Mobile Phones - Children

Children’s mobile phones and other personal devices, including smartwatches, should not be brought into school.  We accept that there may be particular circumstances in which a parent wishes their child to have a mobile phone for their own safety, e.g. if they are walking to and from school.  Therefore, only children in Year 5 & 6 who walk to or from school without an adult can bring a mobile phone into school. 

Procedure

1. Mobile phones must be turned off (not placed on silent) as soon as children enter the school site.
2. The phone should be placed in the Team phone box as soon as the child enters the classroom. A member of staff will then place the box in a secure cupboard for the remainder of the school day. 
3. The member of staff dismissing the team will hand out mobile phones when dismissing children in the playground.  The phone should not be turned on until the child has left the school site.
   If the child attends an after-school club, the mobile phone will be handed directly to one of the adults supervising the provision.

Mobile phones brought into school are entirely at pupil’s, parent’s or visitor’s own risk. The school accepts no responsibility for the loss, theft or damage to any phone or hand-held device brought into school. 

All mobile phone use is to be open to scrutiny and the Headteacher is to be able to withdraw or restrict authorisation for use at any time if it is to be deemed necessary. The school reserves the right to search the content of any mobile or handheld devices brought onto the school premises where there is a reasonable suspicion that it may contain undesirable material.

Safe use of personal mobile devices by children

• Children should protect their phone numbers by only giving them to trusted friends and family members.

• Please ensure you speak to your child about the safe and appropriate use of mobile phones and personally-owned devices and make them aware of boundaries and consequences. 

• No images or videos should be taken on mobile phones or personally-owned mobile devices without the prior consent of the person or people concerned. 

• If a child breaches the school policy, then the phone or device will be confiscated and will be held in a secure place in the school office. Mobile phones and devices will be released to parents or carers in accordance with the school confiscation policy.