Milk for primary school children

Milk provided to pupils at Key Stage 1 is free in Wales, when schools participate in the school milk scheme. The European Community pays a subsidy, and the Welsh Government pays a top up subsidy, which allows free milk to be offered to Key Stage 1 pupils.

For pupils at Key Stage 2, the European Community and the Welsh Government subsidise the cost of school milk.

Schools are not obliged to participate in the school milk scheme, the decision is down to the individual school. Some schools might choose to provide free milk at Key Stage 1, but not to offer subsidised milk at Key Stage 2.

Milk contains a number of useful nutrients that contribute positively to the diets of children and young people. Milk is a recommended drink in schools under the Welsh Government’s Appetite for Life initiative. Milk drinks and products are one of the four food groups included in the Primary School Free Breakfast Initiative.

Milk from goats and sheep and lactose-reduced milk are covered under the school milk scheme and are eligible for subsidy. However, schools may decide not to provide sheep/goats’/lactose reduced milk, even if they participate in the scheme.

Non dairy alternatives to milk (e.g. soya milk) are not covered by the school milk scheme.

The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) administers the cost of the school milk scheme on behalf of Welsh Government.

For information on the scheme, including how schools can claim the subsidy, visit the RPA website.