'Our son's law will save generations of children'
Family handoutThe parents of a boy whose death after an allergic reaction prompted a change in the law have said it will "protect generations of children".
Benedict Blythe, five, died after accidental exposure to cow's milk protein while at Barnack Primary School, near Peterborough, in December 2021.
The first phase of Benedict's Law came into effect this week, requiring schools in England to follow strengthened allergy guidelines.
"This is a huge moment for our family and for every child living with allergies," Helen and Peter Blythe said in a statement.
Life-saving allergy pens will now be stored in all state-funded schools.
They will also need to have a whole-school allergy policy, provide training to all staff and ensure individual healthcare plans are in place for pupils with allergies.
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Family handoutThe Blythe family, from Stamford, Lincolnshire, said the changes would make England "one of the safest education systems in the world for pupils with allergies".
"Allergies shaped Benedict's short life and, ultimately, ended it," they said. "The law that carries his name will help stop that happening to other children.
"We would give anything for the protections in Benedict's Law to have been in place when Benedict started school.
"We cannot change what happened to him, but his name will now help protect generations of children who come after him."
Jessica Lane/BBCThe schoolboy's family started the Benedict Blythe Foundation after his death and have been campaigning for these changes in the law.
Helen Blythe said the law being introduced was not the end of the campaign.
"It is the moment implementation begins. The success of Benedict's Law will not be measured by how many schools download a policy or record that training has been completed," she added.
"It will be measured by whether children are safer, whether staff know what to do and whether parents can leave their children at the school gate knowing that every reasonable step has been taken to protect them."
A further change in the law extending the new guidelines to independent and fee-paying special schools is due to be introduced next year.
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