RAGLAN Primary School Governors are to look into the practicalities of re-introducing school milk following pressure from a group of parents.
Helen Williams, who lives on a dairy farm at Tregare and was formerly employed by the Milk Marketing Board, has been following the school milk issue and was concerned by what she perceived as negative attitudes towards proposals to restore school milk.
"I just happened to hear that the issue was coming up for consultation at the school governors' meeting last week and we decided to see if we could drum up some support."
Mrs Williams and another parent, Beth Hilditch, stood outside the school gates and collected 70 signatures on a petition which they presented to the Governors.
Commenting on the Governors' decision to look into the scheme, Mrs Williams said it was a "brave step."
"Monmouthshire is one of the few dry counties left in Wales to take up E U subsidies available for school milk - Powys has recently had a 100% uptake from their schools. The Governors are to be applauded for listening to parents and supporting them on this issue and for considering the long term benefits for the children."
The National Assembly has announced that plans are advanced to supply free school milk to every child up to the age of seven in Wales.
Their announcement has been warmly welcomed by the Farmers' Union of Wales, with Gwent County Chairman Windsor Howells stating: "I know that many members of the Assembly have worked long and hard to ensure that this valuable source of calcium and protein is available once again to our children."
The initial plan is to provide free milk to schoolchildren up to the age of seven but the FUW hopes that this will be extended in future to older children.
Wales will be taking a lead within the UK by restoring free school milk which was scrapped in the 10970s by Margaret Thatcher during her time as Conservative Education Minister. Money from the European Union will go towards paying for the new initiative.