Free nursery milk: your thoughts?

[HelenMumsnet]

Hello.

We've been asked by the Department of Health for your views on the future of the Nursery Milk Scheme in England, Scotland and Wales.

Currently, nursery milk is a universal benefit: a third of a pint of free milk is provided for all under-fives having at least two hours of childcare, and any childcare setting can claim the cost of milk provided to any child, regardless of the child's home circumstances.

The Department of Health says the cost of the scheme has doubled in four years to £53m - with some childcare providers apparently claiming back 92p per pint provided. (The average price for a pinta is 36p in England).

So, the Government is now opening a consultation, to "explore options for modernising and simplifying the operation of the Nursery Milk Scheme to improve efficiency and provide better value for money, while ensuring that all children under five attending a childcare setting for more than two hours a day continue to receive free milk".

In other words, while the Government remains committed to providing free nursery milk, it wants to look at the potential impact on some cost-cutting options.

You can read more about the consultation on the DOH's consultations website - and click through to add your comments.

You may also be interested to read this BBC report.

There is also a separate survey for childcare providers about the current scheme and the possible effect of potential changes. Please do fill it in, if you're a childcare provider (closes July 16th).

As ever, you're all also most welcome to add your thoughts to this thread, too.

I would say suggest milk is not the best supplement to a child's diet, fruit and vegs, would be better. Or spend the money on breast feeding support, here in London Haringey they recently made all bar 1 bf support worker redundant. But the bets obviously that government would never reallocate so sensibly so in which case the milk money must stay to help give a reason for mums to go into centres, where maybe they may get help.

I have worked in a nursery and the milk is wasted - by the kids i.e they pour it then don't drink it. And far too much is provided much more than they need - the cartons are too big for littlies.

It ends up going home with the staff! Or I have heard from a member of staff that when she worked at another nursery the milk was taken to the care home also owned by the nursery owner!

Very often the milk is served 1-1 1/2 hours after a big school dinner, 1 hour before home time where they eat the packet of sweets/ crisps / icecream that Mum brings for the way home!

My kids ditched milk in an afternoon before they got to 12 months. My 6 year old has opted out at school.

It will be political suicide though to get rid of it though!
If they need to do something they should tackle the cost 90 odd pence a pint is ridiculous! Give out vouchers like the Healthy Start Vouchers so nurseries can get cheaper milk and put a cap on the price.

It is obviously big business as I have recently set up as a childminder and I have had the milk rep ring me to supply me!!!

Yes, exactly, just a debate on why milk would be good. I agree fruit is not filling - although maybe a banana

Justvrealised it is opt in - I remember filling in the form now

I still have nightmares about the ghastly warm horrible milk we had at school. My DC's didn't drink any milk past the toddler stage. Water or diluted juice. I think the money could probably be better spent on something else. Don't like the idea of means testing either.

Yogurt is a much better source of calcium than milk (if you like dairy ) and less disgusting when warm.

my kids dont drink it. it goes in my tea.

I see all sides of this debate,milk is a great nutritional boost to children on a poor diet,its almost traditional to give milk to under 5s but yet again the system is being abused I think the only way to stop this is to cap the amount you can claim,fair enough most playgroups etc wouldnt want to have to 'chase' round to get milk at a good price but if the limit was capped Im sure they would have to revise it- I know a lot of milk goes home with staff (ive had it myself) and then its not reaching its intended market or is being refused by the child.

Having a child allergic to dairy its of little benefit to him so what about frsh orange juice instead? or fruit as others suggest?

Can anyone explain the new ruling on children getting free milk till their 5th birthday? DD is 5 in her first week in Reception so I will have to pay. Her frend isn't 5 untill next August so doesn't pay for a year. How is that fair?

Yes, it is isn't it? Tradition,as opposed to evidence based. (feel free to correct me if I'm wrong)

Presumably your dd got it at nursery or childminder?

She got it at home then nursery just like her friend.

That's hardly a new principle though mumnosbest. Back in the dark ages when I was at Junior school, I - as an August Birthday - was forced to dring warm, cream at the top bottles of milk, after others in my year didn't have too were no longer offered this 'treat' once "Thatcher the Milk Snatcher" started limiting it

Yes but she had longer at home and/ or nursery! Though I agree it's a bit of a pain in recep to organise when some are free and some aren't- and I suppose it changes all the time.

But your child is under 5 for the same amount of time as her friend! Getting free milk for (roughly) the same amount of time

I didn't know this existed post-Thatcher, though did know that people on certain low incomes/benefits get Healthy Start tokens which can be used to buy milk/veg etc - as long as you don't live in a posh Home Counties village where the local supermarket has never seen such things and like the other shops refuses to take them...

Ds's nursery get about a pint per child per day delivered by my milkman (around 30 pints) so I hope they get a discount as it's 69p/pint for me if I got non-organic. I'm pretty sure they use it all as it goes on cereal and in custard and they can tweak the order with 24 hours notice.

I have been surprised recently at Children's Centres where some of them routinely offer milk cartons with straws after certain sessions, and some randomly - no idea who they are supposed to give it to but I've been asked to take some as it's 'hanging around'!

yes i have seen milk hanging around and teachers asking parents to take it on friday.

I breasted my son til he was 4, so free nursery milk was not necessary for him. I'd take the cash equivalent for the product I provided him

I'm not complaining as I can and will pay for her milk but actually she and her friends have all had 1 year in nursery and start reception together. I think it's fairer to make the cut off the end of an academic year or say it's only free if you're on benefits, like school dinners.

Did she not start at 3 with the funded hours? If not I guess you missed out on that too.

zzzzz Each to his own, but the warm, slightly rancid milk that I was offered in Primary school put me off drinking milk for many years. Very eeewww.