A COUNCIL has advised head teachers to consider cancelling school trips and sports days if the weather is too sunny.

Derby City Council gave warning that pupils risk skin cancer if they spend lengthy amounts of time outside in hot spells. It has advised schools to hold outdoor activities in the morning to avoid the strongest sun or to postpone them until cooler weather arrives.

Parents expressed astonishment at the suggestion that children should be denied the pleasure of a school trip because the weather was too nice. Some accused council officials of adopting a “nanny state” attitude.

The education circular, entitled Sun Awareness, stated: “There is a well-established link between exposure to the sun and skin cancer. Schools will need to adopt appropriate measures to control the risk from exposure to the sun. Try to plan external activities — short-duration trips, external lessons, sports days — for times when the sun is likely to be at its lowest.” It continued: “Give consideration to postponing or cancelling such events in periods of excessive sun and high temperatures.”

The council also advised teachers to keep a supply of spray-on sunscreen available. But it warns them only to spray the cream on and not to make physical contact by rubbing it into pupils’ skin.

Parents questioned the need for the circular. David Broomfield, 42, said: “When I was at school they used to cancel sports day if it was raining. Now they want to cancel it if the sun shines. It’s nice to know the council is thinking about children’s welfare but you’ve got to draw the line somewhere.”

Marion Turner, 41, said: “All these rules have got out of control. Children need to get out and socialise together — it’s part of learning. Yes, we need to protect them and make sure they wear suncream, but this is just going over the top.”

Carol Mee, spokesman for Derby City Council, said: “We trust teachers to use their judgment in individual situations.”

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