The government's scheme (launched on 20 January 2020) makes free period products available for pupils in all state-funded schools and 16-19 education organisations in England. The scheme, now extended until July 2022, aims to break down the stigma around menstruation and ensure a young person's education is not disrupted by their period.

Following the initial announcement early in 2019, NAHT urged the government to extend the scheme to primary schools, and we are pleased that the government listened to us and other organisations, with the scheme now available to all phases.

The government has released data showing how this scheme was utilised by schools in 2021. The data shows that:

• 94% of secondary schools and 61% of primary schools made an order using the scheme. In 2020, this was 76% secondary schools and 41% of primary schools.
• 48% of all products ordered were eco-friendly/reusable, an increase from 30% in 2020.

Schools and colleges should have received an activation email in January 2020, enabling them to order a variety of products, including eco-friendly options, from PHS Group via its online portal MyPHS. If you activated your account in 2020 or 2021, you can continue to use these details to order products in 2022. If you did not, PHS will send a new activation email in January 2022.

The government has produced guidance on the following:

• which pupils are eligible
• choosing and ordering period products
• distributing products within institutions
• tackling the stigma around periods. 

You can continue to order products as before. You will receive a new spend cap announced in January 2022 which you can use to order products from 4 January up to and including 8 July 2022. Information on how the spend cap is calculated is available here.

You will be able to select from a wide range of period products, varying in type, size and brand. 

You may want to speak to learners about the types of products to keep in stock, and you must provide learners with safety information for each product in an accessible format before they use the product.

Further information is available in the 'your responsibilities' section of the guidance.