Sun Block/Cream and Sun Hats

Following consultation with the Dermatology Department at the General Hospital re the importance of the above, they have advised that children should not be allowed out during the Summer months without sun block/cream and a sun hat, preferably one with a neck flap.

Their recommendation is that cream should be applied during the Summer months even if the sun is not actually out and that the ultimate responsibility for ensuring their children are properly protected lies with the parents.

From out past experience we realise that not all parents wish to use sun block/cream on their childeren and therefore we leave this decision to you.

If you are going to use sun block/cream on your child/children we would request that this is put on at home before the child arrives at Nursery. We shall assume that this has been done and therefore SHALL NOT BE APPLYING IT AT ALL IN THE MORNINGS, except to babies under one year.

We will re-apply sun block/cream to children who are at Nursery all day if they are going outside in the afternoon, if you have signed the appropriate permission form. We will provide this at Nursery and will ensure we have a high protection, hypoallergenic preparation. If you wish to provide your own for use in the afternoon it will need to be one that we can keep at the Nursery (not in the child's bag), and it will need to be clearly named and stored in a plastic bag.

Sun block/cream bought last year is NOT effective for this year.

Children who come to Nursery without a sun-hat will NOT be able to go outside regardless of whether or not they have had sun block/cream applied. Please would you NAME YOUR CHILD'S SUN-HAT (many children have one that is the same as someone else's) as we cannot accept responsibility for sun-hats which are not clearly named.

It would be helpful if you could provide your child with a sun-hat, CLEARLY NAMED PLEASE, to be kept at the Nursery during the Summer months so that the situation of not being able to go out because they have not got a sun-hat will not arise.

Many of you have already completed a form re the application of sun block/cream; we will follow your instructions as per this form unless you wish to change. If this is the case please ask for a new form. For those parents who have not yet completed a form there is one attached to this letter. Please complete and return. Thank you.

Please would you make sure your child has a NAMED cardigan or a light jacket with them at Nursery although they may not need to wear it when they arrive; even if it is warm and sunny at this time our climate is so unpredictable that they may need an extra layer if they go outside later in the day.

It would be appreciated, please, if children who are toilet trained could come to Nursery in elasticated shorts/trousers rather than dungarees or jeans as these present a problem at toilet time.

Loose, open-toed sandals are not suitable for children to wear at Nursery as they restrict their climbing activities and leave their toes vulnerable to accidents.

Yours faithfully

Mary Turner, General Manager