
Benedict's Law – Keeping Our School Community Safe
At Higher Bebington Junior School, the health, safety and wellbeing of every child is our highest priority.
From September 2026, schools in England are required to follow the Department for Education's statutory guidance on Allergy Safety in Schools introduced through Benedict's Law. The guidance aims to improve allergy awareness, reduce the risk of allergic reactions and ensure schools are fully prepared to respond quickly and effectively in an emergency.
We are proud to fully support the principles of Benedict's Law and are committed to providing a safe, inclusive environment where children with allergies can learn, play and thrive with confidence.
Our Designated Allergy Lead is Mrs S Pearl (SENCO) who can be contacted via the school office.
Our commitment
We are committed to:
promoting allergy awareness throughout our school community
taking practical steps to reduce the risk of allergic reactions
ensuring all staff receive regular allergy awareness and anaphylaxis training
maintaining Individual Healthcare Plans for pupils who require them
keeping an up-to-date allergy register
ensuring emergency medication, including spare Adrenaline Auto-Injectors (AAIs), is safely stored, clearly identified and readily available when needed
working closely with parents, carers and healthcare professionals to ensure every child receives the support they need
regularly reviewing our procedures to ensure they continue to reflect current guidance and best practice.
Whilst it is not possible to guarantee an allergen-free environment, we are committed to creating an allergy-aware school where everyone understands their role in keeping children safe. We are committed to taking sensible, practical steps to minimise risk.
This includes:
careful planning of food-related activities
promoting good hand hygiene
discouraging the sharing of food
working closely with our catering provider
considering allergies during trips and visits
carrying out appropriate risk assessments.
Working together
Parents and carers play an essential role in helping us support children with allergies. We ask families to:
tell us about any diagnosed allergies as soon as possible
provide up-to-date medical information and prescribed medication where required
replace medication before it expires
let us know immediately if their child's medical needs change.
By working together, we can help ensure that every child with allergies feels safe, included and able to participate fully in school life.
Further information
You can read our Whole School Allergy Management Policy (Benedict's Law) using the link below.
For further information about Benedict's Law and allergy safety in schools, please visit Anaphylaxis UK.
Medical Forms
Please click on the links below to download copies of the medical forms needed by school to be able to administer medication to your child. All medication must be prescribed by a doctor and have a pharmacy label attached. All medication must be signed in at the school office (or via Firbobs if your child uses this facility) together with the completed form. Medication will only be handed back to an adult. This follows LA guidance and school policy.
For more details please see the Managing Medicines in School and Supporting Pupils with Medical Conditions policies.
Illness
If you keep your child at home, please contact the school by 9.00 am on the first day of absence, and on each following day, to let us know why they are absent. This can be done by calling the school office and speaking to the school office or leaving a message on the absence line. You can also notify us via the Parent Mail app or by emailing the school office at schooloffice@higherbebington.wirral.sch.uk
Please see below for various guidance on common childhood illnesses and absence requirements.
Chickenpox, Shingles & Measles
We currently have a child in school who is receiving medical treatment that means they would be at serious risk if exposed to measles, chickenpox or shingles. If your child is suspected of having, or is diagnosed with, any of these conditions, please inform the school immediately. Your support in helping us protect vulnerable members of our school community is greatly appreciated.
Chickenpox is contagious until all the blisters have scabbed over, which usually happens about five or six days after the rash appeared. Please do not return to school until the last blister has scabbed over.
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/chickenpox/
Shingles is an infection that causes a painful rash. NHS advice is to stay off work or school if the rash is still oozing fluid (weeping) and cannot be covered, or until the rash has dried out.
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/shingles/
Measles usually starts with cold-like symptoms, followed by a rash a few days later. Some people may also get small spots in their mouth. NHS advice is to stay off nursery, school or work for at least 4 days from when the rash first appears.
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/measles/
Vomiting & Diarrhoea
These are regularly occurring ailments to children, particularly in a school environment. Most outbreaks are short lived and are not severe. The advice we follow is given from the Health Protection Agency and it is that any child who has sickness and/or diarrhoea MUST remain at home for 48hrs AFTER the last episode before returning back to school. Norovirus, also called the winter vomiting bug, is a stomach bug that causes vomiting and diarrhoea. It can be very unpleasant, but usually gets better in about 2 days. If you suspect your child has Norovirus please also inform the school for the same reasons as above.
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/norovirus/
Tonsillitis
This is a common ailment in children, often caused by a virus and rarely needs treatment. The child can come back to school when their temperature returns to normal and they are feeling well.
Lyme disease and Ticks
Ticks are found in moist areas of dense vegetation or long grass in woodland, grassland, moorland, heathland and some urban parks and gardens. They can be found throughout the year, but are most active between spring and autumn.
Ticks can transmit bacteria that cause diseases, such as Lyme disease, which can lead to very serious conditions if left untreated. Tick bites often go unnoticed, and the tick can remain feeding for several days before dropping off. The longer the tick is in place, the higher the risk of it passing on the infection. Ticks can attach themselves to an animal or person as they brush by. Lyme Disease UK has created an awareness pack specifically designed for children of various ages which you might find useful.
For more information on signs, symptoms and treatments for Lyme disease visit: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/lyme-disease/
Impetigo
This is caused by a bacterial infection of broken skin, usually on the face around the mouth. Until the lesions are crusted and healed the child must remain at home.
Scarlet Fever
The early symptoms of scarlet fever include sore throat, headache, fever, nausea and vomiting. After 12 to 48 hours the characteristic red, pinhead rash develops, typically first appearing on the chest and stomach, then rapidly spreading to other parts of the body, and giving the skin a sandpaper-like texture. After seeing a GP children should remain at home for 24 hours after the commencement of appropriate antibiotic treatment. Good hygiene practice such as hand washing remains the most important step in preventing and controlling spread of infection.
Hand, Foot & Mouth
Seek medical advice and keep child off school until they're feeling better. There's no cure for it, so you have to let it run its course.
Flu
When the child feels recovered
