To ask the Minister of Education for an update on what discussions are taking place with the Department of Health around the introduction of a Menstrual Wellbeing Programme in schools.

The current curriculum already provides our schools with the flexibility across the Key Stages to educate young people about menstrual wellbeing. For example, in primary schools at Key Stage 2 (age 8-11), pupils learn about how the body grows and develops and the physical and emotional changes that take place during puberty. In post primary schools at Key Stage 3 (age 11-14), pupils learn that menstruation is a normal and natural part of a girl’s physical development; the emotional, social and cognitive changes, as well as practical challenges of menstruation; the importance of access to period products and the importance of personal hygiene. At Key Stage 4 (age 14-16), pupils develop an understanding of how to maximise and sustain their own health and wellbeing.

To support schools in the delivery of the curriculum, the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) develops and produces curricular guidance and teaching support materials. CCEA has produced a range of guidance and resources for schools around personal development, including menstrual well-being, which are available on its Relationship Sexuality Education (RSE) Hub.

In December 2020, the Executive agreed to introduce a pilot scheme to address period poverty in schools to bring schools here in line with the rest of the UK. Work to implement this scheme is on track to ensure the scheme launches in schools in September 2021. CCEA has been tasked to help promote the scheme and embed menstrual wellbeing within existing RSE curriculum materials. The Department of Health is represented on the cross-departmental Steering Group which has been established to oversee this work.