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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be annoyed at DD's school?

28 replies

stargazer83 · 24/05/2010 13:29

DD got burned on her arms and shoulders in Saturday (completely my fault and I feel realy shit about it) so today she went to school with a hat and long sleeved t shirt on as the school will not apply suncream to children and the children are not allowed to put cream on themselfs.
I spoke to the teacher explained what had happen'd and asked if it was possiable to make sure DD is only in the sun with both tshirt and hat on. Teacher agreed and I went home happy.
At 11.30 I saw my DD out in the playground doing PE in shorts and short sleeved t shirt with no hat. AIBU to be annoyed with her teacher or am I over reacting?

OP posts:
titchy · 24/05/2010 13:37

Depends on age. If dd is 5 then YANBU. If 15 then YABU!

BAFE · 24/05/2010 13:40

agree, depends on age of dd

biddysmama · 24/05/2010 13:40

you passed the school at 11.30? if you live close to school then they cant stop you from popping in and topping it up... if you put it on as you leave for school top up at lunch time then as you pick her up then she should be ok?

ds's teacher supervises him putting it on but teachers are not allowed to touch the children..

BelleDameSansMerci · 24/05/2010 13:43

Sorry, they won't apply suncream and the children aren't allowed to do it themselves? So the only way they can keep themselves protected from the sun is by wearing clothing which covers them completely?

Wow - is this normal?

Original poster
stargazer83 · 24/05/2010 13:44

DD is 5 and I live opposite her school. I did ask about coming to the school to top up and was told no because then other parents would want to do the same which is fair enough I suppose.

OP posts:
biddysmama · 24/05/2010 13:45

no its not fair enough! i wouldnt take no for an answer, if your child is ill but not too ill for school are they not allowed medicine during school time either?

CantSupinate · 24/05/2010 13:49

That's stupid (??). I have popped in to school to put suncream on mine before when I forgot; heck, DS10yo (who normally runs a mile from the sun cream bottle) eagerly cooperated when I wanted to put some on him this lunch time (he comes home for lunch).

I sort of see it both ways; your DD could have remembered and been allowed to do PE in the long sleeve shirt, but then the amount of fuss the other kids would kick up about being allowed to do PE in their clothes of choice, it's a real pain for the school.

Maybe lesson is to put cream on any bits that might be exposed in PE, even if they aren't exposed when they leave in the morning.

homebirthmummy4 · 24/05/2010 13:51

i think the school teacher is being a bit irresponsible. i once found a sun safety website that sent me enough literature to take to school so that teacher could hand out leaflets to all children which also reminds teacher sorry i cant remember what it is but a google search will soon help you to find it

Original poster
stargazer83 · 24/05/2010 16:05

Update: Before picking DD up I went and asked the school office exactly what the school suncream policy is, the head teacher was there at the time and said I dont know I dont think we have one (new head) she will look into it and talk to me tomorrow. When I picked DD up from her classroom I spoke to one of her teachers who claimed she hadn't taken the t shirt off all day to which DD chimed in with no miss you told me to take it off for PE. Teacher then tried to back track saying that they'd done PE around a tree so the children were in the shade at all times.

OP posts:
sparkle12mar08 · 24/05/2010 16:31

I strongly suspect that they can't stop the children from putting suncream on themselves as it would violate every human right they have to protect their own health and bodies. If a school tried that with my child I'd be having a serious conversation with them... and with my child about how some rules are worth breaking.

brightyoungthing · 24/05/2010 17:01

When my DD was in infant school the teachers would not put sun cream on them, and they were not allowed to put it on themselves. The school wanted us to slather it on them in the morning in the hope that it lasted all day .

Now she is in juniors they are allowed to take a bottle in and apply before going out to play, a system that works well afaik.

YANBU, the teacher sounds lazy and is obviously a liar

gorionine · 24/05/2010 17:10

""DD is 5 and I live opposite her school. I did ask about coming to the school to top up and was told no because then other parents would want to do the same which is fair enough I suppose.""

Sorry, not on! the shool should let you do it. The "the other parents would want to do the same" is the lamest possible excuse. I speak from experience, DS2 when 5yo was not allowed to the toilet on sports day and wet himself. When I asked why I was not asked to take hime (was right infron of teacher who knew mw) he answer was "I could not ask you because then what happens whith the children whose parents did not come to sports day and cannot be taken to the toilet?" By that point I was totally furious and told her I did not actually care about any other child but mine anfd if the stupid policy meant that my child weed himself is fromnt of every other child and parent there was something seriously wrong with it.

You cannot be responsable for what other parents do or don't do, if you are concerned enough to go to the school at lunch time to "cream" your DC, they really are silly not to let you IMHO.

gorionine · 24/05/2010 17:11

WOW, was 4 years ago and I still get upset by it enough to completely loose my spelling power!

belledechocolatefluffybunny · 24/05/2010 17:16

You can get sunblock called P20, this lasts all day (8 hours IIRC) and doesn't need to be reapplied.

fatoftheland · 24/05/2010 17:29

I'm going to play devils advocate here and say if children are taking sunscreen in school to apply it them selves, who cleans up the cream that gets spilt/squirted everywhere?

PixieOnaLeaf · 24/05/2010 17:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

extension · 24/05/2010 17:35

I think that because there are 6-8 hr suncreams available on the market now then it is not unreasonable for the school to say that the children are not allowed to bring it in and apply it themeselves.

My dc brought a letter home last week stating that suncream was no longer allowed and I was a bit annoyed at first, until I heard about the 6-8hr cream.

fatoftheland · 24/05/2010 17:39

Yes POL but there is always going to be someone who brings in cream and makes a massive mess, unfortunately it's people like me who would end up cleaning rather than teaching!

No matter what policies are in place someone ends up upset.

I do think they could have let you come to reception to put some on her as a one off though.

MumNWLondon · 24/05/2010 17:39

If PE was at 11.30 any suncream applied at 9am would still be effective.

If there is 6 hour cream then I can see why no need for school to apply etc

frogetyfrog · 24/05/2010 17:41

Use suncream that lasts all day - there are plenty on the market. We have used it for a couple of years now and not had a problem.

The school would start to have a nightmare if all parents 'popped' in to apply suncream half way through the day - imagine the security issues. And the mess (and potential slip and fall issues) if 60 children under 7 were let lose with suncream - health and safety nightmare. There are other options available (ie all day cream) so as parents surely we should make life in school easier and safer by using it.

I wouldnt want a child running around doing PE in a long sleeved t shirt in this heat either. Probably with hindsight you could have kept her off today - or sent a note saying no outdoor play or PE so she was kept in. Remember teachers have 30 or so pupils to sort and remember many different verbal instructions each morning. If its important put it in writing!.

DilysPrice · 24/05/2010 17:52

I put a roll-on suncream in DD's bag when it's high summer, but tbh I reckon if it's slathered on thickly by me at 9am she'll probably be fine until the end of lunch break at 1pm. I'm also giving her a special bangle which changes colour with UV, with instructions to go into the shade when it goes pink.

AbbyLou · 24/05/2010 17:53

I teach in an infant school. We allow the children to bring sun cream but they have to apply it themselves. Tbh it's ludicrous! The common scenarios are:
a) The children take so long to apply iy, playtime is over before they've finished.
b) Children start 'sharing' which is a nightmare with all the allergies around.
c) someone pills it.
d) Someone puts so much on they have to spend the next ten minutes wiping it all off with paper towels.
e) Someone gets it in their eye.
All of these happen on a regular basis. My ds is in Reception and he is very pale skinned. I do plan to buy some of the 8 hour cream but tbh for now he has a cap and and sunglasses. The children are out for a maximum of 20 minutes at a time and that is the absolute maximum. They really are not out in the sun for very long at all.

frogetyfrog · 24/05/2010 17:57

As AbbyLou says, children arent generally out for long - even PE is minutes - not an hour like in high school (or isnt in our school anyway).

phoenixflower · 24/05/2010 18:06

YANBU, that is disgraceful of the teacher to lie like that to you! The school should either let parents in at lunch time to apply suncream to their DCs/ let children apply their own / have an appointed dinner lady/TA who is willing to put it on the chn.

Hulababy · 24/05/2010 18:09

I can recommend P20 sun cream. Have used it on myself (I burn quickly too) and on DD (who reacts to all manner of suncreams, but not this) and it has been great. have even used it in the height of a Florida summer a few times and never had even the hint of it not working. Lasts 10 hours and it waterproof too.

I apply it to DD in a morning, let her dry for 5 minutes and then she gets dressed. Same for myself.

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