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Sun Safety Tips for Early Years and Schools

Sun Safety Tips for Early Years and Schools

With summer just around the corner (fingers crossed for sunshine!), many of us are looking forward to brighter days spent outdoors. But while it’s exciting to enjoy the warmth, it’s also essential to stay sun safe, especially when it comes to protecting young children.

Research shows that overexposure to the sun during childhood can increase the risk of skin cancer later in life. You can read more about this on the Cancer Research UK website. That’s why creating safe, shaded spaces and promoting good sun safety habits are so important in educational settings.

Did You Know?

In the UK, UV radiation is strongest between 11am and 3pm during the summer months. A simple way to judge the sun’s strength is by looking at your shadow; when it’s shorter than you are, UV levels are high, and you’re more likely to burn.

Sun Safety Tips for Schools and Nurseries:

  • Integrate sun safety education into lesson plans.
  • Establish sun safety guidelines for all outdoor activities.
  • Increase shaded areas using natural (trees) or structural solutions.
  • Encourage staff to model sun-safe behaviour.
  • Keep parents informed and involved in supporting sun safety practices.
  • Display reminder signage to reinforce key messages around sun safety.

Why Shade Structures Matter?

If your outdoor areas currently lack adequate shade, they can become uncomfortable—and even unsafe—during the hottest parts of the day. Installing a canopy or shade structure is a practical, long-term solution. Not only does it provide UV protection (our structures offer up to 96% UV coverage), but it also creates a cool, inviting environment where children can safely play and learn outdoors, even in bright sunshine or light rain.

Encouraging children to seek shade between 11am and 3pm can form part of their lifelong sun-safe habits, particularly when reinforced by the example of staff.

Year-Round Outdoor Use

Able Canopies’ structures aren’t just for sunny days. Our durable, high-quality canopies are designed for all-weather use, making outdoor play and learning possible whatever the forecast.

Download our product brochure to view our full selection of canopies and shade solutions.

Able Canopies Ltd. design, manufacture and install canopies and shade structures at schools, nurseries and educational settings to enable year-round Free Flow Outdoor Play and Outdoor Learning.
For more information please contact us

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