Health and Nutrition
Free milk scheme for under-fives rolled out in Wales
All private and voluntary settings in Wales are to be provided with free milk following the expansion of the Cool Milk initiative.
Wales and Ospreys rugby star Shane Williams launches Cool Milk
The scheme, now running in more than 70 local authorities throughout England and Scotland, is being rolled out in partnership with the Wales Pre-School Providers Association.
Every child under five attending nursery for two or more hours a day is entitled to a 189ml serving of milk.
Cool Milk pays and arranges for dairies to deliver the milk and recovers the cost from the Government, relieving nurseries of the administrative and financial burden.
Former milk 'poster boy', Wales and Ospreys rugby player Shane Williams, launched the scheme at an event at the Ospreys' club training ground last week, where children joined the team in a rugby skills workshop.
John Sedgwick, managing director of Cool Milk, said, 'We're delighted to have kicked off the Cool Milk scheme in Wales. The Wales Pre-School Providers Association has been instrumental in helping us deliver the scheme.'
Sian Davies, chief executive officer of the Association, said, 'The partnership between Cool Milk and Wales PPA will support our members in encouraging children to drink milk and develop a healthy diet and lifestyle. Having the milk delivered directly without the hassle of collating receipts and endless form-filling will give the staff more time to spend planning and playing with the children.
'Many of our members are also involved in national and local healthy living and eating projects, and this initiative will support them in fulfilling much of the criteria of these schemes.'
Other benefits of the Cool Milk scheme include a free fridge on loan to nurseries to store milk, customer support and free plastic beakers for children.
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