Florence Melly Community Primary School is committed to providing a calm, safe and supportive learning environment free from unnecessary distractions. Mobile phones and smart devices can disrupt learning, present safeguarding risks, contribute to online harms, and affect pupil wellbeing. The Department for Education (DfE) strongly recommends that all schools operate as mobile‑phone‑free environments by default, unless there is an agreed exception. This policy also reflects Ofsted’s updated inspection framework, which requires inspectors to check whether school mobile phone policies are understood, consistently applied and effective in supporting positive behaviour, attendance and wellbeing.
This policy outlines the appropriate use of mobile phones on our school site. This policy reflects the guidance set out in both the school’s ‘Code of Conduct’, the Safer Recruitment Consortium’s ‘Guidance for Safer Working Practice for Adults who work with Children and Young People in Educational Settings’ (2022) and school’s ‘Acceptable Usage Policy’.
In line with DfE expectations, pupils must not have access to or use a mobile phone or smart device during the school day, including:
- lessons
- transitions between lessons
- assemblies
- breaktimes
- lunchtimes
- after‑school clubs on site
Phones must not be seen, heard, used or accessed at any point during the school day.
For further information, please see our Mobile Phone and Smart Device Policy.
You may also find this ‘What Parents Need to Know’ guide useful.
