Sun Protection

a. Staff members will talk to the children about the importance of wearing sun cream, hats and playing in the shade. This will be carried out both individually and as a group.

b. Children will be asked if they are wearing sun cream and to remind their parents/carers to apply sun cream every morning, even on cloudy days.

a. Due to the variety of sun creams on the market and different allergies children have, IT IS THE PARENTS RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THEIR CHILD HAS SUN CREAM ON BEFORE THEY ENTER MPS.

b. PARENTS/CARERS WILL BE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE THEIR CHILD WITH A SUPPLY OF SUNCREAM (labelled with the child’s name and to be left at Pre-school) Hats are supplied and WILL BE WORN.

c. Practitioners will assist children to apply their own sun cream as necessary.

d. If a child attends MPS without any sun cream on, the practitioners may encourage the child to remain indoors throughout the session.

a. The practitioners will encourage the children to play outside using the shaded areas.

b. The practitioners actively encourage all children to wear hats when playing outside.

c. MPS holds a number of spare hats that are always available to the children, these are washed regularly.

This Policy was developed following guidelines set by Sun Smart Cancer Research UK in May 2013.

Top tips for protecting children in the sun – by the Sun Smart Cancer Research UK in May 2013.

Set good habits for the future – Teaching children safe sun habits while they are young sets a good pattern for later life.
Remember you can burn in the UK – The Great British sun is quite capable of burning your child! Take extra care at home as well as abroad.
Use Shade – Keep babies in complete shad: under trees, umbrellas, canopies or indoors. Provide shade for prams and buggies, if possible.
Cover them up – When outdoors, protect a baby’s skin with loose-fitting clothes, and a wide-brimmed hat that shades their dace, neck and ears.
Wear sunglasses – Buy good quality, wraparound sunglasses for children, as soon as they can wear them. Sunglasses don’t have to be expensive brands.
Find hats they like – Encourage children to wear hats with brims, especially if they are not wearing sunglasses. The wider the brim, the more skin will be shaded from the sun.
Use sunscreen wisely – Use at least a factor 15 sunscreen and choose a “broad-spectrum” brand that protects against UVA rays – the more stars the better. Apply to areas that cannot be protected by clothing, such as the face, ears, feet and backs of hands. Choose sunscreens that are formulated for children and babies’ skin. These products are less likely to contain alcohol or fragrances that might irritate the skin and cause allergic reactions.
Apply sunscreen generously and regularly – Put some on before children go outdoors. Sunscreen can easily be washed, rubbed or sweated off – so reapply often throughout the day.
Don’t forget school times – Remember play times and lunch breaks on summer school days too. Give children a hat to wear and if they can’t apply sunscreen at school, cover their exposed skin before they go.