POLICY CONTENT

Australia has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world with two in three Australians developing some form of skin cancer before the age of 70. Too much of the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation can cause sunburn, skin and eye damage and skin cancer. Infants and toddlers up to four years of age are particularly vulnerable to UV damage due to lower levels of melanin and a thinner stratum corneum (the outermost layer of skin). UV damage accumulated during childhood and adolescence is strongly associated with an increased risk of skin cancer later in life (Cancer Council Australia).
 

NATIONAL QUALITY STANDARD (NQS) 

QUALITY AREA 2: Children's Health and Safety

2.1	Health	Each child’s health and physical activity is supported and promoted
2.1.1	Wellbeing and comfort	Each child’s wellbeing and comfort is provided for, including appropriate opportunities to meet each child’s needs for sleep, rest and relaxation
2.1.3	Healthy lifestyle	Healthy eating and physical activity are promoted and appropriate for each child
2.2	Safety	Each child is protected
2.2.1	Supervision	At all times, reasonable precautions and adequate supervision ensure children are protected from harm and hazard

QUALITY AREA 3: Physical Environment

3.1.1

Fit for purpose

Outdoor and indoor spaces, buildings, fixtures and fittings are suitable for their purpose, including supporting the access of every child

 

PURPOSE

To protect all children and staff from the harmful effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. To ensure the outdoor environment provides shade for children, educators and staff to minimise unsafe UV exposure. 
 

SCOPE 

This policy applies to children, families, staff, management, and visitors of the School. 
 

IMPLEMENTATION 

Our School will work in compliance with the National SunSmart Early Childhood Program to ensure children’s health and safety is maintained at all times whilst at the School. This policy applies to all activities on and off site. 
 

MONITORING UV LEVELS 

Sun protection is required when UV levels reach level 3 or above. Our School will monitor the UV levels daily through one or more of the following methods: 

• using the smartphone SunSmart app available at iTunes App Store and Google Play store 
• using the SunSmart widget on the School’s website available at cancer.org.au 
• viewing the Bureau of Meteorology website bom.gov.au  
• visiting myuv.com.au 

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

The sun protection measures listed are used for all outdoor activities during the daily local sun protection times, when the UV Index is 3 or above. The sun protection times are a forecast from the Bureau of Meteorology for the time of day UV levels are forecast to reach 3 or higher. At these levels, a combination of sun protection is recommended for all skin types.  

The School will use a combination of sun protection measures (see below) whenever UV Index levels reach 3 and above.  
 

Sun Protection Times 

UV levels vary across Australia and throughout the year. This listing highlights when UV is typically three and above in each state / territory. There may be times UV levels are three and above outside these periods. Please check the daily local sun protection times and UV levels to be sure you are using sun protection when it is required for your location.  
 

Western Australia

Active outdoor play is encouraged throughout the day all year provided appropriate sun protection measures are used when necessary. The sun protection measures listed are used for all outdoor activities during the daily local sun protection times.  A combination of sun protection measures are considered when planning all outdoor activities such as excursions and water play.
 

SHADE

Management will ensure: 

• sufficient natural, portable, or man-made shade is provided, particularly in high use areas 
• shaded areas will be used for play experiences 
• play experiences will be monitored throughout the day and moved as required to remain in the shade 
• regular risk assessments and reviews will be made of the outdoor area to assist in planning for further shade requirements 
• children who do not have appropriate hats or outdoor clothing are required to choose a shady play space or a suitable area protected from the sun and not move into unshaded areas of the playground 
• children will still be required to wear hats, protective clothing, and sunscreen when playing under natural or portable shade. 

HATS

Educators, children, and visitors are required to wear sun safe hats at all times they are outdoors. Cancer Council Australia describes sun safe hats as: 

• hats that protect a person’s face, neck, and ears, which include: 
  • a legionnaire hat – the front peak and flap should overlap at the sides and the flap should cover the neck 
  • a bucket hat with a deep crown and angled brim that is at least 5cm for young children and at least 6cm for adults and must shade the face, neck, and ears 
  • a broad brimmed hat with a brim size of at least 6cm for children or 7.5cm for adults. The brim should provide shade for the whole face 

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 required to play in an area protected from the sun. They may be provided with a spare hat by the School if available. All children are provided with a sun safe hat by the School. 

CLOTHING  

When outdoors, staff and children will wear sun safe clothing that covers as much of the skin as possible. Cancer Council Australia recommends clothing that: 

• covers the shoulders, back and stomach 
• is loose fitting such as loose-fitting shirts and dresses with sleeves and collars or covered neckline, or longer style skirts, shorts and trousers.

Children who are not wearing sun safe clothing can be provided with spare clothing or will be required to play under shade or in an area protected from the sun or provided with spare clothing.Midriff, crop or singlet tops do not provide enough sun protection and therefore are not recommended.  

SUNSCREEN   

As per Cancer Council Australia recommendations: 

• staff and children will apply SPF50 or higher broad-spectrum water-resistant sunscreen 20 minutes before going outdoors and reapply every 2 hours or more frequently if washed or wiped off 
• permission to apply sunscreen is included in the School enrolment form (see Enrolment Policy) 
• where children have allergies or sensitivity to our school sunscreen, parents are asked to/may wish to provide an alternative sunscreen. This alternative sunscreen must not contain allergens, must be in accordance with our nut free policy and must be SPF50. The sunscreen will be approved by the nominated supervisor. All alternate sunscreens must be labelled with the child's name.  
• A record of any confirmed allergy must be provided in writing from the parent/guardian and recorded on the child’s enrolment record. Cancer Council Australia recommends usage tests before applying a new sunscreen. 
• to help develop independent skills ready for school, children from three years of age are given opportunities to apply their own sunscreen under supervision of staff, and are encouraged to do so 
• sunscreen is stored in a cool, dry place and the use-by-date monitored.  

 

BABIES  

Recommendations for babies from the Cancer Council Australia include: 

• babies under 12 months will not be exposed to direct sun when the UV Index levels is 3 or above   
• physical protection such as shade positioning, clothing and broad-brimmed hats are the best sun protection measures the front peak and flap should overlap at the sides 

If babies are kept out of the sun or well protected from UV radiation by clothing, hats and shade, then sunscreen need only be used occasionally on very small areas of a baby’s skin. The widespread use of sunscreen on babies under 6 months old is not recommended. 

RISKS OF SUMMER PLAY

Australia has a hot climate and inevitably playground equipment and surfacing can heat up rapidly and retain heat. Many playground surfaces and equipment can exceed temperatures greater than 50°C and if young children come into contact with these surfaces, they can be burned severely within seconds.  

The Approved Provider, Nominated Supervisor and educators will: 

• ensure risk assessments are conducted to identify any potential hazards to children during summer months that could cause harm or injury to children. Risk minimisation control measures will be put in place to protect children. Potential hazards could include: 
  • hot equipment - slides, poles, guardrails, any metal surfaces 
  • hot surfaces - rubber and synthetic grass, walkways, concrete surfaces 
  • sun burn 
  • access to bodies of water (filled water troughs/containers/trays/pools) 
• use a thermometer or their hand to test surface temperature and make an informed decision about permitting children to play on equipment or in the outdoor space. If the surface temperature is determined to be too hot or is recorded as at or above 50°C, it is recommended by Kidsafe Australia that children do NOT play on the surface 
• ensure children wear shoes when playing in the outdoor area (children may remove shoes when playing in sand or mud pit).

ROLE MODELLING AND WORK HEALTH AND SAFETY

Cancer Council Australia acknowledges that children are more likely to develop sun-safe habits if they are role-modelled and demonstrated by adults around them. Occupational UV exposure is also a Work Health and Safety issue. All educators and staff at the School will therefore be required to role model appropriate sun protection behaviours by:  

• wearing a sun safe hat (see Hats)  
• wearing sun safe clothing (see Clothing) 
• applying SPF50+ broad-spectrum water-resistant sunscreen 20 minutes before going outdoors 
• For application - sunscreen to be applied then hands to be washed each time, with extra caution taken with visible cuts/skin abrasions/cold or virus for infection control.
• using and promoting shade 
• wearing sunglasses that meet the Australian Standard 1067:2003 (optional) 
• discussing sun protection with children and demonstrating a positive and proactive approach to the management of sun protection in the School  
• families and visitors are encouraged to role model positive sun safe behaviour 
• monitoring the UV Index Levels and Daily Sun Protection times throughout the day 
• regularly monitoring and reviewing the effectiveness of the Sun Safety Policy 
• submitting the Sun Safety Policy to the Cancer Council every three years to maintain SunSmart status 

 EDUCATION AND INFORMATION  

• Sun protection will be incorporated regularly into learning programs 
• Sun protection information will be promoted to staff, families and visitors 
• Educators and staff are encouraged to complete free Cancer Council Generation SunSmart online Professional Learning learning modules 
• Further information and resources are available from the Cancer Council website:  cancer.org.au/cancer-information/causes-and... and each state and territory SunSmart web page. See cancer.org.au/cancer-information/causes-and... for links
• The Sun Safety Policy will be made available to all educators, staff, families, and visitors of the School to ensure a comprehensive understanding about keeping sun safe including appropriate hat, clothing and sunscreen requirements 
• When enrolling their child/ren to our School, parents will be required to give permission for educators to apply sunscreen to their child 
• Information about Sun Safety will be included in our Family Handbook and sun protection information and resources made accessible and communicated regularly to families. 

Australian Safety Standards

AS 4174:2018 Knitted and woven shade fabrics  
AS/NZS 1067.1:2016 Eye and face protection - Sunglasses and fashion spectacles
AS 4399:2020 Sun protective clothing - Evaluation and classification
AS/NZS 2604:2021 Sunscreen products - Evaluation and classification
AS 4685.0:2017 Playground equipment and surfacing, Part 0 - Development, installation, inspection, maintenance and operation. 6.2.1 General considerations, 6.3.9 Shade and sun protection, Appendix A Shade and sun protection

SOURCE

Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority. (2014).  
Australian Government Department of Education, Skills and Employment. (2009) Belonging, Being and Becoming: The Early Years Learning Framework for Australia. 
Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (APST) - Standard 4.4 and 7.2 
ARPANSA Radiation Protection Standard for Occupational Exposure to Ultraviolet Radiation. (2006).  
Bureau of meteorology. Home page (for UV Index): bom.gov.au/uv/ 
Cancer Council Australia. Be SunSmart. cancer.org.au/cancer-information/causes-and... 
Cancer Council. Home page: cancer.org.au/ 
Cancer Council. Preventing cancer: Sun protections. cancer.org.au/cancer-information/causes-and... 
Children's Services Act 1996.
Cancer Council. SunSmart programs sunsmartnsw.com.au/about/ 
Early Childhood Australia Code of Ethics. (2016). 
Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010. (Amended 2018). 
Education and Care Services National Regulations. (2011) 
Guide to the Education and Care Services National Law and the Education and Care Services National Regulations. (2017). 
Guide to the National Quality Standard. (2017). 
Kidsafe NSW Playground Safety . (2020).
Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004.
Revised National Quality Standard. (2020).
Safe Work Australia: Guide on exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) (2019).