Sun Protection

Policy

One World Children's Centre is an Cancer Council accredited `Sunsmart' Centre. A combination of sun protection measures for all outdoor experiences from September to the end of April each year ensure the health and safety of children and staff are paramount.

Relevant Legislation

Education and Care Services National Regulations (regulation 168 (2) (ii)

National Quality Standard 2.3

Implementation

Families provide sun-hats for their children; they are required to wear hats that protect their face, neck and ears, (legionnaire, broad brimmed or bucket hats. (caps are not suitable)
The Centres' `no hat, no outdoor play' policy is applied all year round to provide consistency and reinforcement to the children, however during the colder months a warm woolly hat is acceptable
an attendance without a sun-hat will result in the child's play being restricted to areas out of the sun
The centre provides a SPF30 plus, water resistant sunscreen
Our staff further supports the Cancer Council sunsmart principles by being good models for the children, and by personally following sensible sunsmart practices
One World’s permission slip for allowing staff to apply sunscreen to individual children must be signed and returned to the centre. Should a child have an individual requirement regarding sunscreen this must be detailed in letter dated and signed by the parent and placed on the families file
UV index levels are three and above from the beginning of September until the end of April. Second and third Quarters of the year if UV rays are below 3 is a good time for child’s skin to receive vitamin D from the sun. Staff apply sunscreen outside of the normal summer months should the UV ray’s be 3 or above

Sun Protection Procedure

Morning staff check the UV index levels on line and record this on the back of the door leading out of the staff area
Staff will sunscreen children should the UV ray’s be 3 or above
Staff are to ensure each child has been sun screened 15-20 minutes before going outside and sunscreen is to be re-applied every two hours or as per directions on bottle
Staff to encouraged to apply their own sunscreen under supervision
If sunscreen has been supplied by the family for their child then the sunscreen needs to be clearly named and dated and staff are to only apply that sunscreen to that child
Hats will also vary depending on the UV rays and weather i.e. colder days a warm hat, hotter days September until the end of April, a Legionaries hat/wide brim hat/buckets hat (caps are not permitted)
We encourage all children to play in the shade -staff will be flexible and make reasonable judgement on the above situation taking into consideration the UV level
Staff will ensure all children are dressed appropriately for the weather outside each day, Children and staff are to wear sleeved tops that cover their shoulders and top of their arms
One World follow the principles of sun smart by using a combination of the following sun protection measures: clothing, brimmed hats, sunscreen, shade and sunglasses (optional)

Sources

Education and Care National Regulations (regulations 168 (2)(ii)