Government to review screen time in schools

The government has announced that it will provide “clear, practical guidance” on children’s screen time.

This new guidance will be published in the autumn, following a three-week call for evidence starting today. Views are being sought on pupils’ use of screens in schools - as part of a broader exercise that also looks at the issue beyond schools - to help the government “build a complete picture of children’s digital lives”.

The government said it is “clear that technology is now part of childhood” and that when used correctly, it can be beneficial for learning and for supporting children with special educational needs and disabilities.

The consultation is aimed at gathering evidence that helps to set out how the benefits and risks of screen time vary across age groups.

Guidance on children’s screen time

The government said that its guidance on screen time will “avoid blanket rules”, adding that wider reforms will ensure that technology used in schools is “safe, effective and supports better outcomes for children”.

An independent group of experts, co-chaired by children’s commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza and Russell Viner, professor in adolescent health at UCL, will also have an input into the guidance.

Education secretary Bridget Phillipson said today: “Some will argue the answer is to turn back the clock and return to a world of only pens and paper. I disagree.

“Used well, technology can open up opportunities for children with SEND, personalise support and help more children succeed.”

Ms Phillipson added: “We want every child to benefit from technology’s opportunities without sacrificing the things that matter most: their learning, their wellbeing and their childhood.”

Safety certification for AI

Alongside the announcement about the new guidance, the government has also said that ministers will consult on a new safety certification for “some types of technology used in schools”, including generative AI.

Working with teachers and technology companies, the government plans to develop a new framework to discern “what good AI and technology products look like”, with the aim of producing new AI tools that can provide tutoring to up to 450,000 disadvantaged pupils.

The plan is for the tools to be available to schools from 2027. They will be co-developed by partner schools and up to eight companies.

The government said the process will ensure that schools can trust that the technology meets safety standards, and it will allow teachers to “focus on teaching, not on navigating a complex and fast-moving market”.

Dame Rachel said:  “Children and adults alike want clear, trustworthy information and guidance on screen use alongside action to remove explicit and harmful content and features.

“I am delighted so many parents are already using the under-5s advice [on screen use] to make practical changes. I look forward to working with the group to review the evidence on children’s screen use and to support guidance grounded in the reality of young people’s lives.”

Impact on pupils’ concentration

Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the NAHT school leaders’ union, welcomed the planned guidance, but called for online providers and social media platforms to do more to “minimise children’s exposure to harmful and inaccurate content”.

He said: “School leaders tell us how excessive screen time is at home, including scrolling late at night, affects pupils’ concentration in the classroom.

“The content children see and the interactions they have can also be a concern, with risks ranging from online bullying, AI deepfakes and misinformation to grooming, exploitation and content encouraging self-harm.”

Today’s announcement comes after the government’s consultation on children’s use of digital technology concluded in May.

In its response to that consultation, the Association of School and College Leaders warned that schools should not be left with the “policing burden” around social media, and that tech companies must be “properly held to account” for the negative impact of social media on children.

The new call for evidence closes at the end of Monday 29 June.

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