Sun Protection Policy

Help for non-English speakers 

If you need help to understand the information in this policy, please contact the school office on (03) 366 4322. 

Purpose 

The purpose of this policy is to support sun protection behaviours at Jackson School to minimise risk of health problems from sun overexposure, including skin cancer.  

This policy provides guidelines to: 

• support staff and students to use a combination of sun protection measures when UV index levels are 3 or above (generally mid-August to the end of April in Victoria).  
• ensure that there are outdoor environments that provide adequate shade for students and staff. 
• ensure students are encouraged and supported to develop independent sun protection skills to help them to be responsible for their own protection. 
• support our school’s strategies to meet its duty of care and occupational health and safety obligations to minimise harmful UV exposure and associated harm for students and staff.  

Scope 

This policy applies to all school activities on and off-site, including camps and excursions. It is applicable to all students and staff.  

Policy 

Overexposure to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation can cause health problems including sunburn, damage to skin and eyes, and an increased risk of skin cancer. UV damage accumulated during childhood and adolescence is strongly associated with an increased risk of skin cancer later in life.  

UV radiation: 

• cannot be seen or felt 
• can be reflected off surfaces such as buildings, asphalt, concrete, water, sand and snow 
• can pass through light clouds 
• varies in intensity across the day and the year (highest from mid-August to the end of April in Victoria) 
• peaks during school hours 

Sun safety is a shared responsibility and staff, parents and students are encouraged to implement a combination of sun protection measures whenever UV levels reach 3 or above.  Information about the daily local sun protection times is available via the SunSmart widget on the school’s website/intranet, the free SunSmart app, or at sunsmart.com.au or bom.gov.au.  

Jackson School hasthe following measures in place for all outdoor activities during the daily sun protection times to help reduce the risk of over-exposure to UV radiation for staff and students.  

Shade 

Jackson School provides sufficient options for shelter and trees to provide shade on school grounds, particularly in places such as:  

• playgrounds  
• oval 
• the courtyard 
• outdoor lesson areas 
• popular play areas 

Students are encouraged to use available areas of shade when outdoors during peak sun protection times, particularly if they do not have appropriate hats or outdoor clothing. 

When building works or grounds maintenance is conducted at Jackson School that may impact on the level of shading available to staff and students, a review of the shaded areas available will be conducted and further shading installed as appropriate.  

Sun protective uniform/clothing 

Jackson School recommends that mid-August to end of April, and whenever UV levels reach 3 and above, students come to school wearing sun-protective clothing such as: 

• shirts with a collar and/or high necklines 
• tops with elbow length or long sleeves 
• longer style shorts and skirts 
• rash vests or t-shirts for outdoor swimming activities. 

Jackson School's uniform or dress code applies on and off-site unless otherwise advised. When students are not required to wear school uniform (such as school camps, free dress day), Jackson School will ensure steps are taken to encourage students to wear sun-protective clothing whenever UV levels reach 3 and above.   

Hats 

For Primary students from 14th August to 30 April 2023, all students must wear a sun-protective hat that shades the face, neck and ears for all outdoor activities. Hats may also be worn for all outdoor activities outside of the August to April time period, by parent or student choice. 

For secondary students we expect students to take responsibility for their sun safety by wearing a hat during outdoor activities and adopting other sun protection measures such as wearing sunscreen or using shade.  

Students wear a school hat or a hat that protects the face, head, neck and ears when outdoors, for example broad-brimmed, legionnaire or bucket hat.  Baseball or peaked caps and sun visors are not considered a suitable alternative, as they do not protect the ears, cheeks or neck. 

Students who are not wearing appropriate protective clothing or hats will be asked to use available areas of shade when outdoors or a suitable area protected from the sun.  

Sunscreen  

Jackson School encourages all staff and students to apply SPF30 (or higher) broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen daily whenever UV levels reach 3 and above. Sunscreen should be applied at least 20 minutes before going outdoors and reapplied every two hours (or more frequently if sweating or swimming).  

Jackson school supplies Woolworths Sunscreen Lotion, SPF50+. water-resistant sunscreen for staff and students to use. It is readily accessible in all classrooms and shared staff spaces.   

Jackson School has strategies in place to remind students to apply sunscreen before going outdoors through reminder notices, sunscreen visuals and sunscreen stations near room entry and exit points]. Sunscreen that is supplied by the school is stored below 30 degrees and the expiry date monitored.  

Staff and students who may suffer from skin reactions from certain types of sunscreen are encouraged to contact Ivanna Yarish or Sam Brown to implement a plan to reduce the risk of a sunscreen reaction at school, such as families sending their child to school with a suitable alternative sunscreen.   

Sunglasses 

Where practical, Jackson School encourages students and staff engaged in outdoor activities to wear close-fitting, wrap-around sunglasses that meet the Australian Standard 1067 (Sunglasses: Category 2, 3 or 4) and cover as much of the eye area as possible. 

Curriculum 

Students at our school are encouraged to make healthy choices. They are supported to understand the effects of sun exposure and are encouraged to be involved in initiatives to promote and model sun protection measures to the whole school. Jackson School will address sun protection and UV safety education as part of our Independent Curriculum, SWPBS lessons reinforcing our school value of Safety. 

Staff role-modelling and OHS 

Staff are encouraged to access resources, tools, and professional learning to enhance their knowledge and capacity to promote sun-smart behaviour across the school community.  

UV radiation exposure is considered as part of our school’s risk management and assessment for all outdoor events and activities, i.e. UV radiation protection strategies are included in school camp activities, excursions, sports days and interschool sports events. 

Families and visitors 

Families and visitors participating in and attending outdoor school activities are encouraged to: 

• wear a sun-protective hat, covering clothing and, if practical, sunglasses; 
• apply SPF30 (or higher) broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen; and 
• seek shade whenever possible when outdoors. 

Community engagement  

Sun protection behaviour is regularly reinforced and promoted to the whole school community through newsletters, school website/intranet, staff and parent meetings, school assemblies, student and teacher activities and at student enrolment/new staff orientation.  

Families, students and staff are provided with information, ideas and practical strategies to support UV safety at school and at home. Jackson School may provide information through our Jackson School newsletter, school website, school assemblies and our Seesaw communication platform.  

COMMUNICATION 

This policy will be communicated to our school community in the following ways: 

• Available publicly on our school’s website on https://www.jacksons.vic.edu.au/#top 
• Included in staff induction processes 
• Included in our staff handbook/manual 
• Issued at staff briefings/meetings as required 
• Included in transition and enrolment packs 
• Included as annual reference in school newsletter 
• Discussed at student forums/through communication tools 
• Made available in hard copy from school administration upon request 

Further Information and Resources 

The Department’s Policy and Advisory Library:  

• Sun and UV Protection Policy  
• Heat Health 
• Outdoor Activities and Working Outdoors 
• Risk Management – Schools 
• Shade Sails 
• Student Dress Code 

Resources:

• SunSmart and Cancer Council Victoria. 
• Primary schools free education resources, sample policies and information about the free SunSmart Schools Program.  
• Secondary schools free education resources and sample policies. 
• Sunscreen reactions.  
• The Healthy Schools Achievement Program’s Sun Protection health priority area 

POLICY REVIEW AND APPROVAL