Research from the School and Nursery Milk Alliance (SNMA) reveals Wales is leading the way in school milk provision with an average servings per pupil per annum of 98 under the School Milk Subsidy Scheme.
Last year’s winner, England, comes in second place with 93 and Scotland last with 80 servings.
The research comes as part of World School Milk Day 2024 which celebrates the benefits of healthy and nutritious school milk. Ahead of this, SNMA Chair Jon Thornes met with Environment Minister Daniel Zeichner MP to discuss how the dairy industry and government can work with schools to ensure more children are drinking health nutritious milk (picture available on request).
Wales leading the way is not surprising, as Wales is unique amongst UK nations in providing free healthy milk for all children in Key Stage One, rather than just subsidising it.
Children’s health in the UK is deteriorating, child poverty is on the rise and ¼ of all five-year-olds are affected by tooth decay. It is the most common reason children aged between 6 and 10 are admitted to hospital. Milk is very healthy for growing children and its high calcium content means it is crucial for good oral health, and preventing tooth decay.
Unfortunately, there are still far too many children who are missing out on free or subsidized milk when at school or nursery. Following the aftermath of the covid pandemic, many education settings are still yet to re-start their milk schemes, meaning that many children are missing out.
School food standards require lower fat milk or lactose reduced milk to be available to drink at least once a day during school hours. Unfortunately, far too many schools and nurseries are unaware of the different available programmes that could be giving their pupils free healthy milk. To assist with the cost of providing milk, schools can take part in:
- Nursery Milk Scheme, led by DHSC, providing free milk to children under the age of 5
- School Milk Subsidy Scheme, led by DEFRA, managed by the RPA, providing subsidised milk for all pupils children between five and 11 years old attending Ofsted-registered schools
School milk is a healthy and tasty option for children. A review of evidence by Northumbria University concluded that drinking milk may support immediate and lasting dental and bone health in 5–11 year-old children and it has a positive effect on preventing childhood obesity. The research showed that milk supports children’s cognition, particularly when served as a mid-morning snack, as it staves off hunger until lunchtime.
Dr Hilary Jones MBE, Spokesperson for the SNMA, said: “Drinking milk on a regular basis not only improves children’s health outcomes but also plays a crucial role in preventing tooth decay. With 25% of five-year-olds affected by this issue, it’s the leading cause of hospital admissions among children aged 6 to 10. The calcium in milk is essential for maintaining strong teeth and gums, helping to reduce the risk of tooth decay and costly treatments down the line. By encouraging schools to offer milk, we can support children’s oral health and potentially save the NHS millions through preventative healthcare. However, millions of children are still missing out due to a lack of awareness of the government’s available schemes.”
Jon Thornes MBE, Chair of the SNMA, said: “It is heartening to see that so many people across the UK believe it is important for school children to have access to free or subsidised milk. Providing milk in schools is not just about nutrition—it’s about combatting child poverty and supporting children’s educational attainment. We know that children who are well-nourished perform better in school, and milk plays a key role in keeping them focused and healthy. By addressing issues like childhood tooth decay and hunger, milk helps lay the foundation for better health outcomes and educational success, which can ultimately save the NHS money through preventative healthcare.
“We urge the UK government to follow Wales’s positive example and ensure more schools across the UK are signed up to these schemes. This is a crucial step in ensuring that as many children as possible can benefit from healthy milk while at school creating brighter futures for both our children and our nation.”
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