Row over primary school sun cream

A Cancer Research survey found a third of children have had sunburn

Council chiefs say they have had no complaints from parents over claims some children in Denbighshire would be kept indoors unless they apply their own sun cream.

Vale of Clwyd AM Ann Jones said one parent had protested to her that her child's school had issued the warning.

The council said individual schools and parents should decide whether teachers put cream on young children in the sun.

Denbighshire said it based its advice on a Cancer Research campaign.

I'd like to think that teachers do see it as their job to mop up a grazed knee, soothe a wasp sting or protect a child from getting sunburned Ann Jones AM

The council has reissued its guidelines after criticism by the Vale of Clwyd AM, who called for a "common sense" approach.

Ms Jones said a constituent had complained that their young child was unable to administer their own sun cream - and would therefore not be allowed out to play at the school, which has not been named.

She called that "a crazy situation, which can only bring about distress to both children and staff".

She added: "Most teachers are used to exercising common sense and doing what is necessary for children in their care.

"This ban on teachers applying sun cream to young children flies in the face of the basic human instinct of teachers - to make sure that children are protected from harm.

Many adults have absorbed advice to slap on the sun cream

"I'd like to think that teachers do see it as their job to mop up a grazed knee, soothe a wasp sting or protect a child from getting sunburned.

"I think it is very regrettable that teachers doing their best to protect young children's skin from the sun should feel prevented from doing what they know to be right by the fear of being accused of child abuse."

But the council said it had issued its guidelines two years ago on how to deal with children playing in the sun, and it was up to schools how they interpreted them.

A spokeswoman said they based their guidelines on advice which suggested parents should have the final say over whether teachers can supervise the application of sun cream.

In health terms, it could be better for them to be kept out of the sun Anna Brychan, National Association of Head Teachers

She added: "The county has this week repeated the advice given two years ago, urging schools to be aware of the advice given by the Cancer Research Sun Smart code and encouraging them to make sure they draw up a sun safety action plan."

Anna Brychan, director of the National Association of Headteachers Cymru (NAHT), said she sympathised with the school in question.

She said: "Often it's the most sensible option to keep children - especially the very young ones - in the shade when the sun is really hot as it is today.

"In this instance, in health terms, it could be better for them to be kept out of the sun."

She said a lot of NAHT members voluntarily applied sun cream to children in their care, but the union strongly advised members not to do so.

She added: "Once you go down this road, where will it end?

"It's much more sensible for parents to do it and there are sun creams on the market which parents can apply to their children and it lasts all day. Alternatively, the children can wear long sleeve shirts or sun hats."