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Primary education

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Original poster

Ds has got sun burnt at school

159 replies

RoooneyMara · 05/07/2013 15:56

Ds is 10 and was on a kind of sports/open day today at another school.

No one sent a letter about it or anything.

He has come home with sunburn across his face.

Normally I tell him to stay in the shade when it is hot - clearly they weren't able to do this, being outside much of the day.

Hats are pointless when they are doing activities outside - they just fall off.

Suncream doesn't last very long...what can you do?

I feel really upset about it.

OP posts:
Original poster
RoooneyMara · 12/07/2013 16:42

I would not blame you, WorriedMouse. I'd be upset though if there was a visit planned where my child would be outdoors much more than usual, and I wasn't told in advance.

I have had an email at last.

She has apologised that he got burned. Well, she is sorry that it happened so not an apology as such but I didn't want one - I just wanted to be warned they were going.

She has passed on my comments to the teacher who organised the trip, who happens to be his class teacher for next year (great - she'll think I'm a loony)

She has also arranged for some testing for ds next week, which is what I emailed about in April. So I think I was right to get stroppy. I think it made her do something. I wish it hadn't been necessary though.

OP posts:
LynetteScavo · 12/07/2013 16:47

Harrumph! DS has come home from school with burnt legs. I only applied it to face and arms this morning, we have to apply at 7.30 because I drop him at before school club, and potentially he's there until 5.30pm....would have been nice if his teacher had reminded the class to re-apply, as they spent the afternoon outside making the most of the weather. At ten they are old enough to put it on themselves, but not actually think of doing it.

Original poster
RoooneyMara · 12/07/2013 17:00

Oh Lynette I'm sorry. That sucks.

It is horrible leaving your child in the care of someone who cannot take care of them...and knowing you're taking that risk, well I hate it, but what else can we do?

I HE my middle one at the moment, which helps, otherwise I'd probably be tearing my hair out.

OP posts:
clam · 12/07/2013 17:12

How do you know the teacher didn't remind them to re-apply?

LynetteScavo · 12/07/2013 22:02

Er...I asked DS. DS really likes the cream he takes to school and would happily rub it on if he thought of it/was reminded to. But I can see how if the whole class went out, and then ended up staying out longer than expected kids could burn.I also asked if the teacher suggested they put hats on. Apparently not, but DS put his on anyway.

Knowing this teacher (who is an absolutely fabulous, energetic, 22yo male, who DS and I love to bits) I can see how he would overlook something like this.

It's the second time DS has got burnt at school this year, though, so I'm going to have a quiet word on Monday. Judging by the redness the class must have been outside for quite sometime.

clam · 13/07/2013 10:17

Well, he's hardly likely to admit that his teacher reminded the class to apply sun-cream but he refused.
Wish I had a £1 for every time I've stood at the door either in school or away on residential trips quizzing each child on where their fleeces/waterproofs/water bottles/sunhats/whatever are (after they've been told several times in no uncertain terms to bring them) and STILL they try to leave the building without them. I send them back to get a, b and c, and they'll return with a, but not b or c and so on.
And last week, I had to chase dd (14) down the drive spraying an aerosol sunspray at the back of her neck after she swore she'd put it on already (but hadn't!).
My point is that teachers DO care about these things, but we're sometimes fighting a losing battle. As parents are too.

Hulababy · 13/07/2013 10:25

We remind children to put sun cream on if they need to. but it doesn't mean they all listen and act upon it. We can't force them to do it, especially as there is no way of knowing of who need to or not. And it just isn't feasible to remind all children individually. This is why I think once a day is your best bet for school. Yes it is a bit dearer but ime it does last longer. Or you have to drill in to your children that they must apply sun cream and give them trigger times to do so - ie at lunch time.

Hulababy · 13/07/2013 10:28

Please remember that many teachers and TAs are also parents. They actually do care. We actually care a great deal about our charges.

But supervising 30 children is just not the same as looking after your own 1, 2, 3 or 4 children. And teachers and TAs cannot force children to do these things - we are not their mum and dad. And tbh so many children come to school without basic necessities - sun hats, suncream, wellies, rain coats, bags, packed lunches, water bottles....... we are not super heroes. We can't magic everything up and we cannot give your one individual child the same amount of attention as you can, as we have 29 others to look after too.

Hulababy · 13/07/2013 10:34

rabbitstew - I am a mum to an 11yo. I know a lot of 10 and 11 year olds. I was a teacher in a secondary school. I am now a HLTA in an infant school. And sorry - but most 10yo ime are capable of applying sun cream and be responsible for themselves . And if they are not, which I know some are not - then once a day sun cream, again ime, works very well and prevents sun burn. I can be applied before school and will then last til after home time.

So less of your whinging at at please. School teachers are not super human. they are normal human beings and you know what/ Most of them, the vast vast majority in fact, actually like and care about children. They don't want them to be sore or hurt. They care. But there is only so much one adult can do for 30 children at any one time.

I have already said that the trip itself was odd.

But the sun cream issue one is one that can be sorted pretty easily ime.

clam · 13/07/2013 10:37

Think we're wasting our breath here, hulababy. The OP is determined to blame the school. There seems to be some sort of 'previous' going on I think.

rabbitstew · 13/07/2013 11:20

clam - the OP is blaming the school for poor communication (and inappropriate trips). Do you really think she does not have a point in this instance?!

Hulababy - I am a mum to a 9-year old who had to be taught how to roll over, crawl, walk, dress himself, wash his hair, etc, etc... He's had years of physiotherapy and intensive parental support to learn how to be as independent as possible so that we don't have to bother the school. By the time he is 10 I am 100% certain he will still be allergic to all day suncream and still incapable of putting any other type of suncream on himself reliably. Do I therefore expect the school to do it for him? No - I just expect them to communicate with me effectively so that I can find some way of taking responsibility. If schools don't communicate effectively, they force parents to pathologise their children's issues in order to get support and that's really a waste of everyone's time and money if the parent only really wants a bit of effective communication...

Hulababy · 13/07/2013 11:39

That's fine then. It is special circumstances and of course in those situations schools need to be more aware and more communicative. And ime they generally will be.
I was talking about most 10yos though, I did point that out.

rabbitstew · 13/07/2013 11:41

But I don't really want my child to be viewed by his whole class and teacher as a special circumstance, Hulababy, and I think you would be surprised how many other children actually do have issues that make putting suncream on themselves quite a big task even at the age of 10 or 11 - it might be part of the reason why so few respond to teachers' reminders!

Hulababy · 13/07/2013 11:43

I think you're right clam. The op post is entitled sun cream and I was responding to that. There was no suggestion re the op's child had any issue with using once a day cream (my own dd can't use that many creams either, infant p20 and ultrasun are two of the very few she can use without reacting in some way) or have any physical reasons for not being able to use sun cream alone.

rabbitstew · 13/07/2013 11:44

I know my child isn't so unusual that there won't be a few children in every class that are not capable of administering their own suncream.

rabbitstew · 13/07/2013 11:46

The content of the OP's initial post was clearly about poor communication from the school and asking for advice on suncream that lasts. In my view, therefore, what she was upset about was poor communication.

daftdame · 13/07/2013 13:27

The children who need extra help with suncream might not actually need that much extra help.

A reminder to apply might be enough. Teachers could possibly encourage peers to point out bits missed. Eg before break time 'Those who have suncream with them need to put it on before going out...'

clam · 13/07/2013 13:42

Hmm, yes but your average child is unlikely to pause in their dash for the sunny playground or field long enough to administer it.

daftdame · 13/07/2013 13:50

Better than nothing though clam.

If the teacher was watching they could check the children were doing this. If a parent has mentioned this to the teacher they could keep an eye on that particular child so that they do this.

daftdame · 13/07/2013 13:52

Even in secondary school we had instructions to 'clear away' etc 5mins before the end of session. This would be a similar type of instruction.

clam · 13/07/2013 14:26

Clear away 5 minutes early from each lesson before an outside break to apply sunscreen?

Hulababy · 13/07/2013 15:04

So 15 min a day, 5 days a week? That's a lot of time missed.
Even 5 min once a day is nearly half an hour a week missed in an already busy curriculum.

daftdame · 13/07/2013 15:19

Needs must, healthy schools and all that...

There always seems to be down time for other things, DVDs, free time drawing etc

I'd say suncream would probably take 5 mins not 15. How can you not allow time for this?

If done at the beginning of playtime (or just before) or lunch considering most sunscream lasts 4 hours, would only cut into playtime in a minor way. Same as putting wellies and hats and gloves on in winter. At least canvass parents....

clam · 13/07/2013 15:19

Just thinking also about my day yesterday. Hot temperatures, beautiful sunshine. We had outdoor PE first session, followed by playtime, also outside. Maths involved going out on a trail around the school. Lunch was picnicking on the field. For the afternoon session we had an impromptu offer from a visitor who wanted to do an exciting activity outside too.

Which of these activities, none of which are unusual in a primary school, nor trigger the need for a note home, should I have disallowed, just in case little Jimmy's mum hadn't applied suncream?

daftdame · 13/07/2013 15:24

Clam Do not disallow any of the activities. Just encourage (actively) the application of suncream and wearing of hats. How would you feel if one of the children got sunstroke? sunburn?

If you know a day like that is on the cards, you could at least requisition some hats from lost property. I would have practically melted - very fair skin.

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