CE, children & smartphones

phone pouches

July 2026

Council urges parents to delay giving children smartphones as long as possible 

Cheshire East Council is urging parents to think carefully before giving their child a smartphone, as families across the borough prepare for the transition from primary to secondary school this summer.

The council has shared a letter with schools to distribute to parents of Year 5 and 6 pupils, encouraging them to delay giving children smartphones for as long as possible. The letter highlights increasing evidence about the potential impact of smartphone use on children’s wellbeing, learning and overall development.

The call follows action taken by the council and schools across the borough to support children's wellbeing and create more focused learning environments. The council is encouraging families to wait until at least the age of 14 before giving their child a smartphone, and to opt for a basic mobile phone that allows calls and texts without internet access, social media or apps where communication is needed.

In February, the council's former children and families committee backed proposals to reinforce Department for Education guidance on restricting mobile phone use during the school day. The committee also supported Cheshire Police and Crime Commissioner Dan Price's ambition for Cheshire to become the first county in the country where every secondary school adopts lockable phone pouches by September 2026.

All state secondary schools in Cheshire East have now committed to becoming smartphone-free from September 2026.

While smartphones can offer benefits, research increasingly links early and excessive smartphone use to a range of challenges for children and young people, including:

• Poorer mental health and wellbeing

• Reduced sleep quality and concentration

• Increased exposure to cyberbullying

• Access to harmful or inappropriate content

• Less time spent being physically active, socialising and developing real-world friendships

Schools across Cheshire East are reporting a growing number of issues that begin online and spill over into the classroom, affecting learning, behaviour and relationships between pupils.

Councillor Emma Gilman, Cheshire East Council's cabinet member for education and SEND said: "Children only get one childhood. By encouraging families to delay smartphone ownership, we can help young people spend more time building confidence, developing social skills and enjoying face-to-face friendships without the pressures that can come with constant online connectivity.

"The commitment shown by our schools to becoming smartphone-free is a positive step that will help create calmer, more focused learning environments. It is about giving children the freedom to learn, grow and thrive while protecting their mental health and wellbeing."

Dan Price, Cheshire Police and Crime Commissioner, said: “The online world is far less safe than the real world. Predators are using it to connect with children and here in Cheshire it’s getting worse. That’s why I’m helping all our mainstream high schools use lockable phone pouches during the school day. For a long time, people have felt that this is too hard to fix, but here in Cheshire, we’re proud of the fact that we’re leading the way.”

The move comes amid growing national concern about the impact of smartphones and social media on children and young people. New statutory government guidance on mobile phones in schools came into force on 29 June, strengthening previous expectations that schools should be smartphone-free environments by default. The guidance is now underpinned by the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act, meaning headteachers are legally required to follow it. The changes reflect wider efforts to improve children’s wellbeing, safety and learning, both in and outside the classroom.

Sapna Sanghvi, the Greater Manchester Local Lead for Smartphone Free Childhood said: “Parents are often told that giving their child a smartphone before secondary school is simply part of growing up, but it doesn’t have to be. A basic ‘brick’ phone allows children to stay in touch while giving them more time to develop confidence, resilience and real-world friendships without the pressure of constant online access.

"We are delighted to see Cheshire East showing leadership on this issue. We hope this momentum will continue by encouraging more families to choose basic phones and more schools to adopt ‘no smartphones on site’ policies so that children are safe from online harms on the journey to and from school, as well as during the school day.”