Schools Providing Sanitary Products

[Sansastark45]

Don't get me wrong periods aren't nice at the best of time but don't our schools have enough on their plates without now having to take on this??

Am i being unreasonable to think that if you have a daughter you should be having the conversation with her?? Basic own brand sanitary products are cheap enough to buy - our schools shouldn't be left to deal with this too!

The issue here is that some families are living in such poverty that they can’t even stretch to buy basic sanitary products. Periods aren’t a luxury & if men had them, tampons and pads would most likely be free everywhere.

Period poverty is huge news. I’m surprised you’re surprised by this, I think it’s a good thing to be honest.

My dd is almost 9 and in year 4. I was 10 myself when I started my periods and was lucky to have access to everything I needed. My dd has been well informed over periods and I’ve told her we will do her a little pack for when she starts year 5 with pads, spare knickers, wipes etc just in case.

Not every girl will have that “luxury” which is wrong considering periods aren’t a luxury. DD’s school already has a notice in the girls toilets telling them to ask for the “red box” if they need anything period related.

Well obviously children from functional homes above the poverty line are not really the target demograph here. It's for girls who come from chaotic or very poor home environments with parents who are unable/unwilling to provide sanitary products.

They should be providing reuseable sanitary products. Not disposable.

I think you have spectacularly missed the point, OP.

OP there are people in the UK who honestly cannit even afford these basics, which are included in food banks. Have you not seen the reqests at tesco`s etc on the collection points?

They should be providing reuseable sanitary products. Not disposable.

There was a whole other thread on this last week. Reusable isn't really practical for this group.

Reusable? Like what?

problem is the people needing the freebies.....can`t afford to wash them? or may not have acsess to a washing machine!

this DOES happen.

I agree with pps. Children with functional homes and above the poverty line are fine, but what about those who aren’t?

For instance, I’ll still send dd in with her own, as she likes the smaller, “teen” ones you can get, and I can afford it.

And how do you plan to ensure an 12-year-old girl who comes from a chaotic home environment is able to wash her reusable sanitary pads? Store them? Carry dirty ones around at school? Nice idea but not practical in the least.

plus they are ££££ to start with.

So if you’re poor you don’t get to use the convenient stuff we all take for granted? But have to be washing out a moon cup in front of others? Nice.

And I say this as someone who uses reusable sanpro and thinks they are great, but they're not a solution for young girls with possibly fractured and difficult home lives. And poor people aren't guinea pigs for us to virtue signal about saving the environment by using reusables.

periods are a massive taboo for some ethnic groups and the girls are left with rags and cloths to deal with their periods. This is not uncommon. I have a friend who works for the red box project who goes into schools and helps with this very issue.

I’d imagine this also covers girls who run out during the day or come on unexpectedly, happens a lot when periods are settling. Rather than sending her home or calling a parent to come and sort it out.

They should be providing reuseable sanitary products.

Not useful for kids with a chaotic home life or limited laundry facilities.

1. Schools are due to get funding for this.
2. If you can supply your own daughter well done.
3. I wasn't bought pads and it was horrible

I’m sure schools would rather do without the hassle of ordering bog roll too but guess what, periods, like shit, happens...

Given adolescence is a hormonal rollercoaster, many teens have a very sporadic cycle. They could be surprised at any moment. It's also an issue they have to deal with that boys do not.

YABVU.

I volunteer at a food bank. Period poverty is real. There are women and girls using socks, toilet paper, anything they can. Yes, sanitary products are cheap but when you are already choosing between food and topping up the electricity meter, tampons slip down the priority list.

Whilst I'm sorry that schools will suffer the extra burden, it's a service that is badly needed.

This is non-news. Sanitary towels & tapons have been available (free) in schools at least since I was at high school in the mid nineties. They are sent as samples with no cost to the schools from always/kotex/tampax etc. I’ve worked in five high schools - all had freebies that could either be asked for, or picked up discretely. Lots of female form tutors keep bits and pieces in a cupboard at the back of the room for girls to grab. Schools already provided extras for girls who they knew came from chaotic homes etc.

I know that in primary schools teachers and support staff do the same for their girls too.

What is a welcome surprise is that funding is going to appear for it - -I’ll believe it when it happens- -

OP I agree with you that this should not be necessary and that we are asking schools to take on more and more parenting, which is not their role.
But girls from chaotic homes have been using toilet paper for years in schools for periods. This is not a new issue. And providing cheap sanitary towels is better for those girls than using loo roll.

YABU. It's not just povery though. I was so cringingley embarrassed about periods, my mum never really explained, shoved me a book about 'becoming a woman'. I never asked her to buy me anything and she never offered, I used tissues and toilet roll for a good few years. It wasn't an affordability thing it was plain embarrassment.

Reusables don't work for kids in a chaotic situation.

No girl / woman should miss school / feel inadequate / be embarrassed about periods.

Schools can order them for free, I can't see where the hassle is?
It's a fantastic step forward for girls who can't afford san pro or who don't get support from home to get it.

Reusable is preferable of course, but it's expensive to start with and can be difficult to use in public and school toilets are VERY public. Ours have stalls that open straight onto a corridor to help stop bullying