EU School Milk
Early Years Pilot

Welcome to the EU School Milk Scheme Early Years and Care Settings pilot homepage.

The objective of this School Milk Pilot is to cultivate and contribute to the development of healthy eating habits for preschool children, to create a positive lasting impression of dairy produce and to encourage pre-school children to meet their energy and nutrient needs by consuming the recommended number of daily servings from the ‘milk, yogurt and cheese’ food group. An additional objective is to connect children to agriculture and develop a greater understanding of where their food comes from.

Milk and Nutrition

School milk is intended to make a valuable contribution to the nutrient intakes of children and a serving provides a unique package of essential nutrients such as calcium, protein, phosphorus, potassium, B-vitamins and iodine.

The Department of Health guidelines advise that children aged 1-4 years should consume three servings from the ‘milk, yogurt and cheese’ food group each day.

Milk is one of the best dietary sources of calcium, a nutrient that is well recognised for its important role in normal bone growth and development.

Childhood and the adolescent years are particularly important for forming healthy bones.

Click here to find out more about nutrition and healthy eating for young children aged 1-4 years:

Timing and Duration of the Pilot

The School Milk Scheme Early Years Pilot will take place in two phases. Each setting will be required to participate for just one of the phases.

Phase 1
The first phase will take place for two weeks from
28th February to 11th March.

Phase 2
The second phase will take place for two weeks from
28th March to 8th April.

The letter that you receive from your child’s Early Years Setting will confirm which phase your child is partaking in.

If you have any queries regarding the pilot please contact The National Dairy Council by emailing schoolmilk@ndc.ie

The Pilot

During the two-week pilot, your child will receive milk each day. Each child will receive a Moo Crew keep-cup and children will be encouraged to pour their own milk or take turns in serving their friends. If you have requested lactose-free milk this will be provided for your child. Children that do not drink milk will not be excluded from any activities related to the pilot. Refrigeration will be provided to the Early Years settings to ensure that milk is chilled and fresh.

A Moo Crew toothbrush as well as stickers and pencils will be provided to children during the pilot to encourage their participation.

Milk and Nutrition

School milk is intended to make a valuable contribution to the nutrient intakes of children and a serving provides a unique package of essential nutrients such as calcium, protein, phosphorus, potassium, B-vitamins and iodine.

The Department of Health guidelines advise that children aged 1-4 years should consume three servings from the ‘milk, yogurt and cheese’ food group each the day.”

Milk is one of the best dietary sources of calcium, a nutrient that is well recognised for its important role in normal bone growth and development.

Childhood and the adolescent years are particularly important for forming healthy bones.

Click here to find out more about nutrition and healthy eating for young children aged 1-4 years:

From Grass to Glass

Irish dairy is renowned worldwide for its high-quality grass-based production system. Because Ireland has a mild, wet climate, cows can graze on grass for up to 240 days a year.

In Ireland, we have over 18,500 farms, many of which are family owned and have been rearing cows for generations. Many children growing up in urban environments won’t have had this experience.

To support the experiential understanding of the story of milk, Early Years settings will be provided with seed trays, seeding compost, grass seed and small toy cows.

You are encouraged to talk to your child about the story of milk; that grass grows helped by the sun and the rain, the cows eat the grass and make milk, the farmer milks the cow and sends it to the dairy and they send it to the shop for us to buy and drink.

Some More Ideas

You may wish to encourage your child to consume milk and dairy at home. Here are some suggested optional activities that they may enjoy.

Cooking with Dairy

Berrie Smoothie
(Serves 2)

Ingredients

  • 1 ripe banana
  • 10 blueberries
  • 5 strawberries or raspberries
  • 125g pot of natural yogurt
  • 100ml of milk

Method

  1. Pour the milk into a blender, followed by the yogurt.
  2. Add the peeled banana and the berries.
  3. Add ice cubes for an even more refreshing smoothie.

Derval’s Apple and Cheese Stacks
(Serves 2)

Ingredients

  • 4 oat cakes
  • 1 apple
  • 50g white cheddar cheese

Method

  1. Slice your apple and cheese.
  2. Place the apple and cheese on the oatcakes and enjoy!

Pancake Perfection
(Makes approximately 12 pancakes)

Ingredients

  • 125g plain flour
  • 300ml of Irish milk
  • 1 egg
  • Pinch of salt
  • Oil for frying Method:

Method

  1. Sieve the flour and salt into a bowl.
  2. Make a well in the centre of the flour; add the egg and about 100ml of the milk.
  3. As you beat the mixture, gradually add the rest of the milk until a smooth batter is formed.
  4. Pour the batter into a jug and allow to stand for 30-40mins.
  5. Pour a thin layer of the batter onto an oiled and heated frying pan.
  6. Fry until golden brown and turn/flip to brown the other side.
  7. Try some of the following toppings:
  • Seasonal fresh fruit with yogurt
  • Ham, cheddar cheese and chopped tomato
  • Knob of Irish butter with a drizzle of honey

Milly Colouring Page

Click here to print our fun Milly colouring page.

To find out more about Irish dairy farming click here

Being a Dairy Farmer

Cows on the farm

Milking Cows

The National Dairy Council, The Studio, Maple Avenue, Stillorgan, Co. Dublin.
Tel: 01 2902451 | Email: schoolmilk@ndc.ie