UK - Dairy farmers in the United Kingdom have been urged to get online and show their support in teaching children about dairy produce.
Dairy farmers have a vital role to play in influencing children’s interest in milk and other dairy products, according to Diane Cannon, The School Milk Project manager at DairyCo.
To assist farmers interested in getting involved, The School Milk Project has developed a new section on its website (www.schoolmilk.co.uk) brimming with information designed specifically for farmers.
Miss Cannon says: “Farmers are always contacting us to find out what they can do to help communicate the positive messages about milk and dairy to children in schools in their region. The new area on the website will help encourage those farmers who want to explore the possibility of opening their farm gates to schools so that children can learn about dairy production in an engaging and fun way.
“The Government’s Learning Outside the Classroom Manifesto encourages schools to look at alternative learning environments where children become far more engaged if they are in an environment that inspires them. Research has shown that children can learn faster and remember more if taken out of the classroom and put in to a more creative environment. This is where our dairy farmers can be a huge help.
And for farmers wishing to host school visits, Farming and Countryside Education (FACE) provides CEVAS, an accreditation scheme for farmers designed to help them provide safe facilities for visiting children, information that fits with curricular studies and to give them the confidence to deal with school visits.
The newly updated website details all the relevant information and additional support that can help local authorities, schools, nurseries, caterers, children, parents and farmers in either the introduction, promotion or sustainability of school milk schemes.
The School Milk Project was established in 1998 with the aim of increasing the uptake of milk in schools. Ten years on, the Project has recruited over a quarter of a million new milk drinkers, and increased awareness of the benefits of introducing and sustaining milk schemes throughout all GB local authorities.
