Children in York Milk the Benefits of New Council Partnership
News release
25th June 2013
City of York Council has shown its commitment to continuing to supply milk to children in primary schools by signing a new agreement with a national supplier.
Previously, schools in York who opted to take part in the Government’s school milk scheme paid for the milk up front. The council would then ascertain the number of drinkers in each school and claim the subsidy back from the Government before reimbursing the schools for the cost of the milk purchased.
Under the new agreement, however, Cool Milk has taken over the running of the scheme and will pay for the milk up front and claim the money back on the schools’ behalf. This will undoubtedly be a relief to bursars and head teachers who are under increasing financial pressure and hopefully encourage more schools to sign up to the scheme.
Cllr Janet Looker, City ofYork Council’s Cabinet Member for Education, Children and Young People, said: “We’re always looking at ways to relieve schools from administrative burdens, while promoting the benefits of young children drinking calcium-rich milk. Cool Milk’s scheme is helping us achieve both aims – and we’re looking forward to parents feeling the benefits as much as the schools and children.”
Cool Milk also manages the milk drinking registers, collects the monies from the parents and sources the milk from local dairies, which deliver it fresh to the classroom every day, completely free of charge.
Cool Milk’s MD John Sedgwick said the company is only too happy to help the City of York Council continue to offer the scheme to schools in the area.
“Milk is an important part of a child's diet and is one of the few drinks allowed in school under the Government's latest food and nutrient-based standards. But here at Cool Milk we understand that operating the scheme can be an administrative and financial burden for schools,” explained John.
“That’s why we partner with local authorities throughout theUKto develop an admin-friendly scheme that makes providing school milk easier.”
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 which is funded by the Department of Health. Children over the age of five in primary education are entitled to milk which is subsided by the European Union.
• Participation in the school milk scheme is voluntary and local authorities, early years childcare providers, bursars and head teachers can decide whether to provide milk to children in their care.
• 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 and serves 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
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