To buy sanpro and leave them in the classroom

[HighwayDragon1]

I buy pads (just tesco value ones) and leave them in my classroom, in case any of them are caught short, I buy about one pack a month. The girls know where they are if they need them.

DP thinks it's weird, that the parents should buy them and it's not my responsibility. Now its not, but sometimes you just come on and school must be the worst place for it to happen.

It's not weird is it? How would you feel if your daughters teacher gave her a pad? Is it a line I've crossed? I'm questioning it now.

This is secondary school.

[Naoko]

Christ, I'm 30 years old, I've been having periods since I was 10 and I had to ask my friend for a pad the other month because I came on unexpectedly and I forgot to replace the stash in my handbag after it ran out. It can happen to all of us, caring parents or no, adults, teenagers. Any of us. You're kind and thoughtful, OP, don't stop.

[LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726]

Just read back at MidniteScribbler's post; how wonderful that there are teachers who instinctively know how to make an embarrassed girl's life easier when they're getting to grips with this.

There are some tremendously thoughtful and kind professionals out there.

[Inertia]

Of course it's a considerate thing for you to do. Parents should provide sanitary protection, but some don't; many girls have erratic or unpredictable periods. Your partner clearly has no idea what it's like. Part of what we do as teachers is to try and provide as much as we can to cover the gaps and make lives easier for the children in our care- parents should also provide food, but there are many occasions when teachers have paid for things like cereal bars or fruit to help a child get through until lunchtime.

for all of those who have been embarrassed or humiliated by the actions and reactions of other people, especially their own parents.

And to bang on another drum - this is part of the reason why we have and need toilets to be segregated by sex. It's hard enough to have to clean yourself up in front of other girls, who are at least going through the same biological functions- when our teenage girls start having to clean themselves up in front of boys who want to use the girls' toilets it'll feel much, much worse.

[Canshopwillshop]

You are lovely and thoughtful and hope my year 6 DD has someone like you at school - she hasn't started yet but I feel it's fairly imminent.

[januarybrown1998]

You're lovely and thoughtful .

What line? I think it's just like providing tissues.

Common sense really.

[Valentine2]

If it was my daughter in your classroom and she told me that you do this, I would make sure she buys one pack per month to help you replenish in class. You are a nice lady. X

[RainOhJoyus]

You are lovely and the parents will very much appreciate it. As a six former, well established in my cycles I was sill caught short. Had to go to the nurse where we could buy things for 10p per use! I bet she was making money :-)

As tesco value pads are like 15p for 10, spending a £1 a month knowing you are helping out so many girls and hopefully normalising it for them and the boys too is worth it,

[dangermouseisace]

that is such a kind thing to do. It can be embarrassing if you are a girl and are caught short to ask…just having them where girls know where to get them if necessary is genius. You are ace.

[WhiteBlueDaisies]

OP if you are genuinely concerned about the appropriateness of this then why don't you ask whoever you report to at work, rather than MN?

I mean this in the nicest possible way.

[LadyStoicIsBack]

Curioushorse
'Eh? What is your role? I think it's a bit weird for a classroom teacher to be doing this, to be honest. There has been a system in place for this everywhere I've worked.'

Weird??? It's bloody lovely! Have you been smoking something special Curious?

Seriously, there is always one isn't there...

Great job OP, Midnite and all the other teachers that help in ways like this; your students will always remember you with gratitude

[imwithspud]

I can only echo other posters and say that is a lovely and kind thing for you to do. It's also very important imo. There's nothing worse than starting your first period at school, and/or being caught short. It happens to the best of us at some point. I'm sure many girls will remember you for being so thoughtful during what is usually an awkward and embarrassing time for many teenagers.

[bodenbiscuit]

Op, you sound lovely. I think it's a great idea.

[Elledouble]

We'd have loved a teacher like you at school .

I always had a stash after the horror of my first period arriving at school and having to swivel my skirt round to hide the stain, and I was always the one in our class that girls came to to ask for spares. Apparently you could go and ask in the school office but people were too shy to. If there was somewhere where they could have discreetly helped themselves it would have saved a lot of upset.

[Twinklestein]

What does your DP know about periods? F all from the sounds of it.

It's true that the school should be providing them, either the office or the nurse, and all girls should know they're available there. You should raise it with the school and insist, but in the mean time you're providing a crucial service.

[Beth2511]

I lived with my dad ages 10-19 and as caring as he is, there is no way he would ever have bought me sanpro, my supply relied on when my mum bothered to see me as at least she always brought me some until I was old enough to get a job and buy my own. I would have been very very grateful if a teacher had done this for us, we didn't have a supply at school for some weird reason.

It is also comforting several years on to know so many of the disasters and worrying about leaks was experienced by every one not just me.

[cleaty]

That is lovely of you. I remember we had to pay the school nurse for sanpro. When I came on unexpectedly I had to borrow from a friend.

[DrSeussRevived]

Thank you OP !

Mea, poor you!

[Ditsy4]

Very kind of you. We buy them for KS2. Several of us have some available. The girls go to whoever they feel most comfortable with to ask and there are some in the first aid cupboard near their classrooms.

[MrsMook]

I've had a handful of girls caught out over the years and given them one of mine.
I use CSP and mooncups these days, so probably worth sticking an old spare in my bag in case for them.

It's less embarrassing to ask a known teacher than to uncomfortably head off to medical/ pastoral.

I'm comfortable with what my body does these days, but I remember what the early days were like. Mine were also exhausting, so a walk across school would not have been fun.

[FloatyFlo]

You sound lovely and caring and very thoughtful. I hope my daughter has a teacher like you.

As for your DP, as Rachel from friends would say, "No uterus, no opinion!"

[Myredcardigan]

Haven't read the whole thread yet but I teach Y6 and we have our own toilets just for Y6. Ive put a basket in there with some pads. Ive spoken to the girls and asked them only to take one if they need it so they're there as an emergency rather than a free supply. I haven't informed parents but it's not a secret and if they asked id confirm. Why would it be considered stepping over the mark?

[Cel982]

I remember my teacher in our last year of primary doing the same. It's very thoughtful.

[TripTrapTripTrapOverTheBridge]

I think it's lovely. I was one of those girls whose parents didn't bother and were horrible. For my first few periods I used to wrap layers of cotton wool in toilet roll So I would've been very grateful for a friendly teacher who would provide such things in a non embarrassing manner.

I do however think that the school as a whole should have something sorted that isn't done in that 'walk of shame to the office' way!

[skinoncustard]

Many years ago my DD started her periods aged 9 and a half. I wrote a note to the teacher to inform her that my DD may ask to go to the toilet more frequently.
She took my daughter aside saying if she was every caught short just to go to the teachers drawer where she would keep a packet of pads . Also if she needed to go to the toilet , not to ask , just to quietly leave the class. She also arranged for a disposal bin in the girls toilet as there wasn't one !
It made a difficult situation so much easier.
I know I was stupid but her actions brought a tear to my eye.
I was so grateful to that teacher.