Suncream in schools

[babyandtoddlergrwp]

What is the policy in your primary school?
Is it allowed? Not allowed?

Our school doea not allow it and asks parents to apply a long lasting one before school. Curious about other schools and what they do.

Most schools ask parents to apply 8hr suncream before school.
It's not logistically possible to supervise children in reapplying suncream through the day.

It is encouraged that its applied before school & then each child can take their own bottle into school for top ups.
The roll on ones are best for self application.

Our school officially doesn't allow suncream in school but it's a case by case basis. My dd burns very easily on the face so has a small stick (soltan) in her b that she can use.

All of this. I would assume this is pretty much universal.

I buy the long lasting stuff and put that on in the morning then they have roll-ons to top up faces.

We apply a thick layer before school. In the height of summer I’ll be sending in a roll on for him to top up

I would have thought kids could slap their own on.
It’s not a hill I will die on but some parents aren’t happy.

My kids went to school in Australia. They put sunscreen on before school. They wore hats whenever they were outside.

What year aren’t happy about this because it is a fairly usual rule across schools because kids applying own at primary would be a mess

We do not recommend long lasting ones and instead we ask parents to send in sunscreen and teach their child to reapply it themselves. Works from Reception upwards.

Why don’t you recommend the long lasting ones? Are you a skin cancer specialist?

We are asked to apply it in the morning. However the afterschool club is run by an external childcare company and they ask for sun cream and a hat to keep at school and will reapply in the afternoon no issues.

Kids spill it, sometimes they get it on each other while it's still wet - there are a significant number of allergies from suncream in children and sensitivity to one type can have quite a severe reaction.

The other issue is that if you don't insist on 8hr suncream, and that children can reapply shorter lasting suncream, the school can have an implied responsibility to ensure it's reapplied correctly.

Schools in our area are advised only to allow the 8hr cream, applied before school.

Lower school age parents. But that aside I’ve never known a school not allow suncream. I’ve worked in a number of schools and have multiple children. I wondered if its a new thing or just our school.

I’d be interested to know why you don’t advise lomh lasting creams. I have no idea about this stuff. Last year a bought a main brand cream and then it was featured on Which? as a definitely do not buy type!

It could be I remember when schools were allowed to do more such as give medicine etc

School recommends the once a day which we do use but also recommends kids bring suncream sticks or roll on’s that they can apply themselves

We send sun cream in and the staff will apply it as necessary for the little ones.

We encourage the use in my school. Children can bring it in and there are consent forms for staff to help younger children to apply this. In my DC’s school we are told staff can’t apply it for them and we should apply a long lasting one. However there is evidence that they aren’t as effective.

You don’t have to be a skin cancer specialist. There is a great amount of research that shows they are not effective.

Encouraged to apply before school, but also encouraged to bring in extra for top ups. Hats are also compulsory.

We ask for sun cream to be applied at home. Kids can bring their own in but we as staff aren't allowed to help apply it. Also sun cream can't be shared in case of allergies. It started for us when Niva changed their formula to contain almond oil. I think since then they have removed this.

School asks that cream is applied in the morning. I personally pack a refillable roll-on applicator (e.g. solar buddies) so that if needed, my child can reapply with ease. If concerned about sun exposure a couple of tips:

1. Check if there are shaded outdoor play areas and discuss/request that the staff try to keep your child in the shade during high-heat
2. Sun hat with neck protector and (if you feel necessary) sun sleeves
3. Communication! I always like to keep an open dialogue with the school re. concerns and offer suggestions/ work with them to find the best solution.

My two long since left primary school. We would use the long lasting one and provided a roll /stick one. Always a hat too.

Both girls burn easily and never got burnt. But they knew how to do their suncream as we had taught them from a young age. Daughter 22 now and she still good at wearing suncream & hats !

The school strict on sharing suncream as I think one of the children had certain allergies.

Schools should not be advising long lasting creams and absolving themselves of sun safety for the children. Cancer incidence is rising and skin cancer is largely preventable. I actually think it is a massive scandal that so many primary schools are so lax about it.

Ours is put on before school. They like them to wear a hat though if outside.