Inquiry into school sun protection policy

On 4 October 2011 the National Assembly for Wales’ Petitions Committee received a petition from the cancer charity Tenovus saying that:

“We call upon the National Assembly to urge the Welsh Government to provide free sunscreen for all children under the age of 11 in Wales.”

This petition was referred to the Children and Young People Committee for consideration. As a result, the Committee held a short inquiry into school sun protection policy, which looked not only at the availability and use of sunscreen, but also at other sun protection issues such as the provision of shade in schools and the wearing of suitable clothing whilst outdoors.

To inform the inquiry, the Committee invited written comments on sun protection for children and young people at school or in childcare, specifically on the following:

• whether current sun protection policies and guidelines for schools are effective in providing sufficient sun protection for children, and if not, where improvements are required;
• whether there is sufficient awareness of the current sun protection policies and guidelines, and, if not, how best to raise awareness;
• whether there are any barriers to the use of sun protection in schools, including sunscreen, suitable clothing, hats or shade, by children and young people, for example in terms of cost or the application of sunscreen by teachers or childminders, and if so, how these could be addressed.