Current status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 4 November 2025
To ask the Scottish Government whether all school staff receive training in recognising anaphylaxis and administering adrenaline auto-injectors.
Schools must arrange specialist anaphylaxis training for staff where a pupil within the school has been diagnosed as being at risk of anaphylaxis. Where this happens, schools should ensure there are a reasonable number of designated members of staff available to provide sufficient coverage, including times when staff are on leave.
Any member of a school’s staff can volunteer to take on responsibilities for administering adrenaline to children or young people, although they cannot be compelled to do so. Where school staff do volunteer to administer epilepsy rescue medication to children and young people, they must be appropriately trained and they should have their epilepsy training refreshed at least every two years.
Information about treating anaphylaxis, and the use of adrenaline auto-injectors, in schools set out in our guidance on supporting children and young people with healthcare needs in schools. This information is available through the following web link: Supporting children and young people with healthcare needs in schools: guidance - gov.scot.