Dear Parent / Carer,

We are pleased to inform you that HILLINGTON PRIMARY SCHOOL are taking part in the Sun Safe Schools national accreditation scheme – the content of which forms part of our duty of care to ensure the health and wellbeing of your child(ren) during school hours. The scheme has been developed by national skin cancer charity ‘Skcin’, to assist primary schools in implementing a successful Sun Safety Policy whilst encouraging schools and parents to work together to increase knowledge, influence behaviour and prevent skin cancer.

Whilst we recognise that some sun is good for us, Sun Safety is an important health and safety issue for schools. Children spend almost half their childhood at school, with approximately 8 hours per week spent outdoors. During the warmer months of the year children are exposed to UV radiation from the sun, the majority of which is when UV penetration is strongest (between 11am and 3pm). Without adequate protection, a child’s delicate skin can easily burn, this can cause accumulative and irreparable damage that could significantly increase their risk of developing skin cancer in later life.

The good news is that skin cancer is almost entirely preventable and with parental support, simple steps can be undertaken to ensure that your child is protected and can enjoy the sun safely.

Please take the time to read through our Sun Safety Policy which demonstrates our commitment to  Sun Safety. Click on the link below to download.

Hillington Primary – Sun Safe Policy

Parental support will play a vital role in our efforts to implement effective control measures particularly with the provision and/or application of sunscreen and sun hats. It will of course be necessary to take a practical approach toward the application of  sunscreen. Children are strongly encouraged to apply their own sunscreen with assistance provided only where necessary to younger or less able pupils, unless otherwise instructed by the parent. Parents can provide valuable support in this respect by providing their child(ren) with additional guidance and practice on how to apply their own sunscreen effectively, with minimum mess!

In-line with our Sun Safety policy we ask that parents ensure that their child is equipped with a quality sunscreen that is clearly labelled with your child’s name. It is recommended that all sunscreen provided by parents should have a minimum Sun Protection Factor (SPF) 30+, be ‘broad-spectrum’ to provide both UVA and UVB protection and if labelled with a UVA star rating, carry a minimum of 4 stars. It is recommended that parents also apply sunscreen before school during summer months. However, please note that your child may still need to reapply their sunscreen at school to ensure protection during peak UV hours (between 11am and 3pm). We ask that parents also ensure their child has access to a suitable sun hat that is clearly labelled. Sun hats should be either broad-brimmed (bucket style) or legionnaire to shade the face, neck and ears. Baseball caps are not recommended.

All pupils will be taught about Sun Safety in assembly and in class to reinforce key Sun Safe messaging and to develop their understanding of the importance of Sun Safety. Again, your support to reinforce this messaging at home will be of great benefit, helping to influence behaviours for a positive, Sun Safe future.

We thank you for your continue and valued support.

Yours Faithfully

Hillington Primary School