Smartphones
Smartphones
Smartphone free childhood
There has been growing awareness of the harmful effects
of smartphones on young people's well-being.
Research has received extensive media coverage and thousands of parents
have joined national campaigns such as Smartphone Free Childhood,
in a bid to delay giving smartphones to their children.
Our school has adopted the Smartphone Free Childhood initiative
and banned Smartphones in school for pupils.
We have taken this decision alongside a group of other local schools.
To take the pressure and expectation away from parents to give smartphones to young children.
We understand that many parents do not want to give their child a smartphone
but feel pressured to do so, due to social pressures and the peer pressure experienced
by our children to have a smartphone in readiness for secondary school.
Increasing numbers of parents are providing their children with a smartphone
in Years 5 and 6, and even younger.
Continual changes in technology mean it is incredibly difficult for parents to monitor
these advances robustly, particularly ensuring children only use age-appropriate apps.
We are experiencing an exponential increase in behaviour fallouts
and more serious concerns relating to children’s use of these apps.
We have also seen an increase in children bringing smartphones to school
who do not walk to/from school independently.
It is important that as the adults, we make the right decisions for children,
based on what children need and not necessarily what they want.
Smartphone free childhood
There has been growing awareness of the harmful effects of smartphones on young people's well-being. Research has received extensive media coverage and thousands of parents have joined national campaigns such as Smartphone Free Childhood, in a bid to delay giving smartphones to their children. Our school has adopted the Smartphone Free Childhood initiative and banned Smartphones in school for pupils. We have taken this decision alongside a group of other local schools.
To take the pressure and expectation away from parents to give smartphones to young children
We understand that many parents do not want to give their child a smartphone but feel pressured to do so, due to social pressures and the peer pressure experienced by our children to have a smartphone in readiness for secondary school. Increasing numbers of parents are providing their children with a smartphone in Years 5 and 6, and even younger. Continual changes in technology mean it is incredibly difficult for parents to monitor these advances robustly, particularly ensuring children only use age-appropriate apps. We are experiencing an exponential increase in behaviour fallouts and more serious concerns relating to children’s use of these apps. We have also seen an increase in children bringing smartphones to school who do not walk to/from school independently.
It is important that as the adults, we make the right decisions for children, based on what children need and not necessarily what they want
To protect children from harm
Research shows that many children show signs of behavioural addiction to smartphone devices. The latest evidence communicates the negative impact that use of smartphones can have for children. This powerful short film gives a good summary of the problem. For a longer watch, this talk from the Psychologist Jonathan Haidt gives a more detailed rundown of the evidence and is a powerful watch and presents how smartphones are experience blockers, distracting children from engaging in the real world. These clips are for adults to watch to inform their discussions with their children.
Research states that the average UK 12-year-old spends 29 hours a week, equivalent to a part-time job, on their smartphone. This leaves little time for the real-world activities and relationships that enable them to learn and practice essential life skills needed for the transition to adulthood. The younger a child receives a smartphone, the worse their mental health. A fifth of UK 3-4 year olds own their own device and 24% of 5-7 year-olds do. Smartphone Free Childhood encourage parents to sign up to the Parent Pledge which encourages parents/carers to delay giving their child a smartphone until they have completed Year 9.
We urge every parent to look at the latest evidence of the negative impact smartphones and social media are having on our children. The website link below provides further information. We have provided a link to a powerful short film which offers a good summary of the problem.
Smartphone free childhood
There has been growing awareness of the harmful effects of smartphones on young people's well-being.
Research has received extensive media coverage and thousands of parents have joined national campaigns
such as Smartphone Free Childhood, in a bid to delay giving smartphones to their children.
Our school has adopted the Smartphone Free Childhood initiative and banned Smartphones in school for pupils.
We have taken this decision alongside a group of other local schools.
To take the pressure and expectation away from parents to give smartphones to young children.
We understand that many parents do not want to give their child a smartphone but feel pressured to do so, due to social pressures
and the peer pressure experienced by our children to have a smartphone in readiness for secondary school.
Increasing numbers of parents are providing their children with a smartphone in Years 5 and 6, and even younger.
Continual changes in technology mean it is incredibly difficult for parents to monitor these advances robustly,
particularly ensuring children only use age-appropriate apps.
We are experiencing an exponential increase in behaviour fallouts and more serious concerns relating to children’s use of these apps.
We have also seen an increase in children bringing smartphones to school who do not walk to/from school independently.
It is important that as the adults, we make the right decisions for children,
based on what children need and not necessarily what they want
To protect children from harm
Research shows that many children show signs of behavioural addiction to smartphone devices.
The latest evidence communicates the negative impact
that use of smartphones can have for children.
This powerful short film gives a good summary of the problem.
For a longer watch, this talk from the Psychologist Jonathan Haidt gives a more detailed rundown
of the evidence and is a powerful watch and presents how smartphones are experience blockers,
distracting children from engaging in the real world.
These clips are for adults to watch to inform their discussions with their children.
Research states that the average UK 12-year-old spends 29 hours a week,
equivalent to a part-time job, on their smartphone.
This leaves little time for the real-world activities and relationships that enable them
to learn and practice essential life skills needed for the transition to adulthood.
The younger a child receives a smartphone, the worse their mental health.
A fifth of UK 3-4 year olds own their own device and 24% of 5-7 year-olds do.
Smartphone Free Childhood encourage parents to sign up to the Parent Pledge
which encourages parents/carers to delay giving their child a smartphone
until they have completed Year 9.
We urge every parent to look at the latest evidence of the negative impact smartphones
and social media are having on our children.
The website link below provides further information.
We have provided a link to a powerful short film which offers a good summary of the problem.
To protect children from harm
Research shows that many children show signs of behavioural addiction to smartphone devices.
The latest evidence communicates the negative impact that use of smartphones can have for children.
This powerful short film gives a good summary of the problem.
For a longer watch, this talk from the Psychologist Jonathan Haidt gives a more detailed rundown of the evidence and is a powerful
watch and presents how smartphones are experience blockers, distracting children from engaging in the real world.
These clips are for adults to watch to inform their discussions with their children.
Research states that the average UK 12-year-old spends 29 hours a week, equivalent to a part-time job, on their smartphone.
This leaves little time for the real-world activities and relationships
that enable them to learn and practice essential life skills needed for the transition to adulthood.
The younger a child receives a smartphone, the worse their mental health.
A fifth of UK 3-4 year olds own their own device and 24% of 5-7 year-olds do.
Smartphone Free Childhood encourage parents to sign up to the Parent Pledge
which encourages parents/carers to delay giving their child a smartphone until they have completed Year 9.
We urge every parent to look at the latest evidence of the negative impact smartphones and social media are having on our children.
The website link below provides further information.
We have provided a link to a powerful short film which offers a good summary of the problem.
School Policy
Children are not allowed to bring a smart phone to our school unless
permission has been given for exceptional circumstances e.g. for medical App purposes.
Our school strongly recommend not giving children a smartphone,
in the same way we are clear that children should not have access to social media platforms
that are not suitable for their age.
Year 5 and 6 children are allowed to walk or cycle to and from school independently
or with friends (we ask you notify the school).
Particularly for these children, some parents currently provide a phone
for their child to make contact with them.
If parents believe their children need access to a phone, an alternative would be an old style/first phone,
that can only receive and make calls or texts and not access the internet or Apps.
These phones are currently permitted in school, provided they are handed into the main office
each morning and collected at home time.
This must be discussed with the school and the permission form and Acceptable Use Agreement
completed before children bring such phones to school.
Any smartphones found to be brought into school will not be handed back to the child,
but will be kept in the school office for parents to collect.
Any old style/first phones found to be in school will be kept in the school office
until their use is permitted and parents have completed the necessary form.
This permission will only be granted inline with the school policy.
Children who are brought to school and collected by an adult
are not allowed to bring any type of phone into school,
which essentially means
no child in Reception to Year 4 will be allowed a phone in school.
If there is an expediential need for any younger child to walk home or require a phone,
this must be discussed with the school.
We appreciate parental support and cooperation with our school approach and policy.
School Policy
Children are not allowed to bring a smart phone to our school unless permission has been given for exceptional circumstances e.g. for medical App purposes.
Our school strongly recommend not giving children a smartphone, in the same way we are clear that children should not have access to social media platforms that are not suitable for their age.
Year 5 and 6 children are allowed to walk or cycle to and from school independently or with friends (we ask you notify the school). Particularly for these children, some parents currently provide a phone for their child to make contact with them. If parents believe their children need access to a phone, an alternative would be an old style/first phone, that can only receive and make calls or texts and not access the internet or Apps. These phones are currently permitted in school, provided they are handed into the main office each morning and collected at home time. This must be discussed with the school and the permission form and Acceptable Use Agreement completed before children bring such phones to school.
Any smartphones found to be brought into school will not be handed back to the child, but will be kept in the school office for parents to collect.
Any old style/first phones found to be in school will be kept in the school office until their use is permitted and parents have completed the necessary form. This permission will only be granted inline with the school policy.
Children who are brought to school and collected by an adult are not allowed to bring any type of phone into school, which essentially means no child in Reception to Year 4 will be allowed a phone in school. If there is an expediential need for any younger child to walk home or require a phone, this must be discussed with the school.
We appreciate parental support and cooperation with our school approach and policy.
Links:
https://www.smartphonefreechildhood.org/
School Policy
Children are not allowed to bring a smart phone to our school
unless permission has been given for exceptional circumstances e.g. for medical App purposes.
Our school strongly recommend not giving children a smartphone, in the same way
we are clear that children should not have access to social media platforms that are not suitable for their age.
Year 5 and 6 children are allowed to walk or cycle to and from school independently or with friends (we ask you notify the school).
Particularly for these children, some parents currently provide a phone for their child to make contact with them.
If parents believe their children need access to a phone, an alternative would be an old style/first phone,
that can only receive and make calls or texts and not access the internet or Apps.
These phones are currently permitted in school,
provided they are handed into the main office each morning and collected at home time.
This must be discussed with the school and the permission form and Acceptable Use Agreement completed
before children bring such phones to school.
Any smartphones found to be brought into school will not be handed back to the child,
but will be kept in the school office for parents to collect.
Any old style/first phones found to be in school will be kept in the school office until their use is permitted
and parents have completed the necessary form.
This permission will only be granted inline with the school policy.
Children who are brought to school and collected by an adult are not allowed to bring any type of phone into school,
which essentially means no child in Reception to Year 4 will be allowed a phone in school.
If there is an expediential need for any younger child to walk home or require a phone, this must be discussed with the school.
We appreciate parental support and cooperation with our school approach and policy.
Notices
Click blue buttons for more information.
Policy
Pupil Mobile Phone Policy
Pupil Mobile Phone Policy
Policy will be added soon.
Appendicies
Permission forms for allowing a pupil to bring a mobile phone to school.
Appendix 1
Appendix 1
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Appendix 2
Appendix 2
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Page last updated 210226