education

Teachers banned from putting sun cream on pupils over ‘child abuse’ accusation fears

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Despite expected heatwaves and increasing rates of skin cancer, the National Union of Teachers advises staff to not put sun cream on pupils (Picture: Getty, National Assembly for Wales)

Furious parents have launched a petition after claiming schools are banning teachers from applying life-saving sun cream on pupils over fears they might be accused of ‘child abuse’.

Leigh O’Connor has launched a petition to change the rules and make it a legal duty of care to prevent children being put at risk of an early death from skin cancer.

Despite expected heatwaves and increasing rates of skin cancer, the National Union of Teachers advises staff not to put sun cream on pupils ‘due to the potential for allegations of abuse’ and the time it would take.

Leigh, from Caerphilly, Wales, said his son’s school does not allow pupils to bring in cream to apply themselves due to allergy worries, and his boy has ‘over-heated’ and other children have burnt, the Sun reported.

He said: ‘It started up recently with the hot weather. It seems to be that every school has a different policy.

Parents have started a petition to allow pupils to bring in sun cream and apply it in schools (Picture: National Assembly for Wales)

‘My son’s school doesn’t allow it. It’s a bit of a nightmare, really.

‘I have had quite a lot of feedback from other parents – one mum told me there were three incidents where her child burned before the school changed policy’.

The petition is expected to go to the National Assembly for Wales, calling for a change in the rules.

Caitlin Sandford, 24, from Aberystwyth, has psoriasis on her hands, a skin condition which means she cannot apply sun cream to her little boy Samuel, who came home from school with sunburn.

Teachers are worried that applying suncream on pupils could lead to accusations of ‘abuse’ (Picture: E+)

She said: ‘I took some into school, but the teachers said they could not apply it and my son would have to apply it himself.

‘Apparently he didn’t even have help since he came back with sunburn on the back of his neck.

‘I understand being worried about allergies, but if you provided the sun cream and your child has trouble putting it on, a teacher should help.

‘Especially considering sun cream probably won’t be very effective at lunch break if it was applied at 8.30 in the morning.’

Howerver, David Evans, Wales Secretary for the National Union of Teachers, said if schools are to allow teachers to apply sun cream, parental consent needs to be obtained.

He added that staff who wish to go ahead and apply sun cream on pupils, they should only apply it to the face, neck and arms.

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He said: ‘Each school should have a policy on the administration of sunscreen, which encourages parents and carers to provide children with their own, as well as encouraging them to provide children with suitable long-sleeved clothing and wide-brimmed hats.

‘Our members can apply sunscreen in certain circumstances, but this will be with written permission from parents and a suitable risk assessment carried out.

‘Children can have allergies or intolerances to certain products, which we would be keen to avoid.’

Forecasters predict that the 27C heat later this week could spark a three-month heatwave lasting until October, which will put more people at risk of sun burns and skin cancer.



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