Denham Village School strives to keep our children as safe as possible while providing them with vital tools to navigate the world outside the school. Therefore, DVS is a smartphone free school; an approach that supports the ethos of the school.

In line with the latest national guidance and the clear expectations set out by the Education Secretary, Denham Village School is reaffirming its position as a smartphone‑free school.

In addition, the Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, has written to headteachers across the country urging all schools to ensure a consistent, clear approach to removing phones from the school day. In her letter, she explains that it is “not appropriate for phones to be used as calculators, or for research” and highlights the importance of parental support in maintaining phone‑free environments.

Recent government guidance, updated in January 2026, states that “all schools should be mobile phone‑free environments by default; anything other than this should be by exception only”. This guidance emphasises that mobile phones and similar smart devices should not be used at any point during the school day. At Denham Village school we are pleased to say that none of our families have requested for a phone to be brought onto the premises. 

As part of our commitment to pupil wellbeing and safe, distraction‑free learning, I recently attended a meeting with the Smartphone Free Childhood Campaign. This campaign works nationally and locally to support families and schools in reducing smartphone use among children, and we are proud to support the positive changes it is encouraging across the local area. Our involvement helps ensure that Denham Village School remains aligned with best practice and the latest thinking on children’s digital wellbeing.

We understand that the decision to give a child a smartphone is a personal one for families. However, we strongly encourage parents to carefully consider the impact early smartphone use can have on children’s wellbeing, attention, emotional development and exposure to online risks. The national conversation—and strengthened government guidance—reflects growing concern about the role smartphones play in children’s lives, with clear expectations that schools take firm steps to protect learning and wellbeing. We urge families to delay introducing a smartphone until children are older and better equipped to manage the responsibilities and pressures that come with digital access.

Being positive role models

We kindly ask all parents and carers to support this approach by modelling healthy smartphone habits yourselves. Children learn as much from what they see as from what they are told, and observing adults engaging fully and attentively during drop‑off and pick‑up helps reinforce the message that school is a space where we prioritise connection, safety and presence. For this reason, smartphones must not be used on the school playground at drop‑off or pick‑up times. This ensures a calm, welcoming environment for all children and strengthens the shared expectations we promote inside school.

What this means at Denham Village School

• Pupils must not bring smartphones or smart devices into school.
• Staff will ensure the policy is applied consistently, as recommended by the Department for Education.
• The school has procedures in place for visiting adults and staff.

This national direction is also supported through Ofsted, who will now be reviewing how consistently schools apply their mobile phone policies during inspection

Our shared responsibility

We ask for your full support in reinforcing this message with your child. By working together, we can ensure that Denham Village School remains a place where pupils can learn with confidence, without unnecessary digital distractions, and where healthy technology habits are encouraged and modelled.

Thank you for your continued support in helping us provide the very best environment for all our pupils and keeping them happy and safe.