Le Rondin has joined Guernsey Dairy’s ‘Milk for Schools’ scheme, giving pupils there a glass of the white stuff every day.
The Dairy said the initiative supports student’s concentration and growth by meeting daily nutrition requirements.
“The purpose of ‘Milk for Schools’ is to provide children, and I think most specifically, those children who are vulnerable in our community, a nutritious start to the day,” said Dairy Marketing Officer Jon Taylor.
“We work in collaboration with the States’ education authority, the States’ nutritionist, and also with advice and support from the Health Improvement Commission. So we want to achieve an island wide blanket campaign whereby every child that requires a nutritional boost gets it.”
Mr Taylor said that there are numerous benefits to the scheme.
“There’s the vitamins and nutrients that you receive from milk, but it’s also a component part that can be used in things like porridge, which obviously also has benefits as well.
“It’s a really nutritious drink, and we even class it as a natural isotonic so it’s great for recovery, if they participate in sport. It’s also good for brain development, because there’s iodine in milk. So it’s kind of a one stop shop for nutrition!”
The Milk for Schools campaign is funded by the Skipton Community Fund.
Fenella Comeskey, the company’s Marketing Associate said the scheme is based on successful programmes elsewhere.
“We were absolutely thrilled to be even considered to help out Milk for Schools.
“I’ve recently moved home from New Zealand, and I’ve seen the initiative roll out there, and I’ve seen what an absolute difference it makes, so to be able to do it here back in my homeland, it really means something to me.”
Watching the school cycle through the process of providing milk is something special, she said.
The teachers know each and every individual student and their needs.
Some require a straw, others a closed container, some need lacto free milk, whilst others have never had milk before and are just now sampling Guernsey Dairy’s award winning produce.
All these needs and so many more, even down to individual preference on portion size, were all in the minds of the teachers and assistants helping to facilitate the initiative’s roll out at Le Rondin.
“It’s absolutely incredible!” Ms Comeskey added. “The fact that the teachers know absolutely every child’s needs and how much they will drink, and what way they will drink.
“It’s all right for us to put the milk in schools, but it’s the staff that really obviously make a difference, and just making sure that each child is tailored to. It’s absolutely amazing.”
Guernsey Dairy intends to expand the ‘Milk for Schools’ scheme to all primary and early years settings. It iscurrently seeking additional support to try and reach this target.
Another local company stepping up in support of the Milk for Schools campaign is Milton Produce, which has been delivering the weekly milk free of charge.
If other businesses or individuals are interested in sponsoring a primary school breakfast club or early years setting they’re asked to get in contact with ‘milkforschools@guernseydairy.com’.
More details can also be found on the Guernsey Dairy website, HERE.