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NEA major shake-up to mobile phone rules in UK schools is on the way, as the government confirms plans to introduce a new legal ban.
The new plans revealed in Parliament by Minister Olivia Bailey, will also see pupils banned from keeping phones in their pockets or bags during the school day.
But the ban is causing more questions than answers, as headteachers and campaigners warn the plans still ‘lack clarity’, agreeing more detail is urgently needed, including how the ban will work in practice.
Some schools are already looking at solutions, such as lockable phone pouches to block signals.
The change comes as part of an amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, meaning schools will be legally required – not just advised – to block phone access completely.
Previously, most schools allowed silent phones under a ‘not seen, not heard’ rule, but critics argue that simply doesn’t work, with children still messaging in toilets or accessing harmful content.
What do you think? Should phones be banned in schools and is the current ‘not seen, not heard’ policy with phones in bags effective? What’s the situation at your child’s school?
#Netmums #SchoolPhoneBan #MobilePhoneBan #ScreenTime
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