Primary schools in Greater Manchester are being urged to sign up to the Sun Safe Schools programme to help educate pupils, parents and communities about sun safety following the UK’s hottest summer on record.
Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance, part of the NHS, works with national skin cancer charity Skcin to promote the scheme which helps schools extend important health messages to the wider school community.
More than 80 new schools have signed up to become Sun Safe schools in Greater Manchester
With the start of a new school term now well underway, Dr Stephanie Ogden, Consultant Dermatologist and Skin Cancer Clinical Lead at Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance, says now is a great time for primary schools to sign up.
She said: “We have just seen another hot summer reaching record-breaking temperatures so it’s really important for schools to help play a part in teaching children and their families about how to stay safe in the sun.
“Sunburn can significantly increase the risk of developing skin cancer later in life and without adequate protection, a child’s skin can burn within minutes, causing long-term damage.
“The Sun Safe Schools programme is a fantastic way to increase everyone’s understanding of the easy ways to protect your skin against sun damage—not just pupils, but staff and parents too. It helps everyone learn about how we can all stay safe in the sun from wearing layers and sun cream for protection to creating shady spots in the playground.
“More than 80 new schools have signed up to become Sun Safe schools in Greater Manchester in the last two years and we’d love to see even more sign up to help the next generation reduce their risk of developing skin cancer.”
The Sun Safe Schools programme is available to Early Years and Key Stage 1 and 2 settings across Greater Manchester. It provides free lesson plans, assemblies, policies and guidance as part of the PHSE curriculum, helping schools show their commitment to:
- Protection – creating a sun-safe environment
- Education – teaching children how to stay safe
- Collaboration – working with parents and the wider community
Marie Tudor, CEO of Skcin, highlighted the importance of early education, noting that around 90 per cent of skin cancer cases are preventable, largely due to overexposure to UV radiation.
She said: “Our Sun Safe Schools programme was created to drive behaviour change for the next generation. This education needs to start early by embedding the seeds of sun safety in childhood.”
Schools interested in joining the initiative can find out more at www.sunsafeschools.co.uk.
