Regional polling shows overwhelming support across the East of England for extending free school milk to the end of Reception year – but the policy still cuts off support at age five
A new poll has revealed that 4 in 5 (91%) adults in the East of England say that a child’s access to healthy food or drink at school should not depend on the month they were born. The findings highlight strong regional backing for a fairer system that would better support children’s health, wellbeing and readiness to learn.
Milk plays an important role in children’s early development – providing key nutrients that support bone growth, dental health and overall physical development. Good nutrition in the early years is also consistently linked to improved concentration, cognitive development and classroom engagement, helping establish healthy habits and giving children the best possible start at school.
However, under current Government policy, children lose access to free school milk on their fifth birthday. This means they stop receiving milk at different points during their first year of school, creating additional administrative burdens for staff managing staggered cut-off dates, as well as behavioural challenges which can arise when some classmates continue receiving milk while others do not. After their fifth birthday, school milk is only available through a subsidised scheme, with parents required to cover the remaining cost. Currently, only 13.5% of parents in England choose to pay for milk, meaning more than 480,000 children stop receiving school milk once their entitlement ends. Disadvantaged pupils are also the least likely to continue, further widening inequalities at a critical stage of development.
The survey, commissioned by Cool Milk, the UK’s leading school milk supplier, also revealed that 93% of respondents in the East of England agree that good nutrition during a child’s first year of primary school is important for their learning and development, and 92 agree that preventative measures, such as good nutrition in early childhood, can improve children’s health and dental outcomes and reduce future pressure on NHS services. It also found that 88% say a child’s nutritional needs do not suddenly change on their fifth birthday, and 80% agree that children shouldn’t lose access to free school milk on their fifth birthday
Together, the findings suggest the public sees access to free school milk not simply as a dietary issue, but as one linked to fairness, public health and educational equality.
Through its ‘Fair milk for a fair start’ campaign, Cool Milk is calling on the Government to introduce a universal cut-off date so that all children can receive free school milk until the end of Reception. The proposed change would cost just £23.75 per pupil and would prevent children facing a mid-year cliff edge at a key stage in their development.
Nick Harrison, CEO at The Sutton Trust, said:
“Extending access to free school milk for the whole of the Reception year will stop children effectively being penalised for turning five during the school year. This can help improve nutrition and reduce hunger in schools. Teachers increasingly tell us they see students coming into school hungry due to the high cost of living, and food insecurity has a knock-on effect for children’s ability to learn. This simple measure will also help simplify admin for school staff.”
Wayne Norrie OBE, CEO of Greenwood Academies Trust, said:
“For many pupils across the country, school is where they receive the most reliable access to nutritious food and drink. Milk supports children’s concentration, growth and overall wellbeing, and shared milk breaks help build routine, belonging and positive relationships in the classroom. Extending free milk until the end of Reception would be a sensible and welcome policy change that would greatly benefit the children who need it most.”
Mike Ferrand, Managing Director at Cool Milk, said:
“Children’s access to healthy nutrition shouldn’t depend on the month they were born. Ending free milk on a child’s fifth birthday creates an unnecessary cliff-edge in the middle of their first year at school. This is a simple, low-cost and evidence-based change that would support families, reduce burdens on schools and help give every child the fair start they deserve.”
Extending the entitlement would support the Government’s commitment to giving every child the best start in life and improving school readiness. It would also reduce administrative pressures on schools, support British dairy farmers and align with national ambitions around preventative health and food security.
To support the Fair milk for a fair start campaign, visit: https://fairmilkfairstart.com/
