A Teacher’s Guide to Managing Allergies on School Trips

Planning a school trip involves thinking about every pupil's wellbeing, and for children with allergies, a little extra preparation can make a big difference. With the introduction of Benedict's Law and new allergy safety requirements for schools, many group leaders are understandably asking what this means in practice when organising educational visits.

The reassuring news is that allergies don't have to be a barrier to taking part in exciting learning experiences. With early planning, open communication and the right support, school trips can be adapted to ensure all students can enjoy the experience safely and confidently.

Here are some of the questions we're most often asked.

Q: What is Benedict's Law?

Benedict's Law is a new set of measures designed to improve allergy safety in schools. It was developed following the tragic death of five-year-old Benedict Blythe and introduces stronger expectations around allergy policies, staff training, emergency preparedness and support for pupils with allergies.

Importantly, the guidance reinforces something many schools are already doing well: planning ahead to help pupils with medical needs participate fully and safely in school life, including educational visits.

Q: Should pupils with allergies still take part in school trips?

Absolutely! Educational visits provide valuable learning opportunities and memorable experiences that every pupil should be able to enjoy wherever possible. Most allergies can be successfully managed with appropriate planning, communication and risk assessment.

Our role is to work alongside schools, accommodation providers and excursion suppliers to help make that happen.

Q: What should teachers do when planning a trip?

The most important step is to gather information early.

As soon as you know which students are travelling, we recommend collecting details of any allergies, food intolerances and medical requirements. This gives everyone involved plenty of time to consider suitable arrangements and reduce potential risks.

Telling us as early as possible means:

• Accommodation providers and restaurants to be informed in advance.
• Menus to be checked and adapted where possible.
• Activity providers to make any necessary adjustments.
• Alternative arrangements to be explored if needed.

In our experience, the earlier we know about a requirement, the more options we have available to support your group.

Q: Do teachers still need to carry out their own risk assessment?

Yes. We will share allergy information with relevant suppliers and help identify suitable arrangements wherever possible. However, schools remain responsible for considering how a pupil's allergy may affect their participation in various aspects of the trip.

One important consideration is that commercial kitchens and food producers cannot usually guarantee a completely allergen-free environment. Whilst suppliers may take extensive precautions, the possibility of cross-contamination can never be completely eliminated.

For this reason, allergy considerations should form part of your overall trip risk assessment and be reviewed alongside any individual healthcare plans.

Q: Are there certain activities that may need extra consideration?

Sometimes. Activities involving food preparation or food tastings may present increased exposure to allergens and may require additional planning.

Examples include:

• Bakery visits
• Chocolate-making workshops
• Goat farm visits (including tastings)

This does not necessarily mean these experiences cannot take place. In many cases, simple adaptations can be made to support participation safely.

Q: How can Voyager help?

Supporting schools with allergy arrangements is a routine part of what we do.

✅ We communicate with suppliers

We'll ensure accommodation providers, restaurants and excursion suppliers are aware of relevant allergies and dietary requirements well in advance of travel.

✅ We can help with airline arrangements

For flight-based tours, many airlines offer additional medical baggage allowances for essential medication such as extra adrenaline auto-injectors. Our team can assist with making these arrangements before departure.

✅ We can adapt itineraries

Many popular food-related visits can be modified to accommodate allergies. For example:

• Some bakeries can provide gluten-free ingredients.
• Alternative ingredients may be available for workshops and demonstrations.
• Suitable alternative excursions can be recommended if preferred.

Our aim is always to find practical solutions that allow all students to enjoy the trip with confidence.

Q: Where do your responsibilities end and ours begin?

Planning for allergies works best as a partnership.

As your tour operator, we will:

• Communicate allergy information to relevant suppliers.
• Help identify suitable venues and services.
• Support itinerary planning and adaptations.
• Advise on practical travel arrangements.

As the group leader, you will:

• Provide accurate allergy and dietary information.
• Review individual healthcare or allergy action plans.
• Carry out appropriate risk assessments.
• Ensure emergency medication is readily available during the trip.
• Make decisions regarding a pupil's participation based on their individual needs.

While we work hard to help minimise risks, neither we nor our suppliers can guarantee completely allergen-free environments. This is why advance planning and ongoing supervision remain so important.

Our final piece of advice

Please tell us about any allergies as early as possible.

The vast majority of dietary and allergy requirements can be accommodated successfully when there is enough time to plan. By working together from the outset, we can help create a trip that is safe, inclusive and enjoyable for every member of your group.

If you'd like to discuss a specific allergy requirement or have questions about a proposed itinerary, our team is always happy to help. After all, every student deserves the chance to take part in unforgettable educational experiences with confidence and peace of mind.

More information

• Safety Management System - Includes our Allergies and Food Intolerances policy
• More information on Benedict's Law