One in seven girls struggle to afford sanitary wear and one in 10 are unable to pay for these essential products, according to 2017 research from charity Plan International UK.
In the Spring Statement last week, chancellor Philip Hammond said the Treasury would fund “a national scheme in England to provide free sanitary products to girls in secondary schools”.
The scheme will be developed by the Department for Education (DfE), which is to publish details “in due course” with implementation planned for September.
Mr Hammond said: “In response to rising concern by headteachers that some girls are missing school attendance due to inability to afford sanitary products, I have decided to fund the provision of free sanitary products in secondary schools and colleges in England from the next school year.”
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