Oldham school fights sun threat

Children at St John's infant school are ready for the sun (Picture: Oldham Evening Chronicle)

An infant school in Oldham is saving its pupils from the dangers of too much sunshine by erecting protective tents in the playground.

St John's school in Failsworth, Oldham, has introduced a sun safety scheme this summer, encouraging infants to move into the shade of the tents when there is strong sunshine.

Two light-weight ultra-violet proof tents were funded by a health education authority grant - and the school is now planning to buy more. They provide children with the protection equivalent to a factor 40 sun cream.

The tents offer factor 40 protection from the sunshine

Teachers are also issuing sun hats, sun tan lotion and dark glasses as part of a project to reduce the risks of over-exposure to the sunshine.

Nursery nurse Sandra Wilkinson warned that there needed to be a greater awareness of the health risks that the sun could bring to young children.

"The little ones have very sensitive skin and it does not take very long for them to get burned. Getting burned in childhood can leave permanent damage which can materialise as skin cancer 20 years later."

Skin cancer

"The children enjoy playing in the tents, so it's a fun way of helping to keep them safe and to teach them to be careful with how long they spend in the sun.

"When I saw these UV safe tents in a magazine I knew straight away they were the answer and the children would love them. They take two minutes to pop up and then they fold back down into little bags.

And she says that even though the local climate might not always be associated with hot sunshine, chlidren can still be at risk of burning when the weather appears to be overcast.

Support for the scheme has come from consultant dermatologist Dr Charlotte Proby who points to the particular risks for infant schools.

"Children are most at risk of sun burn and research has shown that sun damage done at an early age can lead to skin cancer later in life.

"The most dangerous period is between 11am and 3pm. This is the time when the sun is strongest and when the cancerous UVB rays penetrate the earth's atmosphere.

"Unfortunately it is during this time that schoolchildren are out playing on their lunch breaks. If all schools used these tents children could enjoy the sunshine and still stay safe."