Background

The sun emits Ultra Violet (UV) radiation, which is the cause of most skin cancers.

Children's skin is especially vulnerable. One incident of sunburn in childhood can increase the risk of developing skin cancer by 50% in later life.

Children on average spend 1-3 hours each day outside depending on weather and season. Their skin needs protection from the suns harmful ultraviolet rays whenever they are outdoors especially during the summer months, April to September when ultraviolet rays are at their up most intense. The high risk of sunburn occurs between 11:00 and 15:00.

Children still require protection if the weather is cloudy and cooler. Clouds do not block ultraviolet rays they only filter them.

Aim

At Christopher Rawlins (C of E) Primary School we want children to enjoy the sun and the outdoors safely.

Objectives

• To protect children's skin from sun damage

• To re-enforce the importance of life long sun protection to parents, carers and children.

Parent Responsibility

Parents should provide their child with appropriate sun protection. For example, Sun lotion/cream higher then factor 15 and a hat to shade the face, preferably with neck cover which are both labelled with their child's name and class.

If lotion or cream is provided from home then this needs to be pre-administered and or self-administered therefore parents will need to give their child guidance on how to apply how much and where to apply.

Parents/carers to sign permission forms to allow children to apply sun cream.

School Responsibility

Staff will ensure that Sun Protection is incorporated into the curriculum monthly through PSHE, in the approach to the summer months, beginning at the end of March continuing until the end of September. Where there are opportunities staff will be trained in the importance of Sun Protection. Sun protection will be activity promoted by all members of staff and staff will lead by example where appropriate. For example, staff to wear hats outdoors and be seen apply cream.

Staff will consider Sun Protection when planning outdoor activities with key foci on efficient shade, timetabling to avoid the high risk of sunburn between 11:00 and 15:00, clothing that is loose and that sunscreen is available to all children and self-applied.

Therefore Staff will try to ensure that children are not outdoors during summer months for longer than 30 minuets without access to shaded areas, opportunities to reapply sun cream/lotion and water to re-hydrate, especially during/after physical activities.

Children will wear hats (where provided) when taking part in any outdoor activity.

Remember

Stay in the shade 11-3

Make sure you never burn

Always cover up- wear a t-shirt and a hat

Remember children burn more easily

Then use factor 15+ sun cream

Remember the Shade Rule

If your shadow is longer than you are, then you are safe from the sun. When your shadow is shorter than you are tall, the sun can burn you.

(Taken from the Cancer Research UK website 13/06/06 http://cancerresearchuk.org/sunsmart/staysafe/children/ )

Parents will be sent an information letter and update of the school policy annually in March ready for the summer months.

This policy will be reviewed annually

Information used from Oxfordshire County Council and Cancer Research UK