Screen Time: Impacts on education and wellbeing

Education Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 8 Sep 2023 Closed: 27 May 2024 Parliament page
The Education Committee will assess how screentime can support and impact children’s development, wellbeing and educational outcomes. The Committee will also examine the effectiveness of digital safety education in schools and the ways in which schools and parents can be better supported to manage children’s screen usage. The inquiry will … Read more
17 Recommendations
15 Conclusions
1 Report
4 Oral sessions
4 Events
Activity timeline 10 events
12 Mar
2024
Oral evidence
12 Mar
2024
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 15, Palace of Westminster
20 Feb
2024
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 15, Palace of Westminster
9 Jan
2024
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 15, Palace of Westminster
21 Nov
2023
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 15, Palace of Westminster
Oral evidence sessions 4 sessions
Panel 1; Panel 2
Charlotte Briscall · Department for Education Kate Dixon · Department for Education Mark Bunting · Ofcom Rt Hon Damian Hinds MP · Department for Education Yih-Choung Teh · Ofcom
Screen time: impacts on education and wellbeing
Dame Rachel de Souza · Office of the Children's Commissioner for England David Wright · The UK Safer Internet Centre (UKSIC) Ian Critchley · National Police Chiefs’ Council Jessica Edwards · Barnardo’s
Screen time: impacts on education and wellbeing
Darren Northcott · NASUWT The Teachers' Union Elizabeth Anderson · Learning Foundation and the Digital Poverty Alliance John McGee · BBC Education Jonathan Baggaley · PSHE Association The Baroness Kidron OBE · 5Rights Foundation
Screen time: impacts on education and wellbeing
Carolyn Bunting MBE · Internet Matters Dr Amy Orben · University of Cambridge Dr Bernadka Dubicka · Hull and York Medical School, University of York Rafe Clayton · University of Leeds Vicki Shotbolt · Parent Zone
Recommendations & Conclusions
3 results
26 Recommendation Not Addressed
Fourth Report - Screen time: impac…
Promote children's phones with mobile companies, restricting internet access and app downloads
The next Government should work with mobile phone companies and network operators to promote children’s phones, a class of phone which can be used for contact and GPS location but not access to the internet or downloading apps.
Government Response
The government acknowledges the market is considering 'children's phones' and is monitoring developments, but states its current focus is on the effective implementation of the Online Safety Act to ensure children's online safety regardless of device.
Department for Education
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31 Recommendation Not Addressed
Fourth Report - Screen time: impac…
Ensure government-provided education devices receive regular software updates for security and reduced e-waste
Since the pandemic, the Government has provided over 1.35 million laptops and tablets to schools, trusts, local authorities and further education providers for disadvantaged children and young people. Edtech has more malware than all other sectors combined, and therefore it … Read more
Government Response
The government details its strategy to support schools with technology, including published digital and technology standards and a "get help buying for schools" service. However, it does not explicitly commit to ensuring that the devices it provided or other EdTech devices receive regular software updates and renewals to maintain security and reduce e-waste.
Department for Education
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32 Recommendation Not Addressed
Fourth Report - Screen time: impac…
Set out funding, renewal, and disposal strategies for government-provided school digital devices.
Digital devices provided to schools by the Government must be maintained and kept secure through regular renewals and software updates. The Department for Education must set out a funding and renewal strategy for device management alongside a strategy for disposing … Read more
Government Response
The government's response details existing support for schools, including digital standards, procurement services, and past device provision during the pandemic. However, it does not commit to setting out a new specific DfE funding and renewal strategy for device management or a strategy for disposing of digital hardware, as requested.
Department for Education
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Government Response AI assessment · 32 of 17 classified

Total 17 recs + 15 conclusions