An Oxford primary school is leading the way in protecting children from the harmful rays of the sun - by allowing staff to top up pupils' sunscreen at lunchtime.

Oxfordshire County Council has issued guidance to headteachers which says parents should put sun screen on pupils before they attend school but pupils have to apply it themselves once they are on school premises.

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

Julie St Clair Hoare, headteacher of the school attended by 120 pupils aged three to 11, said she had taken the decision not to adhere to local authority guidance because global warming was creating increasing concerns about skin cancer.

She added: "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 have 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. 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 Alderbarton 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 burned.

"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."

Keith Ponsford, headteacher of Bayards Hill School, said he would be happy to discuss the issue with parents but added that staff were advised not to apply sunscreen to pupils in case it made them vulnerable over child protection issues.

He added: "Parents have asked for shaded areas to be provided in the playground, and we have ordered shades as a result."

John Mitchell, county council education spokesman, said schools would apply common sense regarding sun safety.

"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."