School Milk
The 1st January 2016 marked the first anniversary of the new School Food Standards. As part of the standards, there is legislation that stipulates that all children in primary school education must be provided with the option of lower fat drinking milk during school hours.
Children under 5 enjoy free school milk, and once they turn 5 they can continue to receive the great benefits school milk offers – at a subsidised cost.
Did you know our school has a school milk scheme? By registering your child for our school milk scheme they will receive a 189ml (third of a pint) carton of semi-skimmed milk every day. This is delivered fresh and chilled to their classroom every day.
Why should my child be drinking milk at school?
School milk provides your child with essential nutrients such as calcium and protein, for strong, healthy teeth and bones. It is also rehydrating and energy boosting, helping to bridge the long gap between breakfast and lunch so children stay focused. Find out the top ten reasons to drink school milk here
For how long is free school milk available for my child?
School milk is free for all under-fives. Free milk will continue until the Friday before your child’s fifth birthday. You will receive a payment request three weeks before this time - if you wish for your child to continue to receive school milk simply make a payment.
We want to pay for subsidised milk, how much does it cost?
Thanks to government subsidies school milk costs around £15 a term for children aged five or older.
How do I register my child?
You can pick up a form from school, or register online at coolmilk.com
How long does it take to setup?
Just register & pay by a Tuesday for your child’s milk to start the following week.
You can pay Cool Milk online, over the phone, at a local PayPoint or by cheque in instalments to suit you. If registering online you can pay straight away, if using a registration form you will need to wait to receive a payment request.
How do I find out more?
Call 0844 854 2913 or visit coolmilk.com
School Dinners
Current Standards
The school food standards apply to all maintained schools, and academies that were founded before 2010 and after June 2014. They must provide:
- high-quality meat, poultry or oily fish
- fruit and vegetables
- bread, other cereals and potatoes
There can’t be:
- drinks with added sugar, crisps, chocolate or sweets in school meals and vending machines
- more than 2 portions of deep-fried, battered or breaded food a week
The School Food Plan
The School Food Plan is exactly that – an agreed plan that has the support of government and diverse organisations who are supporting head teachers to improve food in their schools.
Lunchbox & Snack Guidance
Thanks to Jamie Oliver, school dinners have had a radical overhaul. But what about the lunchboxes we pack for our kids?
It's just as important to make sure the lunchbox your child takes to school provides as healthy and balanced a lunch as what they would eat at home. This means plenty of foods that contain the nutrients that children need, and fewer foods high in sugar and saturated fat.
Preparing your child's lunchbox
Starchy foods are a good source of energy and should make up a third of the lunchbox. But don't let things get boring. Instead of sandwiches, give kids bagels, pitta bread, wraps and baguettes. Consider using brown, wholemeal or seeded bread, not white bread.
A balanced packed lunch should contain:
- starchy foods – these are bread, rice, potatoes, pasta and others
- protein foods – including meat, fish, eggs, beans and others
- a dairy item – this could be cheese or a yoghurt
- vegetables or salad and a portion of fruit
Low-fat snacks for kids
Children often like food they can eat with their fingers, so chop up raw veggies such as carrots or peppers and give them hummus or cottage cheese to dip the veggies in. Breadsticks and wholemeal crackers are great finger foods that can be spread with low-fat soft cheese or eaten with reduced-fat cheddar and pickles.
Save chocolate and cakes for occasional treats, replace them with fresh fruit. Vary the fruit each day and get them to try new things, such as kiwi or melon. You could also make up a tasty fruit salad. Be inventive. Note that dried fruit is no longer recommended as a between-meal snack as it's high in sugar and can be bad for teeth.
Unsalted nuts are a great snack food for children to have at home, but please leave them out of your child's packed lunch. We have a school wide 'no nuts' policy to protect pupils with a nut allergy.
Reading supermarket food labels can help you make healthier choices for your child's lunch and family meal times. It may take a while for your children to get used to a healthier lunchbox. But it will be worth it for their health, so keep trying. You can help by eating a wider range of foods at home as a family, remember to praise your child when they've tried something new to show your encouragement.