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Published: December 2, 2024

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The topic of mobile phone use in schools has sparked significant debate among educators, students, parents, and carers. In addition to these differing viewpoints, schools must navigate the complexities of implementing effective policies that balance educational objectives with the practical realities of modern technology. The debate highlights the need for policies that not only address the potential risks associated with mobile phone use but also consider how to integrate technology in a way that supports students’ educational and personal development.

To assist schools in assessing their mobile phone policies, we have developed ‘SMART‘ guidance. This resource offers practical steps for engaging community stakeholders and enforcing policies, ensuring that expectations and recommendations are clearly conveyed to the entire school community.

Set Clear Expectations

Review and communicate specific guidelines for phone use within the school environment to ensure both students and parents understand the rules, clearly outlining:

  • The school’s rules on mobile phone use during school hours, whether that is a standalone policy or embedded within a range of policies.
  • The consequences if the rules are not followed.
  • Alternative measures in place for students with specific needs or special circumstances.

Remember that each child has unique needs when it comes to phone use. Consider their individual requirements within the context of your school’s community, focusing on their safety, learning, and health. For example:

  • If they travel to and from school, they may need access to a phone for safety reasons.
  • If they have a medical or mental health condition, they may need access to a phone to monitor themselves or access resources.
  • If they have a learning disability or special needs, they may need access to their phone for support tools to aid their learning.
  • If they are a young carer, they may need instant access to their mobile phone to maintain contact with those they are responsible for.

Effective communication and engagement with the entire school community is essential for fostering a positive attitude and ensuring that students, parents and carers clearly understand what is expected as new guidance is introduced and implemented.

SMART Guidance for Parents and Carers

Make It Positive

Help students take ownership of your school’s mobile phone policy by emphasising the importance and benefits of responsible technology use. When students are meaningfully involved in decision making, they are more likely to embrace the changes. This may be through the use of surveys, focus groups or invitations for feedback.

Key benefits include:

  • Focusing on their studies and engaging with their learning.
  • Connecting with their peers during school hours.
  • Learning how to safely and responsibly use their mobile device.
  • Improving their overall health and wellbeing, especially mental health.

Share our student learning resource and accompanying video with parents, carers and teachers to help facilitate these conversations both in school and at home.

SMART Guidance for Children and Young People

SMART Guidance for Children and Young People

Advocate Appropriate Use

Promoting responsible mobile phone use is essential for a positive school culture. To achieve this, integrate best practices for phone use into school routines and model these behaviours at all levels. Encourage teachers and staff to lead by example by minimising personal device use during school hours and demonstrating positive and appropriate use of technology.

Additionally, create a supportive environment where students feel comfortable discussing their phone use and online experiences. Provide resources and training for both staff and students to ensure everyone understands and practices responsible phone use. This approach will help build trust and ensure that phones aren’t demonised.

Review and Revise Policies

Review and update phone use policies in alignment with government guidance, ensuring they meet the needs of your school community. Engage with parents, carers, and students during the policy development process, focusing on how these policies can help educate and empower students to use their phones responsibly.

You might consider suggesting alternatives, such as using basic mobile phones (commonly referred to as ‘brick phones’) instead of smartphones, for parents or carers who feel their child needs a mobile phone for emergency purposes.

Teach Digital Literacy

Implementing digital literacy programs is crucial for equipping students, teachers, parents and carers with the skills needed for safer and more responsible technology use. Develop engaging and educational content that covers essential online safety topics. These programs should be interactive and tailored to different age groups to ensure that all members of the school community can effectively navigate the digital landscape.

Educating and empowering children and young people to navigate the online world safely is crucial, as technology is now an integral part of their lives. Through Safer Schools’ partnership with Zurich Municipal, eligible schools can access the Safer Schools App for free*, which provides valuable information and expert resources about the online world.

By integrating digital literacy into your curriculum and ongoing professional development, you can ensure that students, teachers and parents are equipped with the latest tools and knowledge to navigate online challenges safely and responsibly.

The digital world is 24/7; it’s outside and inside of the school gates, so you need a service that does the same. Safer Schools is a digital library of age-appropriate safeguarding resources that you can check out anytime, from your phone to your computer to your classroom.

Register for Safer Schools here!

Further Resources

SMART Guidance for Parents and Carers

SMART Guidance for CYP – Resource

SMART Guidance for CYP – Video

The Online Safety Show – What You Need to Know about the Phone Ban Debate

Guidance for Your Region

England

Department for Education: Mobile Phones in Schools Guidance

Scotland

Mobile Phones: Guidance for Scotland’s Schools

Wales

Bring Your Own Device Guidance

Isle of Man

The Department of education plans to introduce a centralised mobile phone policy in Island schools in the 2024 Autumn term. The Education Minister, Daphne Caine, has said it will be an ‘off and away’ policy, whereby students can keep their device on them but switched off and ‘out of sight’ for the school day. This plan will also extend to primary schools.

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2024-11-04T10:27:50+00:00
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