Sun Safe Schools

SKCIN are delighted to partner with Picture News to deliver a LIVE Sun Safe Schools Assembly to primary schools nationwide on Thursday 21st May from 9.15am – 9.45am.

SKCIN Ambassador and Consultant Dermatologist, Dr Amy Perkins will be joining the Picture News team to talk to viewers about our skin and the importance of sun protection, in an engaging assembly the children will LOVE.

This live session will explore the role of the sun in our lives, the UV index and simple ways we can stay safe when spending time outdoors – ending with our epic Sun Safe Schools song – the Funky Five S Jam!

We are super excited to be part of this and encourage primary schools to sign up and join us on what we are sure will be the biggest sun safety assembly the UK has ever seen.

Primary Schools can register to take part via the following link:
https://picture-news.co.uk/training-register/sun-safety---live-assembly-with-the-skcin-charity-

Or head to: Picture-news.co.uk

We look forward to seeing you there 

Sun safety isn’t just for hot or sunny days.

Even in the UK, UV exposure can still be present on cooler or cloudy days.

That’s why it’s important to encourage simple sun safety habits during everyday school activities.

😎 IS YOUR CHILD’S PRIMARY SCHOOL ‘SUN SAFE’?

‼ Sun safety is an important aspect of pupil health and wellbeing and is included within statutory health education. Childhood is a key period for developing healthy behaviours, with early-life sun exposure contributing to future skin cancer risk. Schools therefore play an important role in supporting both education and protection in this area.

🎓 Established in 2012 SKCIN’s Sun Safe Schools programme is a trusted national resource that provides a simple and effective way for primary schools to support pupil health and meet curriculum requirements.

👉 It provides:
✅ Over 40 curriculum-linked teaching resources and activities for KS1 and KS2
✅ Whole-school assembly materials
✅ A structured sun protection policy framework
✅ Parent communication tools
✅ A clear accreditation pathway
👉 The programme is underpinned by three core principles:
🛡 Protection – reducing UV exposure within the school environment
🛡 Education – improving knowledge and influencing behaviour
🛡 Collaboration – engaging parents and the wider community
This integrated model enables sun safety to be embedded within routine school practice, rather than delivered as an isolated topic, thereby promoting a whole-school, community-wide approach to sun safety and skin cancer prevention.

👉 Key Benefits:
😎 Free to access
😎 Easy to implement
😎 Minimal additional workload
😎 Fits within existing curriculum
😎 Engaging resources
😎 Accreditation recognition
👉 Why Sun Safe Schools:
💪 Over a decade experience
💪 Proven effectiveness
💪 Thousands of testimonials
💪 Recommended by: PSHE Leads, Dermatologists, Public Health Organisations and Cancer Alliances
🌞 To Start Your Sun Safe Journey, primary schools can register today at: www.sunsafeschools.co.uk

Swipe through to see how schools can stay sun safe 🌞➡️

Simple steps, lifelong protection. Let’s make sun safety part of every school day.

https://www.sunsafeschools.co.uk

💪THIS IS HOW SUN SAFETY EDUCATION WORKS! 👇

💛 Delivering sun safety education through primary education is one of our biggest passions - testament to our 14 years dedication and experience.

💥 Our Sun Safe Schools accreditation programme aligns prevention with education and safeguarding standards – delivering a whole-school, community-wide approach that’s proven to work!

😎 With Spring upon us and primary schools renewing their annual accreditation - here’s an example testimonial recently received from one of our Sun Safe Accredited schools nationwide:

“Taking part in the annual Sun Safe Schools accreditation programme has had a really positive and lasting influence on children’s behaviours around sun safety.

Taking part has significantly strengthened how we engage with parents and the wider school community around sun safety. It has benefited our school in a number of meaningful and long-term ways:

✅ A stronger whole-school culture of wellbeing
✅ Clear policies and consistent practice
✅ Increased pupil awareness and responsibility
✅ Enhanced staff confidence
✅ Improved engagement with families
✅ Positive school reputation

We have found the resources provided by the programme EXTREMELY valuable in supporting our ongoing commitment to:

Protection, Education and Collaboration”.

Stacey Coleman, Head Teacher
Heather Avenue Infant School, Norfolk

👏 AMAZING! Thank you Stacey for sharing your valued feedback and for your schools’ commitment – this is how we drive behavioural change to prevent skin cancer for future generations, reduce the mammoth burden on our NHS – and most importantly, SAVE LIVES! 💛

⁉ Is your child’s primary school ‘Sun Safe’?

👉 Primary schools can register for over 40 FREE, PSHE KS1 & KS2 lesson plans, activities, assemblies and teaching resources, alongside vital tools to develop and implement policy, garner parental support and raise awareness across the wider school community at:

🌞 sunsafeschools.co.uk

Sun safety lessons that stick for life. ☀️
A big thank you to Hallam Fields Junior School for embedding sun safety assemblies every year and helping pupils learn how to protect their skin as they grow.

🧡 Share the gift of knowledge this World Book Day, with your chance to bag a hard copy of ‘George the Sun Safe Superstar!’ 😁

Our wonderful rhyming and illustrated story book has definitely travelled the globe with George - taking his Sun Safe messaging with him! 💪

💛 Written by Skcin and published over 11 years ago now to support our Sun Safe Schools and Sun Safe Nurseries national accreditation programmes - this book is a firm favourite with children, enjoyed by over 1 million nationwide! 🤜

🧐 It tells the story of how George became, known by a very, special name, - how he spread his message near and far, and became a Sun Safe SUPERSTAR! ⭐️

‼ Educating children from a young age to be UV aware and Sun Safe is vital in driving behavioural change and preventing skin cancer for our future generations!

If you’ve got little sunbeams in your world why not enter our competition to win a copy of the book and complementary activity booklet - and share the gift of knowledge this World Book Day.👏☀

👍 To enter, simply comment with a ‘Yes Please!’ and tag in any friends you think would love this for their sunbeams.

‼ The competition will close on the 10th March.
Winners will be drawn at random and notified within five working days.

‼ Important note: Make sure your account settings allow us to message you, otherwise we may not be able to contact you if you win!

👉 Should you miss out on the opportunity, hard copies can be purchased via our online shop at: https://shop.skcin.org/

We’re proud to share this fantastic feedback from Heather Avenue Infant School ☀️💛

The Sun Safe Schools programme is helping to build stronger whole-school sun safety cultures, boost pupil awareness, and engage families in protecting young skin.

Thank you to all our schools making sun safety a priority!



Heather Avenue Infant School

😃 The mornings are lighter, the evenings are drawing out and spring is just around the corner!

If you are feeling the urge to get outdoors and get active - the 100 Miles in May challenge could be for you!

This is your challenge - done your way! Solo, with a friend, with a team - or your four legged friend...🐕

‼ This is -1 month, 1 mission… 100 MILES IN MAY.

💪Your chance to set yourself a challenge and raise vital funds this Skin Cancer Awareness Month in support of two leading charities, as SKCIN and Melanoma Focus join forces for the 6th consecutive year.💛

👉 For further information or to sign up, visit: https://melanomafocus.org/get-involved/challenge-events/100-miles-in-may/

☀ SUNBURN AND MELANOMA‼

☀ Sunburn is an inflammatory reaction to over-exposure to UV radiation. It happens when the amount of Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exceeds what our skin can naturally block by our level of melanin - the pigment that determines the colour of our skin and darkens unprotected sun-exposed skin as a form of protection. The paler your skin, the less melanin you have which is why some people are more prone to burning than others.

☀ Sunburn and its severity isn’t always noticeable while it’s happening, which is why many people get caught out. This is because the skin turns red within 2-6 hours of damage occurring and continues to develop for the next 24 to 72 hours. During this time, the noticeable signs and symptoms develop as the superficial layers of the skin release chemicals that cause our blood vessels to expand and leak fluid causing swelling, pain and redness. Without sun protection, UV radiation penetrates deep into the layers of the skin causing cumulative damage to the skin cells.

‼ Skin cancer can develop when unrepaired damage to the skin cells cause them to grow out-of-control and form malignant tumours.

‼ 5 or more sunburns DOUBLES your risk of melanoma skin cancer ‼

👍 ALWAYS USE SUN PROTECTION MEASURES!

💛 PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE!