More pupils get 'the white stuff'

A campaign has begun to try to get free school milk back into infant schools across Wales.

From this year the Welsh Assembly is spending £1.3m to help provide free milk to all children up to the age of seven.

But at the moment just 20% of children are receiving school milk.

It's vital to give young people a good start in life by giving them the chance to have free milk in schools

NFU Cymru's Andrew Davies

Despite European subsidies, until now many schools have found it difficult to provide milk for their pupils.

Administration can be so complex that some have found it simpler not to offer any at all, while others have asked for a contribution from parents.

But some experts - concerned that only one-in-five infant pupils receive milk in class - have warned that it could affect their health.

Another quarter-of-a-million pupils could be provided with free milk now that the National Assembly is topping up the subsidies.

The National Farmers' Union Cymru has described the campaign as "vital".

Tackling tooth decay

NFU Cymru's Andrew Davies said: "It's vital to give young people a good start in life by giving them the chance to have free milk in schools.

"If we can give them something in a fun carton then they'll hopefully drink more of it, giving them strong teeth and bones."

Rhondda Cynon Taff Council has already brought milk back into all of its infant classes.

It hopes it will help tackle the serious problem of tooth decay among the under-12s.