Are you thinking it's time for your child to have a smartphone for the new school year? We're asking all parents, especially those of current year 4 or 5 pupils to think again.

 

We've had more issues this year than any other year with pupils using smart phones and/or social media at home. Pupils with smartphones in years 5 and 6 this year have experienced the risks of early smartphone use first-hand, including:

• Online bullying: Apps like WhatsApp, Snapchat, and TikTok have been used as platforms for exclusion, unkind messages, or group pressure.
• Inappropriate content: Even with filters, children can stumble across violent, sexual, or harmful material.
• Addiction and sleep disruption: Screen-shots from parents show some of our pupils using social media at mid-night. The dopamine-driven design of social media and games can lead to screen addiction and poor sleep hygiene.

 

Even our oldest pupils in years 5 and 6 are still developing emotionally, socially, and cognitively. Giving them access to a smartphone too early can expose them to risks they are not yet equipped to manage. Studies also link early smartphone use with increased anxiety, low self-esteem, and depression in young people.

 

Parents asked us to take the lead and support parenting at home. We are proud to support a smartphone-free approach for our pupils. This isn’t about being anti-technology—far from it. We embrace digital learning in the classroom and teach children how to use technology responsibly. But when it comes to personal smartphones and social media apps, the evidence is growing: waiting is worth it.

The UK’s Children’s Commissioner, Dame Rachel de Souza, has called for a national conversation about delaying smartphone ownership until secondary school. Many schools and child psychologists agree: the later, the better.

 

A growing number of parents across the UK are forming “phone-free pledges” to support one another in holding off until Year 7. This collective approach helps reduce peer pressure and creates a safer, more unified environment for children.

 

In school we:

• Do not allow smartphones on school premises.
• Recommend children do not have a smart phone or access to social media apps on any device. If your family has the need to communicate using a mobile, use a 'brick-style' phone capable of voice calling and text messaging only. 
• Teach online safety through our computing and PSHE curriculum.
• Encourage open conversations about digital wellbeing.
• Support families with resources and advice on managing screen time at home.

 

How you can help at home:

• Delay giving your child a smartphone until they are emotionally ready—ideally not before secondary school, better still at least 14 years old to align with age-restrictions on most social media apps.
• Talk regularly with your child about their online experiences.
• Set clear boundaries around screen time and app use.
• Join or start a local parent group to support a phone-free approach.

 

Let’s work together to give our children the gift of a childhood free from digital pressure—a time to play, explore, and grow without the weight of the online world on their shoulders.