The The Milk and Healthy Snack Scheme (Scotland) Regulations 2021 (opens new window) aims to support the health and wellbeing of young children and to instil healthy behaviours for life. The Scottish Government is keen to work with local government to optimise uptake of the Scheme from its inception. Our shared ambition is to ensure as many children as possible attending eligible pre-school settings are in receipt of the milk and healthy snack policy, embedding the habit of regular consumption of high-quality dairy produce and fruit and vegetables from an early age.

Under the new Scheme, pre-school children attending eligible settings (those registered with the Care Inspectorate that have also registered with the local authority for the new Scheme) for 2 hours or more per day will receive milk or a specified alternative and a healthy snack (portion of fruit or vegetables).

Registered settings will receive upfront payments based upon the anticipated cost of provision via local authorities, enabling them to provide the specified benefits.

The Scottish Milk and Healthy Snack Scheme replaced the UK Nursery Milk Scheme (NMS) in Scotland on 1 August 2021. The new Scheme is underpinned by the Milk and Healthy Snack Scheme (Scotland) Regulations 2021 which came into force on 21 March 2021.

Who can apply?

The Scheme is available to all regulated settings offering pre-school day care, regardless of whether they are in receipt of Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) funding.
Registration for all eligible ELC Settings or childminders should take place by 1 August 2024. Registrations after this date will be accepted with any eligible payments back-dated to the date registration is received. Once a setting has registered for the Scheme, it is expected that this registration will remain valid unless and until the setting confirms in writing or electronically to West Lothian Council that it wishes to withdraw from the Scheme.

Day care settings may apply to the local authority to register for the Scheme where they:

• Provide pre-school care to children for 2 hours or more per day.
• Are registered with the Care Inspectorate.
• The ELC Setting or childminder is based in West Lothian.

Companies with multiple ELC Settings will have to register for each individual Setting.

Who is not eligible?

Children who attend regulated childcare settings which have not registered with their local authority to be part of the Scheme will not receive funding for the benefit offered through the Scheme.

Children who attend unregulated childcare settings (those not registered by the Care Inspectorate) will not be eligible to receive the benefit offered through the Scheme.

Children will not receive the benefit offered through the Scheme if they attend a setting for less than 2 hours on an individual day.

Children in receipt of childcare but who have commenced school or an equivalent (e.g. home-schooling) will not be eligible.

As part of your application you will have to submit a copy of the child care provider's certificate of registration issued by Social Work Improvement Scotland (Care Inspectorate). Please have this ready to send to us at MilkandHealthySnackScheme@westlothian.gov.uk once you have completed our online registration form.

Registration

West Lothian Council have now opened registrations for the Scottish Milk and Healthy Snack Scheme. By clicking the below link you will be redirected to the online registration form. Details of how we will use your information is provided below in our Privacy Notice. Upon successful completion of the form, our team will process your registration request and email you once reviewed.

Before you begin the registration process, please ensure you have as much information as possible in relation to your Setting at hand. The registration process involves answering a number of questions in relation to specific time periods throughout 2024. Please also ensure you have a copy of your Setting's Certificate of Registration issued by Social Work Improvement Scotland (Care Inspectorate) ready to attach to the registration form.

If you have any queries regarding the registration process please contact our team at MilkandHealthySnackScheme@westlothian.gov.uk

Milk & Healthy Snack Scheme Registration (opens new window)