Smartphone use crackdown in West Yorkshire schools as new term begins
New legislation restricts phone use at school
As children return to school in West Yorkshire, new legislation aimed at curbing smartphone usage during school breaks is now in effect.
While some schools have already implemented bans on phone use, this law makes it official across the board.
It's hoped it'll add another layer to the efforts to manage screen habits.
Matthew Burton, headteacher at Thornhill Community Academy in Dewsbury said: "Every September I see the same thing.
"Children come back after six weeks of relative freedom online, and land with a bump at their school desk. For teachers, the first half of term is spent getting pupils to shake those bad habits and refocus on their studies.
Burton, known for his appearance on Channel 4's Educating Yorkshire, commented on the difficulty pupils face in adjusting after the summer break.
He continued: " This isn’t about demonising parents for letting kids use smart devices; with the right guardrails they can be an invaluable resource.
"But as a parent myself I know that the conversations that make the biggest difference happen at the kitchen table, so I wanted this homework sheet to give parents some genuinely useful tips to give their children the best possible start to the new school year."
Teachers facing concentration challenges
Recent research by EE shows that nine in ten teachers have observed a shortening of concentration spans in recent years, exacerbated by online distractions stemming from late-night scrolling and group chat fallouts.
During the initial weeks after the holiday, re-establishing phone rules and expectations is significantly more challenging.
Parental challenges with screen use
The pressures from screen use are echoed at home, where nearly three quarters of pupils report arguments with their parents over smartphones and social media usage during the summer holidays.
One in six parents are mistakenly under the impression that the ban is about to be enforced, potentially leaving up to one million young people without adequate supervision online.
EE is offering free online safety appointments in hundreds of stores across the UK from September. It'll be with trained individuals on smartphones and social media on how to set up parental controls, and review app setting.