Milk for all!

Milk plays a key nutritional role in children’s early development – supporting bone growth, dental health and overall physical development. Good nutrition in the early years is also linked to improved concentration, cognitive development and classroom engagement.

Currently, children lose access to free school milk on their fifth birthday. This happens at different points during reception year, creating administrative problems for staff and behavioural challenges when some classmates continue to receive milk while others do not.

After their fifth birthday, school milk is only available to children through a subsidised scheme, with parents covering some of the cost. Currently, only a small minority (13.5 per cent) of parents choose to pay the top-up, meaning more than 480,000 children stop receiving school milk once their entitlement ends.

The survey, commissioned by leading school milk supplier Cool Milk, overwhelmingly concluded that a child's access to healthy food or drink at school should not depend on the month they were born. The findings suggest the public sees access to free school milk not simply as a dietary issue, but as one linked to fairness, public health and educational equality.

Through its Fair milk for a fair start campaign, Cool Milk is calling on the Government to introduce a universal cut-off date so that all children can receive free school milk until the end of Reception. The proposed change would cost just £23.75 per pupil.

It would also reduce administrative pressures on schools, support British dairy farmers – and, not least – make a real difference to child health.

To support the Fair milk for a fair start campaign, visit: https://fairmilkfairstart.com/