Cool milk at College Grove Nursery

Wakefield MP and Shadow Environment Secretary Mary Creagh helped College Grove Nursery celebrate World School Milk Day on 9 October.  She was joined by Cool Milk Managing Director, John Sedgwick, and spent time handing out milk to the children and talking to them about drinking milk.

College Grove Nursery is one of thousands of schools and nurseries taking part in celebrating World School Milk Day.  Launched in 2000 by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, the day is used to promote the importance of drinking milk at school.

Currently, school milk is free for under-5s in day-care or primary education, and is subsidised for school students aged five to 11. Milk is delivered fresh to the classroom, and consumed as a group.  The Government wants to reduce the cost of the milk scheme and is consulting on how to do this.

Wakefield families are struggling with a cost of living crisis through the double dip recession. Mary is concerned that cuts to free milk for under 5s could put children’s health and educational attainment at risk. The Wakefield MP is urging people in the district to read and respond to the Department of Health consultation  http://consultations.dh.gov.uk/nurserymilk/nextsteps before 23rd October. 

Mary said “I had a great time meeting the children and staff at College Grove, but there was a serious reason for my visit.  Milk is important to children’s health and physical development.  They benefit from the nutrients and vitamins in milk, and milk at school ensures their hydration and improved concentration. With many families struggling to make ends meet in tough times, free nursery milk has never been more important.”

John Sedgwick, Managing Director of Cool Milk, confirmed that supplying milk to schools, nurseries is vital in helping children to develop important nutrition and social habits. He said: “Milk in schools continues to be incredibly popular and hugely successful in contributing to the healthy development of all children – but especially those from underprivileged backgrounds.”

For more information on World School Milk day go to www.worldschoolmilkday.com