Level 3 Allergy and Anaphylaxis Awareness Course in Manchester

Our allergy and anaphylaxis awareness course in Manchester leads to the Qualsafe Level 3 Award in Allergy and Anaphylaxis Awareness (RQF), an Ofqual-regulated qualification completed in two hours. Designed for teachers, support staff and volunteers in schools and education settings, it teaches you to recognise allergic reactions, respond to anaphylaxis and asthma, and understand your part in your school's allergy safety arrangements under Benedict's Law.

  • Designed for school and education staff
  • Supports Benedict's Law staff training duties
  • Covers anaphylaxis, asthma and auto-injectors
  • Includes allergy policies and healthcare plans
  • Taught by experienced healthcare instructors
  • Whole-school and on-site training available

Course summary

Course
Level 3 Allergy and Anaphylaxis Awareness Course in Manchester
Qualification
Qualsafe Awards Qualsafe Level 3 Award in Allergy and Anaphylaxis Awareness (RQF)
Duration
2 hours
Format
Face-to-face
Location
Manchester
Certificate valid for
1 year
Price
From £55
Next date
Saturday 26 September 2026
Instructor showing school staff how to use an adrenaline auto-injector trainer during an allergy and anaphylaxis awareness course in Manchester
Recognising anaphylaxis early and knowing when to use adrenaline

Allergy and anaphylaxis training for school staff in Manchester

A severe allergic reaction can become life-threatening within minutes, and the first adult to notice is often a teacher, lunchtime supervisor or receptionist rather than a first aider. Our allergy and anaphylaxis awareness course in Manchester gives everyone who works with children the knowledge to spot a reaction early, act quickly and hand over clearly to the emergency services.

From the 2026–27 academic year, Benedict's Law requires maintained schools, academies and pupil referral units in England to have an allergy safety policy, and the statutory guidance sets out training for staff. This two-hour regulated award is designed to help your school meet that expectation. Choose a date below, or ask us about training your whole team.

Why schools train with PLAB Guide in Manchester

PLAB Guide Training Centre is a Qualsafe Awards Approved Centre (centre number 908553), so every successful learner receives a nationally recognised, Ofqual-regulated certificate rather than an attendance note.

Our instructors are experienced healthcare and first aid professionals. They bring real clinical understanding to the session but teach it in plain language, so non-clinical staff can follow every step with confidence.

We go beyond basic awareness: the focus is on what you would actually do if a pupil started to react in your classroom, dining hall or on a school trip. Book individual places at our Levenshulme centre, or arrange a session for your whole staff at your own school.

Upcoming dates

More dates

Saturday 3 October 2026

10:00 – 12:00PLAB Guide Training CentreStarts in 10 days

10 places available
From £55
Book this date

Saturday 10 October 2026

10:00 – 12:00PLAB Guide Training CentreStarts in 17 days

10 places available
From £55
Book this date

Saturday 17 October 2026

10:00 – 12:00PLAB Guide Training CentreStarts in 24 days

10 places available
From £55
Book this date

Saturday 24 October 2026

10:00 – 12:00PLAB Guide Training CentreStarts in 31 days

10 places available
From £55
Book this date

Saturday 31 October 2026

10:00 – 12:00PLAB Guide Training CentreStarts in 38 days

10 places available
From £55
Book this date

Saturday 7 November 2026

10:00 – 12:00PLAB Guide Training CentreStarts in 45 days

10 places available
From £55
Book this date
Show 6 more dates

Saturday 14 November 2026

10:00 – 12:00PLAB Guide Training CentreStarts in 52 days

10 places available
From £55
Book this date

Saturday 21 November 2026

10:00 – 12:00PLAB Guide Training CentreStarts in 8 weeks

10 places available
From £55
Book this date

Saturday 28 November 2026

10:00 – 12:00PLAB Guide Training CentreStarts in 9 weeks

10 places available
From £55
Book this date

Saturday 5 December 2026

10:00 – 12:00PLAB Guide Training CentreStarts in 10 weeks

10 places available
From £55
Book this date

Saturday 12 December 2026

10:00 – 12:00PLAB Guide Training CentreStarts in 11 weeks

10 places available
From £55
Book this date

Saturday 19 December 2026

10:00 – 12:00PLAB Guide Training CentreStarts in 12 weeks

10 places available
From £55
Book this date

Choosing a date takes you straight to booking with that date selected.

Course overview

This focused two-hour session starts with the basics: what an allergy is, what happens in the body during a reaction, and why the same allergen can affect two children very differently. You will look at common food and environmental triggers, and at why a previously mild reaction is no guarantee that the next one will be mild too.

The course then moves to recognition and response. You will learn the airway, breathing and circulation warning signs of anaphylaxis, how asthma can overlap with an allergic reaction, and what to do in the first minutes: calling for help, following the child's emergency plan, calling 999, understanding the role of prescribed and spare adrenaline auto-injectors, monitoring the child and giving a clear handover.

The final part looks at allergy safety across the whole school day. It covers individual healthcare plans, reducing avoidable exposure at mealtimes and on trips, communicating with parents and carers, supporting the wellbeing of children who live with allergies, and recording incidents and near misses so your school can learn from them.

Assessment and certification

The course ends with the assessment set by Qualsafe Awards. Successful learners receive the Qualsafe Level 3 Award in Allergy and Anaphylaxis Awareness (RQF).

Who this course is for

This course is for anyone in a school or education setting who could be the first adult with a child when a reaction begins. Allergic emergencies happen in classrooms, dining halls, playgrounds, on minibuses and on school trips, and they do not wait for the designated first aider to arrive.

You do not need a clinical background. The session is taught in plain language so that teaching, support, catering and site staff all leave knowing what to look for and what to do, and your school can show that its staff training reflects a whole-school approach to allergy safety.

Who should attend

  • Teachers, teaching assistants and SEND staff
  • Headteachers, senior leaders and pastoral or safeguarding teams
  • School administrators and reception staff
  • Lunchtime supervisors and school catering staff
  • School nurses and healthcare staff
  • PE staff and sports coaches
  • Minibus, transport, caretaking and site staff
  • After-school club staff and school volunteers

What you will learn

  • Explain what an allergy is and how an allergic reaction develops
  • Recognise common allergens and the signs of mild, moderate and severe reactions
  • Identify the warning signs of anaphylaxis and act without delay
  • Describe the role of adrenaline auto-injectors and when to call 999
  • Recognise and respond to an asthma attack in a child or young person
  • Follow individual healthcare plans and your school's allergy safety procedures
  • Support the emotional wellbeing and inclusion of pupils with allergies
  • Record and report allergy incidents and near misses accurately

Course content

  1. 1 Understanding allergy

    What an allergy is, how the immune system reacts, and the common food and environmental triggers. Why reactions vary between individuals and why past severity does not predict the next reaction.

  2. 2 Recognising anaphylaxis

    The airway, breathing, circulation and skin changes that suggest anaphylaxis, from voice change and wheeze to collapse. Why rapid deterioration means acting early.

  3. 3 Emergency response and handover

    Calling for help, following the child's emergency plan, calling 999, monitoring the child and giving a clear handover to the ambulance crew.

  4. 4 Adrenaline auto-injectors

    Why adrenaline is used in anaphylaxis, the role of prescribed and spare emergency devices, and why monitoring continues after treatment.

  5. 5 Asthma awareness

    Common asthma symptoms, signs of worsening respiratory distress, how to respond to an asthma attack and when to get emergency help.

  6. 6 Allergy safety across the school

    Individual healthcare plans, reducing avoidable exposure, catering and school trips, and communication between staff, pupils and parents or carers.

  7. 7 Wellbeing, recording and learning

    The anxiety, social exclusion and stigma children with allergies can face, and how to promote inclusion. Recording incidents and near misses and reviewing prevention afterwards.

Course format

Duration
2 hours

Assessment

How you are assessed
Knowledge-based assessment set by Qualsafe Awards. As an awareness qualification, there is no practical assessment.
Practical assessment
Attend the full course and successfully complete the Qualsafe assessment. Booking and attendance alone do not guarantee certification.

Certification

Certificate valid for
1 year

Accreditation and qualification

Awarding organisation
Qualsafe Awards
Qualification
Qualsafe Level 3 Award in Allergy and Anaphylaxis Awareness (RQF) (Level 3 (RQF))
Centre status
Qualsafe Awards Approved Centre (centre number 908553)

Training venue

PLAB Guide Training Centre

308Moseley Road
Levenshulme
Manchester
M19 2LH

View on map

See all First Aid Courses

Frequently asked questions

Does this course meet the Benedict's Law staff training requirement?
Benedict's Law requires maintained schools, academies and pupil referral units in England to have an allergy safety policy, and the statutory guidance sets out staff training. This Qualsafe award is designed to support that requirement. Your school's own policy should state who needs training and how often, so check it alongside the course content.
Is my paediatric first aid or first aid at work certificate enough?
Qualsafe advises that existing Paediatric First Aid and First Aid at Work qualifications do not on their own cover the new school allergy requirements. Those courses include anaphylaxis, but this award focuses on allergy safety across the whole school, including policies, healthcare plans, wellbeing and incident reporting.
How long is the allergy and anaphylaxis certificate valid?
The certificate is valid for one year. Annual training fits with the strengthened allergy safety arrangements for schools in England, so most staff will need to refresh their training each year.
Is there a practical assessment?
No. This is an awareness qualification, so it is assessed on knowledge rather than practical skills. You still need to complete the Qualsafe assessment successfully to receive the certificate, and booking or attending on its own does not guarantee certification.
Do I need a medical or first aid background to attend?
No. The course is designed for teachers and non-clinical school staff as well as school nurses. Our instructors have healthcare and first aid backgrounds and explain everything in plain language, so you can follow each step without prior clinical knowledge.
Is allergy training only for designated first aiders?
No. A reaction can start anywhere on school premises, often in front of staff who are not first aiders. Current guidance expects a whole-school approach, so lunchtime supervisors, office staff, coaches and volunteers benefit as much as the first aid team.
Can you train all our staff at our own school?
Yes. We run group sessions for primary and secondary schools, academies, special schools, alternative provision and education trusts, either at our Manchester centre or, where arranged, at your own venue. Email firstaid@plabguide.co.uk to discuss numbers and dates.
Who awards the qualification?
The Qualsafe Level 3 Award in Allergy and Anaphylaxis Awareness (RQF) is awarded by Qualsafe Awards and regulated by Ofqual. PLAB Guide Training Centre is a Qualsafe Awards Approved Centre, number 908553.

Ready to book?

The next date with places is Saturday 26 September 2026

Book now