Gone are the days when children receive a free bottle of milk, but looks like a new trend is starting with a free breakfast club at Landywood Primary School. Going back to the end of World War II, the “Free School Milk Act of 1946” was passed in the UK. This was mandated that all school children under 18 receive a daily allowance of milk. These bottles, often containing 1/3 pint or 200ml and were aimed to address concerns about malnutrition and its potential impact on children’s health and educational achievement.
In 1968 Edward Short, the Labour Secretary of State for Education and Science, withdrew free milk from secondary schools for children over the age of eleven. Then his successor, Conservative Margaret Thatcher stopped free school milk for children over the age of seven in the Education (Milk) Act 1971.
It’s now nice to hear that Landywood Primary School on Holly Lane, was one of only a number of schools to adopt an early morning breakfast scheme that provides free breakfast meals to pupils in reception to year six. They welcomed more than 50 pupils for early breakfast as part of a new government initiative. At present, 184 families have registered their interest in the programme, which shows how much impact today’s prices are having on families in the village. There has been alot of excitement from the children about the new Breakfast Bistro, as children can self-serve their own cereals and milk each morning while supported by staff. The children can also choose from a range of toast, bagels muffins and pancakes, alongside health ‘daily special’.
From The Chronicle 8th May 2025
