A Glass a Day Keeps the Doctor Away

News Release

10th May 2013

That was the message from breakfast TV Health Editor Dr Hilary Jones GP who visited two schools in Doncaster on Thursday (9th May) to launch a new scheme aimed at encouraging more children to drink milk in the classroom.

During his visits to Bentley High Street Primary School and Balby Central Primary School Dr Hilary took part in special assemblies and talked to children, teachers and parents about the health and educational benefits of drinking milk at school.

“Milk is a very important part of overall nutrition for children, providing them with a wide variety of minerals, vitamins, protein and other nutrients to keep them healthy,” explained Dr Hilary.

“It is packed with vitamin D, calcium, vitamin A, vitamin B12 and potassium and while children are drinking milk they’re less likely to consume less nutritious drinks such as fruit juice and fizzy drinks.”

Head teacher at Bentley High Street Primary School Janis James added: “We were delighted to welcome Dr Hilary and the Civic Mayor of Doncaster, Councillor Christine Mills, to the school yesterday to celebrate the introduction of the new scheme.

“Milk is one of the few drinks permitted at school by the Children’s Food Trust and drinking milk after an active playtime is one of the best ways of keeping the children hydrated and getting them ready to learn again.”

Since 15th April leading school milk supplier Cool Milk has been working in partnership with Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council and local dairies to supply free and subsidised school milk to children in pre-schools, nurseries and primary schools.

Peter Dale, Director of Regeneration and Environment at Doncaster Council, said: “This new partnership is great news for Doncaster schools and local milk producers – it means that schools will continue to get milk from local cows, supporting our local economy and ensuring kids stay strong and healthy.

“Cool Milk will help ensure the continued smooth running of this fantastic service which hopefully more and more children will benefit from.”

Cool Milk currently supplies over 24,000 education providers from Land’s End to John O’Groats with free school milk.

Managing Director John Sedgwick said: “Many parents don’t realise that their child is entitled to free or subsided milk at school, which means lots of youngsters are missing out on their entitlement.

“Our aim is to make it easier for nurseries, schools, parents and local authorities to benefit from the Government scheme by taking away the administrative and financial burden. Cool Milk is also keen to promote the health benefits and social opportunities that school and nursery milk has to offer, which is why we invited Cool Milk’s Medical Advisor Dr Hilary along.”

During his visit to Balby Central Primary School as well as talking to pupils and staff, Dr Hilary also met some of the parents. Head teacher Pete McGuigan said: “We are keen to support the provision of free and subsidised milk at school as we want the children in our care to have the best possible start in life.

“The pupils, staff and parents all enjoyed meeting Dr Hilary and we hope this will encourage even more parents to sign up to the scheme.”

ENDS

Notes to editors:

School milk

• In the UK every child under the age of five in a day care or early years setting for two or more hours a day is entitled to a free 189ml serving of milk. Children over the age of five in primary education are entitled to subsidised milk.
• Milk is a great source of nearly every vitamin and mineral of nutritional importance to humans, especially for children of a young age.
• For the top ten reasons to drink school milk go to www.coolmilk.com/whyschoolmilk

Cool Milk

• Cool Milk is one of the UK’s leading school milk suppliers and works in partnership with local authorities nationwide, serving thousands of children with fresh milk daily.
• Its aim is to provide every child in early years and primary education with the opportunity to drink fresh milk every day.
• The Cool Milk scheme is administration-friendly and cost-free and is designed to make providing school milk quick and simple for schools and nurseries.
• For more information visit www.coolmilk.com

Kate Strawson
Shooting Star PR
01522 528540
kate@shootingstar-pr.co.uk
www.shootingstar-pr.co.uk
t: @KateStrawson