Schools cool on SunSmart scheme

Finding suitable uniforms to protect children from sunburn can be a problem in the summer.

Researchers are trying to find out why fewer than one in six schools have hooked into a Cancer Society programme to protect children from sunburn.

Three hundred state and integrated primary schools are accredited on the SunSmart scheme, which requires them to meet 12 criteria covering matters such as shade areas and sun-protective clothing.

Yesterday the Otago University researchers began sending surveys to 500 schools to check on their sun protection practices. It is a follow-up to a 2005 baseline survey done just before the society launched its schools accreditation programme, the results of which were presented to the Public Health Association conference.

"Part of the new survey is to look at schools that haven't engaged with the Cancer Society and why they haven't," said one of the researchers, Jan Jopson.

The 2005 survey found that none of the 242 schools that replied met all 12 criteria; 2 per cent attained 11 and another 2 per cent attained 10.

Nine per cent reached three or fewer criteria.

Dr Tony Reeder, director of the university's Cancer Society Social and Behavioural Research Unit, said providing shade in schools was very costly.

Shade cloth could be affected by wind and was at risk of vandalism.

Among the most difficult criteria for schools to meet was the wearing of suitable hats.

Summer uniforms with short sleeves and legs were also a problem.

Dr Reeder said schools with a uniform sometimes faced more sun-protection difficulties than those without, where pupils could wear hoodies and long pants.

Ms Jopson said that if schools had a uniform, the preference in the summer was that they give children the option of wearing one with three-quarter sleeves and legs, but she acknowledged such uniforms were rare.