Question reference: S5W-03315
- Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 29 September 2016
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Current status: Answered by John Swinney on 18 October 2016
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on promoting the use of sunscreen in schools.
Answer
Health and wellbeing in Curriculum for Excellence is the responsibility of all school staff and promotes pupils' understanding of their own health and wellbeing.
Schools and local authorities are required to ensure that health promotion is at the heart of a school’s activities by the Schools (Health Promotion and Nutrition) (Scotland) Act 2007. A school is health promoting if it provides activities, environment and facilities which promote physical, social, mental and emotional health and wellbeing of pupils. It is for local authorities and schools, in partnership with the NHS Board and wider school communities, to identify their priorities for learning and health promotion. This may include learning about sun safety and the promotion of the use of sunscreen.
Guidance on the Administration of Medicines in Schools, was published in 2001 to support NHS boards, education authorities and schools to develop policies on managing healthcare needs in schools, including individual healthcare planning. These policies may include the use of sunscreen in schools. The Scottish Government intends to consult on new guidance on supporting the healthcare needs of children and young people in schools later this year.