What role do teachers play in Smartphone Free Childhood?

[.style-intro]Teachers and school leaders are on the frontline of childhood. You see the impact of smartphones every single day – on concentration, behaviour and wellbeing. And when you speak, parents listen. When schools shift their culture around smartphones, the ripple effects are huge. Families feel empowered to delay smartphones. Cultural norms start to shift in communities. And ultimately children get more time to learn and grow away from addictive algorithms and constant digital distractions.[.style-intro]

Change beyond the school gate

When a school goes smartphone-free, it doesn't just benefit the classroom. It sends a powerful message to the wider community: that young children don't need smartphones. That learning, play, and friendship matter more than likes and notifications.

In a world where peer pressure is intense, this clarity from schools can be a gamechanger. It gives parents the confidence to hold the line. It makes delaying much easier. And slowly but surely, the culture begins to shift.

Whether it's a formal policy change, supporting parent-led initiatives in your school to grow the Parent Pact, or just sparking conversations at staff meetings or assemblies – your leadership matters.

Small actions, big impact

We know every school is different. Some of you are pioneering full smartphone bans. Others are tweaking your policies, running assemblies, or holding parent talks. All of these steps count.

Some schools are:

• Implementing 'bell to bell' smartphone-free policies
• Allowing only simple phones to be brought to school
• Switching to paper timetables to reduce phone reliance
• Encouraging families to sign our Parent Pact
• Joining with other local schools to create smartphone-free towns or boroughs

There's no one-size-fits-all. But whatever the approach, the principle is the same: schools have the power to lead, and where schools lead, others follow.

Changing culture, together

We get that this can feel like yet another thing on an already impossible list. Teachers are stretched. School leaders are managing a thousand priorities.

That's why we don't ask for perfection or prescribe a strict model. The Smartphone Free Childhood movement is here to support you with whatever steps you feel able to take. Whether it's a policy change, a conversation, or a simple show of support, it all counts.

We know the issue of smartphones and kids is complex, and it's not just a school challenge, it's a cultural one. But schools have the credibility and community reach to lead the way, and we're here to support you in whatever way we can.

There's a role for everyone

Whether you're just starting to question the impact of smartphones, or you've already led a full policy change, you're part of this movement.

Some teachers and school leaders are at the very beginning: gathering insights, talking to staff, and testing the waters with families. Others are vocal champions of smartphone-free schools and childhoods; speaking to the media, sharing stories with other school leaders or working with policymakers to influence broader change.

There's no fixed path. But every voice, every action, every school taking a step forward makes a difference. Wherever you're at, there's a role for you – and a community of other school leaders here to support you.

Join the Smartphone Free Childhood Schools Network

Want to be part of the movement? Join our SFC Schools Network. It's a community of educators who believe children deserve time to thrive free from addictive algorithms — and who are taking steps, big or small, to make that happen in their schools..