Council backs new guidelines for smartphones in school

A local authority has welcomed new government guidelines to help keep smartphones out of schools.

West Sussex County Council (WSCC) councillors Jacquie Russell and Bob Lanzer previously wrote to the secretary of state for education, calling for a smartphone ban in primary schools after raising concerns about their impact on children's learning and wellbeing.

Although the new guidance is not statutory, cabinet members have acknowledged it is a positive step forward to help tackle the issue of smartphones in schools.

"We have a responsibility to ensure children and young people learn in environments that are safe, supportive and help them reach their full potential," Russel said.

The letter from the councillors called for national legislation which would require all primary schools to be smartphone-free during the school day, acknowledging secondary schools require more flexibility.

"We want to help teachers and school staff by ensuring there are clear rules and consistent approaches for managing changes in the school environment, including the use of new technologies," Russel said.

"The new guidelines support those aims."

The Minister for Early Education, Olivia Bailey, highlighted the new government guidelines in her response, saying people could share their views on a range of measures through the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology's new three-month "Growing up in the Online World" consultation.

These measures include determining the right minimum age for children to access social media, and whether the guidance on mobile phones in schools should become legally binding.

Lanzer says the consultation gives the public a "real opportunity" to influence the measures that protect children and young people online.

"I strongly encourage children, young people, parents, teachers, health professionals and everyone across West Sussex to share their views," he said.

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