A call for more Government funding towards sun protection in schools.

A report by Otago University's Cancer Society Social and Behavioural Research Unit shows the majority of schools have a sun protection policy in place.

Senior researcher Bronwyn McNoe says there's been substantial improvements over the past decade. However, she says 25 per cent of schools still don't have adequate shade for kids to eat under.

"Schools do the best they can do with the budgets that they've got, so really I would like to see more funding from the Ministry of Education for shade in schools."

McNoe says shade should be better included in new school plans and priority funding given to existing schools.

The Cancer Society is backing those calls. Advocacy Manager Shayne Nahu says the report is promising but there's still room for improvement.

"Primary schools are doing generally pretty well, we can always support them to do better, especially with shade, and we've got to start thinking about post-primary and high schools and general community when it comes to shade."