Further guidance available:

Heat exhaustion and heatstroke - NHS

Heat stress - HSE

Last updated: May 2026

Review date: May 2027

Paint Pots staff have a duty of care to keep children safe and healthy. We are committed to ensuring that all children are fully protected from the dangers of too much sun/UV rays. Severe sunburn in childhood can lead to the development of malignant melanoma (the most dangerous type of skin cancer) in later life.

Children are cared for throughout the year and every season presents its own challenges: during Spring and Summer, staff must consider sun safety.

We follow guidance from the local weather and UV level reports and use the following procedures to keep children safe and healthy in the sun.

• Children’s safety and welfare in hot weather is the nursery’s prime objective so staff will work closely with parents to ensure that permission for sun cream application is given.
• The Key person will work with the parents of their key children to decide and agree on suitable precautions to protect children from burning, including those with more sensitive skin types and those that may be more tolerant to the sunshine, e.g. black and/or Asian.
• The sun cream is then applied as and when needed.
• To ask that all parents apply the first layer of sun cream before they arrive in the morning. (Sun cream takes at least 30 minutes to reach full effectiveness which is why we ask parents to apply the first application before coming into nursery.)
• Parents can supply the nursery/preschool with sun cream for their child to use if they wish, however, Paint Pots will purchase the correct allergy safe, factor 50 suncream that will be suitable for all children to use and this will be kept stocked throughout the hot weather.
• A child will not be allowed outside if they do not have sun cream applied.
• Staff must be aware of the expiry date and discard sunscreen after this date.
• All children are asked to wear their hat, if they keep taking it off it will be reapplied and explained the importance of needing to wear the hat.
• Staff will make day-to-day decisions about the length of time spent outside depending on the strength of the sun; children will not be allowed in the direct sunlight between 11.00am – 3.00pm on hot days and only allowed outside if it is shaded and safe to do so.
• We will ensure all children have plenty to drink and shade.
• The Manager will check the UV rates daily and check these throughout the day making a judgement when it is safe to be outside.