SUN SAFETY POLICY
Background
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 potential for Hadfield Nursery School to help prevent skin cancer in future generations because:
- We can play a significant role in changing behaviours through role modelling and education from an early age.
- Children and staff are at risk of sunburn within 10-15 minutes of being exposed to strong sunlight.
- Skin cancer is largely preventable through behaviour modification and sun protection during early years.
The main elements of this policy are:
- Partnership: working with parents/guardians, nursery staff and the wider community to reinforce awareness about sun safety and promote a healthy nursery.
- Education: learning about sun safety to increase knowledge and influence behaviour.
- Protection: providing an environment that enables children and staff to stay safe in the sun.
PARTNERSHIP
- Sun safety will be promoted through working with parents, staff and the wider community to improve our understanding and provision to avoid the harmful effects of too much exposure to ultraviolet light (UV).
- Staff should act as positive role models and set a good example by seeking out the shade whenever possible and wearing suitable clothing, hat and sunscreen.
EDUCATION
- Parents and guardians will be asked through letters/newsletters to support this policy by encouraging their children to adopt the Slip, Slop, Slap message and act as role models.
- Children will learn the ‘Slip, Slop, Slap’ Song which will help them remember the basic Sun Safe message
- Children will share ‘George the Sun Safe Superstar’, (book and/or you tube animated story) an illustrated, rhyming story that educates children on the importance of Sun Safety and staff will regularly reinforce the sun safe messaging through discussion.
PROTECTION
Shade:
- The nursery playground has shade provided either by the school building, canopy, outdoor shelters, trees and we use temporary ‘den’ canopies etc, particularly important for use during outdoor play during hot and sunny conditions.
- Children will be encouraged to use the shaded areas during outdoor play as appropriate.
Clothing:
- The children will be encouraged to wear clothes that provide good sun protection.
- Parents/guardians will be duly informed of the importance that children come to nursery with appropriate sun hats and wearing sunscreen.
- The nursery will provide spare appropriate sun hats and quality sunscreen (for parents to apply) on site at all times. Staff will apply suncream to children who attend extra childcare sessions, with parental permission.
Drinking Water:
- Children are encouraged to increase their water intake in hot weather and are encouraged to drink water provided outside during outdoor play in hot weather