Home Documents and policies Sun protection policy

Sun protection policy.

How we protect children, staff and families from skin damage caused by ultraviolet rays of the sun, throughout the year and across all 4 of our centres.

Policy code: HSPOL 17 Last updated: June 2024

Aims

To promote positive attitudes towards skin protection.
To introduce lifestyle practices that will reduce the incidence of skin cancer.
To increase the awareness of skin protection.
To ensure children attending are protected from skin damage caused by ultraviolet rays of the sun throughout the year.
Our centre will follow best practice guidelines to protect children, family members, educators, and staff from the damaging effects of the sun.

Implementation

General skin protection strategies

Note: All sunscreen provided by the centre will be Cancer Council SPF30 (or higher).

Our centre will use a combination of sun protection measures whenever UV index levels reach 3 and above. This will include:

Scheduling outdoor activities

When UV levels reach 3 or above all sun protection measures (including hats, clothing, sunscreen and shade) are used:

Sun protection times are a forecast for the time-of-day UV levels will reach 3 or above. At these levels, sun protection is recommended for all skin types and the policy areas should be implemented (hats, clothing, sunscreen and shade). In NSW, UV levels are high enough (UV 3 or above) to damage unprotected skin most months of the year.
UV levels and daily sun protection times are used to plan daily activities and ensure a correct understanding of local sun protection requirements.
UV radiation exposure is considered as part of a service's risk management and assessment for all outdoor events and activities on and off-site.
When children are on excursions all sun protection practices are planned, organised, understood and available.

Shade

All outdoor activities will be planned to occur in shaded areas. Our centre will provide and maintain adequate shade for outdoor play. This will include a combination of natural, portable, and built shade. Shade assessments will be conducted regularly to monitor existing shade structures and assist in planning additional shade. Play-based learning activities are set up and moved throughout the day to take advantage of shade patterns.

Hats

Educators, staff, and children are required to wear sun safe hats that protect their face, neck, and ears. A sun safe hat is:

Legionnaire hat,
Bucket hat with a deep crown and brim size of at least 5cm (Adults 6cm)
Broad brimmed hat with a brim size of at least 6cm (Adults 7.5cm)

Please note: Baseball caps or visors do not provide enough sun protection and therefore are not recommended.

Children without a sun safe hat will be asked to play in an area protected from the sun (e.g., under shade, veranda, or indoors) or will be provided with a spare hat.

Clothing

When outdoors educators, staff and children will be encouraged to wear sun safe clothing that covers as much of the skin (especially the shoulders, back and stomach) as possible. This includes wearing:

Loose fitting shirts and dresses with sleeves and collars or covered neckline
Longer style skirts, shorts, and trousers

Whilst we encourage children and families to follow our sun protection policy, we also respect individual's clothing choices. When children wear clothing, which does not provide adequate protection from the sun i.e., singlet tops, particular care will be taken to ensure that they play in shaded areas outdoors and if available spare clothing will be provided. Discussions will be held with families regarding appropriate sun safe clothing.

Please note: Midriff, crop or singlet tops do not provide enough sun protection and therefore are not recommended.

Sunscreen

All staff and children are required to apply SPF30 (or higher) broad-spectrum water-resistant sunscreen 20 minutes before going outdoors and reapply every 2 hours. Staff will provide monitoring and assistance to those who are able to apply their own i.e., older pre-schoolers.
Permission to apply sunscreen is included in the service enrolment form.
Where children have allergies or sensitivity to the sunscreen, parents are asked to provide an alternative sunscreen, or the child encouraged to play in the shade.
Cancer Council recommends usage tests before applying a new sunscreen.
All sunscreen is stored in a cool, dry place and the expiry dates monitored.

Babies

Babies under 12 months will not be exposed to direct sunlight and are to remain in dense shade when outside. They will wear sun safe hats and clothing and small amounts of SPF30 (or higher) broad-spectrum water-resistant sunscreen will be applied to their exposed skin. Babies clothing, hat and shade positioning are checked regularly to ensure they continue to be well protected from UV. The use of sunscreen on babies under 6 months is not recommended due to their sensitive skin.

Role modelling

Educators and staff will act as role models and demonstrate sun safe behaviour by:

Practising skin protection behaviours such as wearing a sun safe hat (see hats) and protective clothing when outdoors (see clothing).
Using and promoting shade.
As part of WH&S UV risk controls and role modelling, staff, families, and visitors demonstrate SunSmart behaviours when outside.
Discussing sun safe practices as part of the children's everyday learning program.

Families and visitors are encouraged to role model positive sun safe behaviours. Families will be informed of the centres Sun Protection Policy and requested to give permission for the centre to apply SPF30 (or higher) broad-spectrum water-resistant sunscreen to the children via the enrolment form. Families will be encouraged to provide their children with sun safe hats (see hats) and sun safe clothing (see clothing) for play in the outdoor environment.

Education

Sun protection will be regularly incorporated into the learning programs. Children understand why sun safety is important and learn how to take effective sun protection, including taking leadership roles in managing sun protection e.g., accessing daily UV levels and sun protection times, hat reminders and management of sunscreen. Sun protection information will be promoted to all staff, children, families, and visitors. SunSmart App daily UV times are promoted to guide staff, parents and children behaviour.

Children understand why sun safety is important and learn how to take effective sun protection, including taking leadership roles in managing sun protection e.g., accessing daily UV levels and sun protection times, hat reminders and management of sunscreen where age appropriate with guidance and support from educators.

We will use resources available from Generation SunSmart www.generationsunsmart.com.au and SunSmart www.sunsmartnsw.com.au as examples.

Applications of sunscreen will be entered into the centre's App for each child.

Information and policy availability

Sun protection policy, procedures, requirements, and updates are made available to staff, families, and visitors.
Sun protection information and resources are accessible and communicated regularly to families.
All parents/families are informed of the sun protection policy including appropriate hat, clothing, and sunscreen requirements on enrolling their child in the service.

Implementation and review

Management regularly monitor and review how effectively they implement their sun protection policy.
Sun protection policies must be updated and submitted to Cancer Council NSW every three years to maintain SunSmart status.

Roles and responsibilities

Role	Responsibilities
Approved provider	ensure that obligations under the Education and Care Services National Law and National Regulations are met take reasonable steps to ensure that the nominated supervisor, educators and staff follow the sun protection policy and procedures ensure adequate shading over areas for both active and passive outdoor play ensure access to an adequate supply of sunscreen for children, educators and staff ensure staff dress code/uniform includes sun protective clothing and hats ensure that copies of the policy and procedures are readily accessible and available to nominated supervisors, coordinators, educators, staff, volunteers and families ensure families are aware of and agree to support the service's sun protection policy and procedures
Nominated supervisor	implement the sun protection policy and procedures as outlined in the document monitor the daily sun protection times for your location communicate these to educators, staff and children support the implementation of sun protection measures during the sun protection times promote sun safe practices with all children, families, educators and staff within the service
Educators	implement the sun protection policy and procedures as documented monitor the daily sun protection times for your location and manage sun safe outdoor play and learning accordingly monitor, and where practical, adjust outdoor learning and play experiences to minimise direct and indirect UV exposure utilise and role-model sun safe practices communicate with families about SunSmart practices in general and specific expectations within the service (e.g., wearing protective clothing, sun protective hat styles).
Families	be aware of, support and follow the service's sun protection policy and procedures ensure children are dressed in appropriate sun protective clothing

Sources

NSW Health and Cancer Council Sun Smart Program
NSW Department of Health — www.health.nsw.gov.au
National Health and Medical Research Council — www.nhmrc.gov.au
Community Early Learning Australia
Education and Care Services National Regulations
National Quality Standard
Centre Support

This policy is the property of Eikoh Seminar Australia Pty Limited and must not be reproduced without the consent of management.