PA07 Sun-safety policies in UK schools

Abstract

Children’s skin is particularly susceptible to ultraviolet (UV) damage, making effective photoprotection essential to help prevent long-term skin damage and future skin cancers. Sunscreens with high sun protection factor (SPF) and high UVA protection play a key role, but reliable protection depends on repeated application throughout the day, especially during peak midday exposure when prior parental application has usually worn off. Although the UK lacks a unified national school sun-safety policy, the Department for Education’s 2020 statutory guidance Keeping Children Safe in Education mandates that schools implement sun-safety measures, provide appropriate photoprotection and deliver education on sun-safety awareness. We evaluated the prevalence and effectiveness of school-based sun-protection measures, and compliance with statutory guidance, by determining how many schools within a South East England local authority (i) have a sun-safety policy, (ii) provide regular sun-safety education and (iii) supply effective sunscreen to students. A ­freedom-of-information request was served to all 208 schools in a South East of England local education authority asking (i) the number of pupils, (ii) does the school follow a sun-safety policy, (iii) is teaching regularly provided on sun safety, (iv) is sunscreen provided and (v) if so, what are the SPF and UVA star rating? In total, 131 of the 208 schools provided data, covering 49 977 pupils. Although 92 (70.2%) of schools provided teaching on sun safety, only 44 (33.6%) had a sun-safety policy and only 14 (10.7%) provided sunscreen. All of these 14 supplied sunscreen with an SPF ≥ 30 and a UVA star rating of four or above. In conclusion, 70.2% of schools regularly provide teaching on sun safety but a minority of schools had a sun-safety policy. Only 10.7% provide sunscreen to pupils. This suggests there is potential to improve current sun-safety practice and adherence to statutory guidance with the introduction and standardization of sun-safety policies in schools.