'Does your child really need a smartphone?' LCC contact parents of Y6 children over devices
"We are encouraging families to consider when their child really needs a smartphone, so we can help young people develop healthy habits, build strong friendships and focus on what matters during these important years of their development.”
Families of children transitioning from primary to secondary school this summer are being contacted by Lancashire County Council over smartphones.
The Post understands that a letter is being issued to parents, urging them to consider whether their child needs a smartphone - which has the capacity to link them to social media sites and the wider internet - before the age of 14.
The move comes after the Government announced a ban on children under 16 accessing platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, will come into effect in spring 2027. Local campaigners - including the Smartphone Free Childhood movement in Lancashire - heavily pushed for this legislation.
County Councillor Matthew Salter, cabinet member for Education and Skills, said: "According to DfE statutory guidance, all schools should be Smartphone free, and we are working to support schools, parents and carers to deliver this.
"We are encouraging families to consider when their child really needs a smartphone, so we can help young people develop healthy habits, build strong friendships and focus on what matters during these important years of their development.
"This is about supporting children and families to make informed choices, helping young people have a better relationship with digital devices and have a great experience at school in these crucial years of their lives."