Member

If the Government agree that that is not what children and teachers need, they need to put it clearly in their guidance that it is unacceptable. I appreciate they have taken out the example of using bags and jackets—whatever it is—to put a phone in. They just need to say, in words of one syllable so that schools understand it, that this is not an acceptable policy. There is much evidence that the presence of a smartphone in one’s bag or pocket is a distraction. The temptation to turn it on when going to the lavatory, when out of sight or when in the playground is almost irresistible—indeed, it happens to adults too. Given that that is the case, putting flawed guidance on a statutory footing achieves nothing.