Renfrewshire Council

Scottish Milk and Healthy Snack Scheme

What the scheme is, who can apply for it, how the scheme works, how to apply and when you will get paid.

What the scheme is

The Scottish Milk and Healthy Snack Scheme is funding to provide a daily portion of milk and a healthy snack for children who go to a nursery or childminder for 2 hours or more a day.

It aims to provide as many children as possible attending a registered nursery or childminder the milk and healthy snack, to create the habit of having high-quality dairy products and fruit and vegetables from an early age.

The daily portion includes: 

  • plain fresh cow's milk, or a specified alternative, or infant formula for children under 12 months old
  • a healthy snack, either fruit or vegetables.

It replaced the UK Nursery Milk Scheme from 1 August 2021.

Who can apply for the scheme

Any nursery or childminder in Renfrewshire can apply for the scheme if you:
•    are registered with the Care Inspectorate
•    provide care to pre-school children for 2 hours or more a day.

How the milk and snack scheme works

Children get the milk and snack provision just once a day, regardless of how many hours they attend nursery or childcare. If they go to more than one nursery or childminder during the day, they should still receive it just once a day. 

If the child or children get the milk and snack provision at another setting before they come to yours, you do not need to provide it to them again. 

You should agree with the parents and carers when the milk and snack is provided, in line with any other arrangements for meals at your setting. 

You should keep a record if a parent or carer declines part or all or part of the milk and snack provision.  

From 1 April 2022, a national interim combined rate of 58.2p for milk, non-dairy alternatives and a healthy snack (until at least March 2023) for every eligible child regardless of type of setting.

There is no charge for parents or carers of children who get the daily milk and snack provision.

This is separate from any other snack arrangements provided at your setting.  

How to apply

Complete the online registration form no later than 21 July 2023 for the first payment on or around 1 August 2023.

You'll need to give us an estimate of the number of milk and snack servings you expect to provide from 1 August 2023 to 31 July 2024, so we can calculate payments to childcare settings.

We would recommend you base this on your existing catering estimates and the number of children you expect attend your setting each day. For example, if you are a nursery with 80 places, you could apply for between 80 to 120 servings per day.

On your application, you'll need to provide:

  • the registered name, address and postcode of your nursery or childminding business
  • your contact details
  • which type of childcare provision you provide, either day care or childminding
  • the address where the nursery or childminder is
  • the bank details of the nursery or childminder
  • if you keep attendance record
  • how many children are enrolled at your nursery or childminding setting
  • how many sessions you provide a week 
  • how many children you expect to care for at a session
  • how many milk and snack servings a month you anticipate providing
  • a copy of your childcare provider's certificate of registration - you can upload this as a photo (JPEG) or a scanned document (PDF).

When you will get paid

This year's scheme runs from 1 August 2023 until 31 July 2024.

There are 3 payment periods during the year:

  • 1 August 2023 to 30 November 2023
  • 1 December 2023 to 31 March 2024
  • 1 April 2024 to 31 July 2024

If you apply by 21 July 2023, you'll get your first payment on or around 1 August 2023.

If you apply after this date, you'll be paid within 4 weeks of the date you are registered. Payments are not backdated from the date of registration.

The second payment will be made on or around 1 December 2023 and the third payment will be made during the week commencing 8 April 2024.

If you are eligible, you will be entitled to upfront payments to purchase the products approved for the scheme. You can't use these payments for other types of food, drinks or meals. 

You can find out more about the scheme on the Scottish Milk and Healthy Snack Scheme: guidance web page