DairyCo

Milk Provision Options

Published 25 November 11

It is very easy to provide milk in schools -  just take a look at some of the success stories in our case studies section (click here) or visit 'next steps'  for more advice and support.

Option 1 - Independent provision

• You will need to source milk direct from a dairy or through an LA contract
• Agree a price for the milk which must then be communicated to parents/carers. Schools are able to add (if preferred) around 1p per carton to cover any administration costs.

 Option 2 - EU subsidised milk

The EU currently provides a subsidy for school milk click here for further information which may assist schools to provide school milk more cheaply (dependent on the LA contract).

 If you are interested in participating in the EU School Milk Programme and are a Maintained or a self-organising school you should contact your Local Authority. Alternatively, it might be possible to claim subsidy through a milk supplier or an organisation set up specifically to claim the subsidy on behalf of schools and you can find out more information on this by contacting the RPA - Dairy Schemes Helpline on 01392 266466. Independent schools should contact IAPS on 01926 887833

Contact your LA to see:

• if they will claim the subsidy on your behalf.
• Ask the LA how much you should charge for the milk as this will depend on what the LA has agreed with their contracted dairy. You must charge the same price as the LA quotes.
• The LA will advise which records/paperwork you need to complete. The LA may be able to assist with administration and will advise if this is available.
• Decide the period for which parents need to pay ie, weekly/each term and then pay the dairy invoices direct or via the LA as per the specified agreement.
• Changes to the provision of EU school milk subsidy have been introduced from 1 August 2009. All schools now have access to the subsidy and schools can obtain free posters to help promote their participation. For more information please go to www.rpa.gov.uk/schoolmilksubsidy where you can download the posters and various forms.

Download the RPA Brief Guide to Subsidy booklet and EU school milk posters from our website.

NB: These posters must be printed on A3 paper and are designed to print in landscape orientation. You may design your own poster, but it must comply with the requirements in Article 16 of Regulation (EC) No.657/2008.The School Milk Poster files are in Microsoft Word format. If you require a different format please contact the RPA Dairy Schemes Helpline on 01392 266466.

Other Options:

• Some Local Authorities LA) will have an agreement with organisations that can assist with administration involved with the provision of subsidised milk. These organisations must have LA approval and can invoice parents directly. Check with your LA to see if this is possible
• Wales only - Free Milk for KS1 Children -  introduced by the Welsh Assembly in 2001 which uses the EU subsidy and extra finance to make milk available free to children in primary education including reception, year one and year two
• Free Milk for Under 5s - Under the Nursery Milk Scheme all milk is free for children under five years of age as long as they attend a registered day care facility, including schools, for more than two hours a day. Click here for details of the Nursery Milk Reimbursement Unit.

All of these options can be run in school and administered by school personnel, parents and children. milk could also be provided through a healthy tuck shop or if you have on-site catering facilities you could talk to the catering manager to see where they can assist.