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Cliff Lane is a smartphone free school
We feel strongly that while smartphones (phones with internet access) can be a very helpful piece of technology for adults, they can equally expose children to a number of negative risks.
Smartphones:
Are highly addictive, with the lasting effects on young and developing brains being similar to that of gambling.
Have been linked to poor mental health, depression and low self-esteem, especially in young teenagers.
Expose children to harmful content including pornography, grooming, bullying and material that is not age appropriate.
Reduce attention spans – they are changing the way children’s brains develop and fundamentally affecting their ability to concentrate.
Deprive children of their childhood. Time spent on a device reduces time spent playing, interacting and developing vital social skills
At Cliff Lane, children in year 5 and 6 have to give their phones in as soon as they come into school in the morning. Any child younger than this is not allowed to bring a mobile phone to school. It is also our policy that no child uses their phone once on the school site. If children are seen using their phones, either before school or straight after school and they are on the school site (outside the front of the building or on the playground), they will be asked to put their phones in their bags and ensure that they are out of site and not being used.
Based on current research, we encourage all parents to delay giving children a smartphone until they reach the age of 14, opting instead for a text/call phone alternative if necessary. There are some great books and websites about this if you want to find out more.
‘The Anxious Generation - How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness’ by Jonathan Haidt
https://smartphonefreechildhood.co.uk/
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