A Belfast mother has called for new legal requirements in Northern Ireland schools to protect children with severe allergies.

Stephanie Kerr said her four-year-old son Caolán has life-threatening allergies to peanut, milk, egg, wheat, cumin, oat, strawberries, passionfruit and penicillin.

Kerr described the measures taken at home and in nursery settings, including separate utensils, designated food areas and staff training to recognise anaphylaxis.

She said current Education Authority guidance does not place a legal duty on school staff to administer medication.

New rules due in England from September 2026 will require schools to maintain allergy policies, provide staff training, stock emergency adrenaline auto-injectors and create individual care plans.

Helen Blythe of the Benedict Blythe Foundation said she is in contact with Northern Ireland politicians to seek similar measures.

Blythe stated that every school should have clear allergy policies, trained staff and emergency medication available.