Scottish Milk and Healthy Snack Scheme FAQ's

Please see our list below.

WHAT IS THE SCOTTISH MILK AND HEALTHY SNACK SCHEME (SMHSS)?

The SMHSS will fund a daily portion of plain fresh cow’s milk (or specified alternative) and a healthy snack (fruit or vegetables) for pre-school children spending 2 hours or more in the care of a regulated day care provider and/or childminders that have registered for the SMHSS.

HOW DO I KNOW IF MY CHILDCARE SETTING IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE SMHSS?

Day care settings may apply to East Dunbartonshire Council (EDC) to register for the SMHSS if:

  • registered with the Care Inspectorate
  • they provide pre-school care to children for 2 hours or more per day.

IS THE SMHSS ONLY FOR SETTINGS PROVIDING EARLY LEARNING AND CHILDCARE (ELC) FUNDING?

No, the Scheme is available to all regulated childcare settings offering pre-school day care, regardless of whether they are in receipt of ELC funding.

ARE ALL CHILDREN ELIGIBLE FOR SMHSS?

No, only children who are aged 0 – pre-school who attend regulated childcare settings which have registered with EDC to be part of SMHSS will be eligible to receive the benefit offered.

CAN A CHILDCARE SETTING NOT REGISTERED WITH THE CARE INSPECTORATE REGISTER FOR THE SMHSS?

No, settings not registered by the Care Inspectorate, will not be eligible to receive the benefit offered.

WHO WILL DELIVER THE SMHSS FUND?

Local Authorities will deliver and administer the fund on behalf of the Scottish Government.

WHAT RATE WILL SETTINGS GET PAID?

The Scottish Government agreed a National Serving Rate for the period 1 April 2024 - 31 July 2024 of 58.2p per Serving.

WHO WILL PURCHASE AND PROVIDE THE MILK AND HEALTHY SNACK?

The childcare provider is responsible for procuring and paying for the supply of healthy snacks and dairy milk or non-dairy alternative for those children who cannot consume cow’s milk for medical, ethical or religious reasons.

WHAT ARE THE MINIMUM HOURS PER DAY A CHILD NEEDS TO ATTEND TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE SMHSS?

Children need to attend the setting for 2 hours or more on an individual day.

Children will only receive the benefit offered through the SMHSS once per calendar day regardless how many additional hours they spend in an individual setting.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A CHILD ATTENDS MORE THAN ONE SETTING IN A DAY?

Where children attend more than one setting in a day, they should only receive the benefit once per calendar day.

It is proposed that the first setting in which child spends 2 hours will provide the milk and healthy snack unless agreed otherwise. Providers and families may wish to agree where it is most appropriate for the SMHSS provision to be given, in line with the approach taken to agreeing meal provision. If a child has already received SMHSS by the time they attend your childcare setting you are not required to provide this again.

WILL CHILDCARE SETTINGS HAVE TO PROVIDE PROOF OF PURCHASE?

Yes, childcare settings should retain proof of purchase i.e. receipts, invoices, contracts in case they should be selected for monitoring by EDC.

HOW LONG DOES THE SMHSS RUN?

The current scheme will run until 31 July 2024 (under Scottish Government review)

CAN I CHARGE PARENTS FOR THE MILK AND HEALTHY SNACK?

No, a childcare setting may not charge parents for the provision funded under the SMHSS. This is separate from any arrangements that a childcare setting may have in place for additional snack provisions which do not form part of the SMHSS guidelines.

CAN CHILDCARE SETTINGS OPT IN TO PART OF THE SMHSS E.G. JUST MILK OR SNACK?

No, Settings registering for the SMHSS must offer both milk (or a specified alternative) and a healthy snack to children with the exception of those under the age of 6 months who would not receive solid food. Parents may decide to decline all or part of the offer and in this situation, settings are asked to document this.

DO ELIGIBLE CHILDREN HAVE TO LIVE IN EAST DUNBARTONSHIRE?

No, funding is based on what local authority the childcare setting is registered with and not where the child lives.

DO CHILDCARE SETTINGS STILL HAVE TO REGISTER EVEN WHEN EDC MAY HOLD ALL RELEVANT INFORMATION?

Yes, childcare settings are required to opt-in to the SMHSS.

This is because any childcare setting participating in the SMHSS will be obliged to adhere to the regulations, including provision of the benefit and monitoring and reporting obligations.

In the case of chains, registration must be where each individual childcare setting is located.

HOW DO CHILDCARE SETTINGS ESTIMATE THE BENEFIT THEY EXPECT TO PROVIDE?

Work out your anticipated average servings for each day of the week (that your setting operates).
Example for Mondays in August (there are 5).

  • 1/8/22 79 Servings (this is the number of Unique Children)
  • 8/8/22 79 Servings 
  • 15/8/22 81 Servings
  • 22/8/22 81 Servings
  • 29/8/22 82 Servings

Total all your Servings and divide by the number of (for this example) Mondays in the month eg 79+79+81+81+82= 402 divided by 5 = 80.4 (round to the nearest whole number) to get 80.

Repeat this for the days/months from 1 August to 31 March 2023 (or from when you register for the scheme). 

In your calculation include all days (even if closed for holidays, inset days etc) as we will calculate this for you based on the information on closures you will provide below. This should include your morning/afternoon and all day children. 

The example above (ie August Mondays = 80) is shown in the table below. You will need to repeat this process for each day of the week your setting operates over the scheme period August to March (or from when you register for the scheme). 

Month Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
Aug 80 81 80 79 75
Sept 85 85 83 84 80
Oct 88 88 87 85 81
Nov 90 90 91 90 88
Dec 92 92 93 90 89
Jan 94 94 95 94 91
Feb 96 96 95 96 92
Mar 100 100 98 96 94
Total Average 91

91

90 89 86

As an example based on the table above, August to March Mondays would be 80+85+88+90+92+94+96+100 = 725 then divide by 8 months (this may vary depending on registration date) = 90.63 (round to the nearest whole number) to get 91. Use your rounded figure to complete the questions below on anticipated average servings for each day.

This ensures that by using the anticipated average servings the payment takes into account the intake throughout the year. 

Enter this onto the form for each day your setting operates and the form will calculate your anticipated average servings for a typical week.

You are required to notify the local authority of any significant change (defined as a change +/- 10%) within 4 weeks of the change.

WHEN WILL SETTINGS EXPECT TO GET THEIR PAYMENT?

EDC is aiming to make payments by the beginning of July 2024 (this may change depending on when your Setting registers for the scheme).