Research to inform period products scheme guidance for schools and institutions delivering 16-19 education

*UPDATED 31/07/19*

Expressions of interest (EOIs) are sought for research to engage with prospective period products scheme users to ensure the guidance is evidence informed and fit for purpose.

In April 2019 the DfE (the department) announced that the free period products scheme, introduced by the Chancellor in March 2019, for secondary schools and colleges would be extended to also cover primary schools.

The department will shortly award a national contract to provide free period products to schools and institutions delivering 16-19 education across England. This research will ensure that the perspectives of prospective users are considered when issuing initial guidance in December 2019 to educational settings on how they can deliver the scheme in a way that recognises the needs of their learners. The research should engage learners to:

1) Understand learners' expectations of the period products scheme,

2) Identify any risks and barriers posed by different approaches that institutions may take to make free period products available to their learners, and

3) Understand how the period products scheme design and delivery can support efforts to tackle stigma surrounding periods.

We have not specified a method for this research and welcome innovative proposals from contractors that would meet the above research aim and objectives, capturing insight from a diverse group of learners (approximately 50 learners) which represent a range of characteristics such as:

• Age, • Gender identity, • Ethnicity, • Special educational needs and disability, • Socio-economic status, • Institution type, • Geography, and • Learners in educational settings with and without existing free period product schemes.

Prospective bidders submitting an EOI must:

• Have access to a sample of learners (approximately 50 learners) and be able to recruit participants who represent a range of learner and institution characteristics within the tight timescale specified in this EOI,

• Have appropriate ethical approvals (where required) and safeguards in place to sensitively conduct research with vulnerable people (i.e. children aged under 16) and learners aged 16+ on this topic,

• Be able to agree sampling and research methods (including questionnaires, topic and/ or interview guides if applicable) with the department by 0900 BST on Wednesday 18th September 2019,

• Be able to complete fieldwork and provide interim reporting (e.g. a slide pack of no more than 20 slides outlining findings broken down by sample characteristics and identifying initial recommendations for scheme guidance) to the department by 0900 BST on Wednesday 9th October 2019, and

• Be able to agree the final report (approximately 20 pages including an executive summary, outline of sampling strategy and methods, results, recommendations for scheme guidance and conclusions, excluding appendices) with the department by 0900 GMT on Friday 1st November 2019.

**Please note EOI deadline: 09:00 09/08/19

Additional information: *** Updated Expression of Interest 31/07/19 *** Clarification that value for money is not part of the EOI evaluation

For information - some questions from a supplier and answers below.

1) We understand that the current national contract will be for 16-19 education, however, can I clarify that you wish the research to be conducted amongst students from age 9+ to inform guidance to ultimately be issued to both primary and secondary/FE settings?

The scheme will provide free period products to schools (e.g. primary and secondary schools) and institutions delivering 16-19 education. Please see the sample characteristics section of the EOI for a detailed list of the institutions that are covered by the scheme. We will be issuing guidance to all educational settings delivering the free period products scheme (including primary and secondary schools, and institutions delivering 16-19 education). We would like the research to broadly cover children across this range of settings, suggesting ages from 9+, as research has indicated that some children have their first period before leaving primary school, and those who are from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds and some ethnic minority groups are more likely to experience puberty before age 11.

2) Are we just focusing on learners? Do you require any SMT/Teacher input on recommended mechanisms to ensure that they are practical/manageable from the schools'/setting perspective?

The focus of this research is prospective scheme users. Separately, we are engaging teachers and senior management teams. However, if it is possible to include the perspectives of teachers and SMT within budget and without compromising on the core aim and objective outlined in this EOI, then we would be interested in this.

3) We have noted the requirement to ensure representation from the perspective of gender identity. We are aware that some newer schools are being built with gender fluid toilet provisions, with this in mind, should we include the opinions of boys in a co-ed setting? We're aware of the priority to breakdown any stigma associated with talking about periods etc in co-ed settings

For the purpose of this research we are interested primarily in the perspectives of prospective scheme users. In terms of gender identity, we would be interested to hear from learners who do not identify as female but who menstruate. If it is possible to include the perspectives of learners who do not menstruate (e.g. boys), while also delivering on the core aim and objectives outlined in the EOI, we would be interested in this.

**Further Question 08/08/19** Q) Is the research is expected to be completed before the interim report? Or may it continue during the time period between the interim and final reports?

A: We require the primary research (data collection/ fieldwork) to be complete by 09/10/19 to inform the interim reporting provided on this date. Furth