Parent Handbook - SUNSAFE POLICY

The St Morris Community Child Care Centre Inc. has adopted a “Sunsafe Policy” from “Hat Guidelines for Schools”. The purpose of this policy is to ensure that all children attending our Centre are protected from skin damage caused by harmful ultra violet rays of the sun.

1. The staff will minimise the time children spend outside between 10am and 3pm particularly from September to April.
2. Broad brimmed (at least 7.5cm wide); bucket (at least 5cm wide) or legionnaire’s hats are required to be worn by all children and staff whenever they are outside.
3. Activities held outside will be held in shady areas where possible.
4. The Centre will supply 30+ sunscreen, which will be applied by staff 20 minutes prior to sun exposure. Parents are to apply sun block to their child before arriving at child care or upon arrival using the Centres sun block.
5. The staff will incorporate sun and skin awareness into the curriculum.
6. Children and staff must wear clothing with sleeves all year.
7. Staff are to be positive role models who practice skin protection behaviours by wearing hats and protective clothing outside i.e. sleeves on clothing.
8. Babies’ skin is thinner than adults’ skin; it is extremely sensitive and can burn easily. New born babies in particular and babies under the age of 12 months should be kept out of the direct sun as much as possible and well protected from UV radiation by clothing, hats and shade. If a baby is well protected then sunscreen need only be used occasionally on very small amounts of their exposed skin.

NB: As recommended  by the Cancer Council SA, between May and September, when the UV radiation levels are below 3 and children are outside for relatively short periods, sunblock will not be worn.

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