To be worried about DD in this heat at school tomorrow?

[StopTuggingMyMink]

I'm probably being terribly pfb, and I also suffer a little with anxiety, but aibu to worry about DD in the heat tomorrow?
She's in reception. They have 3 break times a day, the longest one being lunchtime where they're all herded onto the playing field (No shade) to eat lunch and run around. For an hour and a half.
We're encouraged to cover them in sun cream before school, but they're not allowed to take any to reapply during the day. Teachers aren't allowed to either.
It's looking like it's going to be 30 degrees here tomorrow, and I'm just concerned about her getting too hot. Is it just me?

I can see me having a run in with the high school tomorrow if they don't change their 'blazers on at all times' policy.

I will not be happy if teachers are wandering around in sleeveless tops and flip flops like they were last time it was hot and the new head keeps to her resolution of kids keeping their blazers on regardless of the weather.

The kids were complaining about being warm in January so god only knows what it'll be like if we do hit 28/29/30!

It is peak UV week so the school are a bit thick not to allow sunscreen. The kids put it on themselves or each other.

A bit of sense about the midday break wouldn't hurt either.

Modern UK buildings are nasty in this, dumb design.

Totally agree mission

Not to mention the idiot wanker that came up with the bright idea of selling people conservatories 20/30 years ago.

We have a giant one tacked on the back of our house (previous owners) and cannot afford to get rid/convert it at the moment. The house is much hotter than any I have ever lived in as a result...

I. Could. Kill. Someone.

It is a bit mad that applying sunblock is not used as teaching opportunity before lunch time for reception kids and re-enforced through primary school
For packed lunch lots of water high fruits,water melon,strawbs,I always put in enough so she could share with friends.

I insist upon my dc taking suncream to school even though it's against the rules. It's the one area I'm That Mum about. We have a family history of skin cancer and they've inherited my moley, pasty, burn in 12 degrees in the shade skin type. They apply it themselves.

I'm sure your DD will be fine but the school needs to re-think their sunscreen policy - an early morning application won't last all day.

Sunburn in childhood puts them at risk of skin cancers as adults. As a pp said, surely the teachers/TAs could spray them (provided parents consent) and the kids could rub it in themselves?

I've just bought some P20 because of this thread, never heard if it before! 👍

An hour and a half outside at lunchtime is stupid and goes against all the sun safe advice. At our primary the kids eat indoors and then have around 30-40 mins playtime outside. I'd ask in the morning if they're planning to let the children out for so long in the mid day sun. I'd also take suncream and tell them your dd will apply it herself. Hard to believe a nursery could be so ignorant of the dangers tbh.

Our school official policy is not to apply sunscreen, in practice they do.

OP, can you complain to the school? YANBU btw- I can't believe the sunscreen policy when there is no shade in the playground. For children with fair skin, they can suffer serious sunburn if they are in the mid-day sun and that can increase the risk of future skin-cancer. They really need to sort this out by allowing sunscreen in school and by providing shade for the pupils.

Maybe I am over-sensitive about this but a friend died last year from malignant melanoma so I am paranoid about sun safety.

Showofhands I would insist on that too for similar reasons. For our family, suncream applied at 8am would not be sufficiently protective for 1.5 hours in the sun at midday. My DC have inherited my light, moley skin.

It's an easily managed risk and even little kids can be taught how to apply suncream themselves. OP, personally I think it would be reasonable to insist that your DC puts suncream on before going outdoors or that she stays indoors if you think she might get burned.

We lived for a long time in an place where temps regularly went over 30 in the summer. People took sun exposure and the dangers of overheating seriously. No school would have sent kids out for 1.5 hours at midday with no shade!

You're not being unreasonable, the midday heat should be avoided, I wouldn't let my kids run about in the midday heat at all, regardless of the suncream. They're half Brazilian too and we live in Brazil so they're not pasty either.

I used P20 on my kids yesterday and it lasted all day ( I wore a different sun screen and burnt to a crisp ). I'm sure the school will not allow for them to get too hot or sun burnt. My dd's school provide shade, water and sun hats must be worn at all times.

I work in an independent boarding school which gives us a bit more scope to set our own rules and policies. We insist every child has their own bottle of sun cream, hat and water bottle. We actively encourage the children to apply it throughout the day. Children will be encouraged to seek out shade at breaks, we are fortunate to have extensive grounds with woodland so I understand this is easier for us. Children will also be welcome to spend their breaks indoors. Plans are in place to swap outdoor pe lessons for indoor or swimming if it's too hot. No teacher wants a class of crotchety overheated kids with sunburn and no matron wants to be up all night with kids vomiting with heatstroke!

It's a valid concern and the kids should not be turned out at midday where there is no shade and it's 30 degrees.

Sun cream. Hat. A couple of glasses of water first thing.

"I can't see why teachers can't use sun protection spray on pupils"

They can. And ordinary cream too. Some choose no to because they are rightly worried about nutters.

Ask the teacher what their plans are sun wise?

As an aside have a think about a fundraiser to purchase sun shelters - I've seen those sail shades in school playgrounds and thought them a good idea. Obviously not going to help tomorrow but for the future?

We have a similar issue, I send DS in with suncream but he says they aren't allowed back to the classroom to get it after lunch. Madness.
Sports day is on Thursday in the afternoon, I don't know how they are going to run around outside in this heat too, anybody ever had a cancelled sports day due to a heatwave?

"I can't see why teachers can't use sun protection spray on pupils" They can. And ordinary cream too. Some choose no to because they are rightly worried about nutters

Sorry, yes I know but I meant I don't see why they can't at the school in the OP.

We don't reapply suncream for children - even without whole getting consent, using the right area o the right child, being potentially blamed if we miss a spot, etc thee's also the time needed. Just spending 1 minute per pupil is 30 minutes.
And spray on still takes time to ensure there is enough on and covers all areas. And some spray ons need them to be rubbed in to.

Best bet re suncream is decent once a day stuff. We use Ultra Sun and P20. Both manage really well for a full day, even in Florida humid summer heat and Vegas dry summer heat. And even if you get a little wet for a short while. I burn quickly with no suncream but have never burnt when using either of those. Apply at least 10-15 minutes before you go out. We tend to apply it after a shower, leave it 5 minutes to dry, and then get dressed and go out.

Our school had to take the sun sail down as the neighbours complained about it flapping or something!

As well as sunhat, don't forget sunglasses too, to protect their eyes in the sun.

Erm..massive over reaction!! My kids were running about in the garden playing all day today! They seemed fine..they are 4,3 and 1. You guys surely don't have your kids stuck in doors all day because it's a bit hot?