Sun Safety
Too much exposure to ultraviolet light (UV) radiation from the sun causes sunburn, skin damage and increases the risk of skin cancer. Sun exposure in the first 15 years of life contributes significantly to the lifetime risk of skin cancer. There is enormous potential for schools to help prevent skin cancer in future generations. Schools are central to protecting children’s skin this is because:
- Children are at school five out of seven days a week at times when UV rays are high.
- Most damage due to sun exposure occurs during the school years.
- Schools can play a significant role in changing behaviours through role modelling and education.
- Students and teachers are at risk of sunburn within 10-15 minutes of being exposed to strong sunlight without protection.
- Skin cancer is largely preventable through behaviour modification and sun protection during early years.
These protocols are intended to ensure that staff and pupils can enjoy the sun safely. We believe that Sun Safety is important to ensure that children and staff are protected from skin damage caused by the harmful ultraviolet rays in sunlight. We will work with staff, pupils and parents to achieve this through:
Education:
- All children will learn about sun safety and protecting their skin through story times, PSHE lessons and whole school presentations.
- Parents will be informed of our Sun Protection protocols and asked to provide hats, water bottles and apply sunscreen.
- Children will be spoken to about the importance of drinking more water when it is hot and will be encouraged to bring water to school and to make use of drinking facilities in school.
- We will remind parents at the appropriate time of year about the dangers of sun exposure and preventative measures.
- We will hold outdoor activities in areas of shade whenever possible, and encourage children to use shady areas.
Shade
- Children will be encouraged to use shady parts of the outdoor spaces.
- We will work towards increasing the provision of adequate shade for everybody.
- Children will be encouraged to use the shade during trips out and on sports days.
- Alternative indoor spaces will be used during period of extreme hot weather and longer exposure through PE lessons will be managed appropriately.
Clothing
- We will actively encourage all children to wear a sun hat, preferably with a wide brim or legionnaire style to protect the neck and ears when playing outside. Baseball caps are not ideal as they leave the neck and ears exposed.
- We will encourage staff and parents to act as good role models by practising sun safety.
- Children are allowed to wear UV protective sunglasses, whilst engaged in outdoor activities, please check the protection levels which are advised to be UV 400/100% UV protection.
Sunscreen
- It is strongly recommended that parents will apply high factor 8 hour sunscreen before leaving for school in the morning.
- There will not be spare sun cream for communal use due to the risk of allergies and potential cross-contamination.
- Sunscreen should be applied that is factor 30+, to all exposed parts of the body in advance of them being exposed to the sun in the morning.
- Sunscreen will be re-applied at school after activities where the cream could be compromised ie after swimming lessons and when the school day is extended ie WASPS. In this case children will need to bring in their own clearly labelled bottle of sunscreen for reapplication if needed. They may apply this to themselves under the supervision of an adult. Adults should not assist pupils in this, except in exceptional medical circumstances. An adult should never be alone with a child when supervising this.
- Parents/guardians will need to sign a consent form to allow staff to supervise the application of sunscreen. This will depend on the age and ability of the child. Sunscreen cannot be stored in school.
- If a pupil has not had any sunscreen applied before school they may not be allowed to play outside that day to ensure that they are not burnt by the sun.
- All children should wear sunscreen. Parents whose children are allergic to sunscreen should either try to find an alternative or ensure that their child is adequately covered with long sleeved, long legged clothing.
- We will inform parents of sunscreen use for trips out and special outdoor events such as sports day.
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