AN OXFORD primary school is defying local authority guidance by allowing staff to apply sun lotion to pupils.

Oxfordshire County Council has advised headteachers that pupils should put cream on themselves while on school premises.

The guidance was issued because of concerns that teachers who did apply cream could be vulnerable over child protection issues.

But the headteacher of West Oxford Primary School in Ferry Hinksey Road, Oxford, has sent a letter to parents informing them that lunchtime supervisors will apply sun screen in the middle of the day unless parents objected.

Julie St Clair Hoare said: "We sent a letter to parents on Monday urging them to make sure pupils come to school with sun cream applied and with a hat. We are also asking parents to send in a small tube and a lunchtime supervisor will help children apply the cream if they need help.

"We took this decision in response to parental concerns, and parents have to give their consent for this to happen, but so far no one has objected.

"We have changed our sports day to the morning, so it is cooler for the pupils I think we need to wake up to changes to the environment created by global warming."

Ms St Clair Hoare added: "Lunchtime supervisors are happy to have this as part of their role, and we think this is the right approach, because the amount of time children spend in the sun can build up."

Lorraine Brockall, of Aldbarton Drive, Barton, whose grandson Kane, four, attends Bayards Hill Primary School in Waynflete Road, said she wanted staff there to follow the example of West Oxford Primary School and apply sun cream to pupils.

She said: "Kane is very fair-skinned and a few weeks ago he came home a bit burnt.

"All staff are vetted, so I don't think there should be any concerns about child protection.

"It really wipes Kane out when he gets too much sun, and I think the council should change its policy on this."

Jackie Teh, a nurse at The Manor Preparatory School in Faringdon Road, Abingdon, which is attended by more than 300 boys and girls aged three to 11, said staff would top up applications of sun screen for pupils up to the age of five.

"Pupils aged five to 11 apply their own sun cream in the classroom under the supervision of the teacher," she added.

John Mitchell, county council education spokesman, said: "The main thing is that children are protected from the sun, and if schools are confident that child protection is not an issue when sun cream is being applied, and get consent from parents, then that is fine.

"This is all about schools acting in the children's best interests."