Periods do not begin and end at the school gate. Families may need reassurance about what their child is learning, while school staff need a clear way to offer practical help without sharing information that should remain private. Working well with parents and carers is not about telling families everything. It is about making support easy to understand and knowing when information should, and should not, be shared.
Tell families what support is available
Start with information every family can use. Include where pupils or learners can obtain period products, who can help with unexpected periods or leaks, how discreet toilet access works, and whom families should contact about repeated pain or missed lessons. Share what is taught about periods and puberty, using straightforward language. Invite questions without assuming every home feels equally comfortable discussing the subject.
A short note at the start of the school year, a newsletter item before puberty teaching, and a visible link on the school website are often more useful than a complicated policy document. Information should be accessible to families who use other languages or communication formats.
When should staff contact a parent or carer?
For general curriculum information, schools can contact families in advance through their usual channels. For an unexpected first period, ask the pupil or learner what support they need and follow school procedures; immediate practical assistance does not always require a call home. If pain, bleeding or other symptoms are repeatedly affecting attendance or participation, involve the school's appropriate health or pastoral staff and work with the young person on a suitable plan for family contact.
An individual child may not want period details shared with every adult in their household. Respect their wishes where possible and explain any limits clearly. If there is a safeguarding concern, staff must follow local safeguarding procedures and take advice from the designated safeguarding lead or equivalent before deciding whether contacting home is safe or appropriate.
Privacy and the limits of confidentiality
A pupil or learner should be able to ask for a pad, a change of clothes or a toilet break without their personal information being circulated. Share only what a relevant adult needs to provide support, and use the school's approved recordkeeping and communication channels. Do not promise absolute confidentiality. If a young person discloses harm, abuse or an immediate safety concern, the school's safeguarding responsibilities take priority. Staff should explain sensitively that information may need to be passed to people who can keep them safe. This does not mean every period question becomes a safeguarding disclosure.
Avoid sending detailed menstrual information through a group chat or to multiple staff members. Do not assume parents and carers should be contacted in the same way in every situation. Local law, the child's circumstances, school policy and professional safeguarding advice matter.
Sample letter or newsletter text for families
Subject: Practical support for periods and puberty at school
Dear Parents and Carers,
We want every pupil or learner to feel comfortable, informed and supported during puberty and periods. Our school offers practical help when a period starts unexpectedly, including information about where to find period products, whom to speak to and how to ask for a toilet break discreetly.
We also teach age appropriate information about periods and puberty as part of our wider health education. Young people can ask questions without embarrassment, and we aim to respect their privacy while following our health and safeguarding procedures.
If you would like to know more about the support available, or your child has a practical need you would like us to consider, please contact [school contact or role] using [school contact details].
You can also explore free guidance for families through the Lady Talk Matters Parents & Carers resource.
Kind regards,
[Name and school role]
One useful next step
Check whether your school communicates practical period support as clearly as it communicates uniforms, attendance or homework. If not, begin with one short message that every family can access.
Explore: How Period Smart Is Your School? for the existing assessment, and My Body Matters, Module 1: Teacher Guide, for wider school and parent communication support.