| Choose your information trial >> | ||
 |
 |
 |
| Select your FAQ | ||
|
|
|
Q: Can my child receive milk at school?
A: Any child of Primary School age (5-11yrs) is able to receive EU subsidised school milk at school, provided that the LEA (Local Education Authority) are willing to process the claim on behalf of the schools and the schools are willing to administer the scheme.
Children under 5yrs, attending an approved establishment, for two hours or more per day, are able to receive (up to 189mls per day) FREE milk. The day care provider needs to register with the Welfare Food Re-imbursement Unit to make the claim for this milk.
Alternatively schools can introduce their own milk scheme, charging the parents the full cost of the milk.
In Wales, children are provided with FREE school milk between the ages of 5-7 yrs, funded by the National Assembly for Wales.
Q: How can I access school milk for my child?
A: If your LEA is supporting the subsidised school milk scheme, your child’s school can join, allowing its children to benefit from receiving break time milk.
Schools can also choose to run an independent milk scheme, perhaps linked to a healthy tuck shop. The decision to introduce this scheme would be made by the school.
Q: How much milk can my child receive and what is the cost?
A: Up to 250ml of whole or semi skimmed milk can be subsidised via the EU,(for ages 5-11 years) however most school milk cartons are available in 189ml (approx. 1/3 pint). The cost varies from area to area. If subsidised, a carton of milk can cost 13-18p per day, this being charged to the parent.
Schools that offer an independent scheme, who are either unable to, or chose not to access the subsidy, determine the quantity and cost of the milk supplied.
Q: Can my child receive FREE milk?
A: Children under 5 years of age can receive free milk (up to 189ml per day) through the Nursery Milk Scheme administered via the Department of Health through the Welfare Food Re-imbursement Unit.
Children are eligible each day they attend an approved Day Care provider for 2 hours or more. The Provider is required to be registered with the WFRU in order to claim back the cost of the milk supplied.
Milk can be provided free to children who qualify for free school dinners, however not all LEA’s offer this provision. It is advisable to check your child’s eligibility through the school or Local Education Authority.
In Wales, free milk is available to all children between the ages of 5-7 yrs. This free milk is funded through the National Assembly for Wales.
Q: My child’s school doesn’t offer break time milk, what can I do?
A: Contact the School Milk Project.
One of our Facilitators can arrange to contact your Head Teacher to advise/assist in the implementation of a school milk scheme. We can also talk through the various options with you and support you wherever possible.
Talk to other parents to seek support – they too may wish their child to access milk at school.
Speak to your School Governors and let them know you are interested in your child benefiting from school milk. Ask them to raise a discussion on school milk at the next Governor’s meeting.
Seek the support of your school nurse, community dietician or school dentist. They can advocate the health benefits to the school.
Make an appointment to see the Class or Head Teacher and let them know of your wish for your child to receive break time milk.
Contact your Local Education Authority to find out if they are supporting school milk in your area.
Offer your help - some schools shy away from introducing a milk scheme because they fear it will take up too much time – receiving an offer of help may make them review this misconception.
Q: What types of milk schemes can be run in our school?
A: You
can decide what type of milk scheme to introduce.
The five main types are
1. An Individual School Scheme
2. A Subsidised Milk Scheme
3. Free Milk for the Under Five’s
4. Administration Scheme
5. Free Milk for KS1 Children (Wales only)
Q: What is the Individual School Scheme?
A: This scheme is run and administered by the school, through school personnel, parents and/or children.
The parents would pay for the milk at an agreed price (schools can source their milk direct from a dairy or via an LEA contract).
Schools would normally add approximately 1p per carton/per day to cover their administration costs and to help towards school funds. They would then choose the period that the parents would pay for the milk (e.g. daily, weekly, termly) and the school would pay the dairy invoices direct or via the agreed arrangement in their LEA.
Schools can introduce this scheme via a healthy tuck shop or as part of their ‘Healthy Schools’ approach to break time provision and encourage school councils, parents and/or pupils to assist with the day to day running of the scheme.
Q: What is the Subsidised School Scheme?
A: There is an EU subsidy available for all children aged 5-11 years.
In order for schools to participate in a subsidised scheme, the LEA or their chosen administrative organisation need to be claiming the subsidy on behalf of the schools.
Where LEA’s offer this facility, parents would pay for the milk the same as in the Individual Scheme (less the subsidy). Again, the price to the parents would depend on the LEA price agreement with the contract dairy but the schools would not be able to add any additional charge to this.
LEA’s would require schools to keep records and complete associated paperwork for the subsidy claim.
Where an LEA has appointed an administration scheme, associated paperwork is undertaken by this organisation.
Q: What is the Free Milk for Under 5’s Scheme?
A: Under the Nursery Milk Scheme all milk is free for the under 5’s, (up to 189ml) as long as they attend a registered day care facility, including schools, for more than two hours a day.
The milk would be ordered per under 5 child and the LEA (or registered organisation) would be eligible to reclaim the cost from the Welfare Foods Reimbursement Unit (WFRU).
Q: What is the Administration Scheme?
A: In some areas there can be an Administration Scheme available.
A dairy or an independent organisation like Cool Milk at School can run this. They deal with the direct invoicing of parents, but can only operate with LEA approval.
Q: Can our caterers run schemes in schools?
A: Yes, the caterers may be able to administer the schemes in your school and we are able to offer any practical advice to them to assist this facility.
Q: Can our caterers run schemes in schools?
A: Yes, the caterers may be able to administer the schemes in your school and we are able to offer any practical advice to them to assist this facility.
Q: When do we give out the milk?
A: We would suggest around morning break. This helps to fill the gap up to the lunchtime break, providing the child with essential nutrients and vitamins which can aid concentration, especially if the child has come to school without any breakfast.
We would encourage the use of pupils as Milk Monitors to distribute the milk. This not only benefits their mathematical and social skills but also their self-esteem.
Q: Is there a limit to how many children take up the scheme at first?
A: Yes, if the dairy is supplying a fridge otherwise, no. However, if the school places a small order deliveries may only be made twice a week.
Q: If the child has paid in advance for a week or term and is absent due to sickness do they get a refund?
A: It is recommended that schools stipulate their refund policy to parents. Milk has a shelf life of 4 days in a fridge and as milk is non-returnable to the dairy, a child could be offered any missed milk on their return.
If the parent is coming into school with another child then they can take the milk home with them.
Q: Will we be provided with extra refuse bins?
A: In some areas the LEA can provide extra refuse bins depending on the claim to the EU commission.
However cartons are recyclable and many schools will encourage the children to participate in various exercises where the cartons can be re-used, e.g. the cartons can be used as little plant pots for seedlings.
Q: It seems very simple – why did we not offer milk before?
A: Lots of schools have had milk schemes running successfully for a while and it can depend on what the LEA policy is or has been.
For some schools the time to be able to run a scheme simply has not been right until now. For many schools joining the Healthy Initiatives that LEA’s are introducing has helped them to make different choices for their school. The School Milk Project actively supports these initiatives.
We suggest that LEAs contact the School Milk Project directly with any questions they have.
Click here to email us directly with your query.
