School policy on mobile phones September 2026
In line with DFE guidance and government legislation
All schools should develop and implement a policy that creates a mobile phone-free
environment by prohibiting the use of mobile phones and other smart technology with
similar functionality to mobile phones throughout the school day, including during
lessons, the time between lessons, breaktimes and lunchtime.
This will also apply to smart watches that can take photo, video or record sound.
Therefore we share this policy for mobile phones with all parents.
We understand that on rare occasions a child will need a phone before and after school, but for safeguarding rules they are not allowed to use them on site.
- Parents must inform us when the child has brought a phone to school, either on the rare occasion or a longer term need before and after school use. The form will need to be sent to parent pay.
- The phone must be turned off when entering the gate.
- The phone must be taken to the office straight away. They are not allowed to enter the classroom/building with it.
- The child will need to collect it from the office at the end of the day, after school, via the front entrance.
- The phone is not to be switched on until they are out the gate.
If the child is in an afterschool club, they will receive it on the way out the gate from the adults running the club.
These rules must be complied with and failure to follow will result in the device being confiscated and a parent needing to collect it, and possible further action.
To be filled in by the adult and sent in via arbour:
My child needs their phone before and after school because:
I will ensure that it is handed to the office everyday.
I will ensure it is turned off when on site.
I understand that if these rules are not followed it will be confiscated and I will have to collect it, and that further action may be taken.
I will ensure that the phone is collected for the office at the end of the day.
I will ensure that the phones that are brought to school are just these emergencies.
I understand that the school office cannot be held responsible for the safety of the device, and although every care will be taken, no liability will be held.
Next steps:
As a community we will also consult on the safety of each device, ie. If a child has inappropriate access to apps they are too young to use, we reserve the right to not allow the device on site. IE. Child has snap chat installed on device, this is against the school rules and cannot come on site. We will explore this over the remaining time.
