To be annoyed by total phone ban

I wasn't just talking about the bus though. In my first comment where I mentioned it I said about transferring the money to the phone if they need it in an emergency...so it could be for anything. And with a bank card I periodically have to use my pin when I'm normally able to tap.

I'd agree with the ban if there were still pay phones about that could be used to contact home in the event of a transport issue on the way home etc. I remember having to use the one on my route home from school fairly often when the bus didn't turn up. My parent gave my sister and I these chargeback cards that would add the cost of the call to their bill.

Grooming incidences are higher now than ever before thanks to children having unsupervised access to the internet.

Yes, because we definitely didn't do that 20, 30 odd years ago.

You don't need the PIN on a bus, it's tap in and tap out.

There was usually someone you could ring in an emergency.

Even if by some miracle a child manages to find a pay phone, or persuades a shop or a complete stranger to let them use their phone, how many of you actually answer an unknown number - especially at work?
Most will have their child's number set to break through 'do not disturb' , but will obviously know it is their child trying to contact them.

By 1980 72% of households had a phone, by 1990 87% did. So most people did have someone to ring in the 1980s by quite some margin. It was much safer and easier to play out in the 80s as there fewer cars. But children were still vulnerable to abuse.

Can you go above them, and speak to the council. Or get a few other parents and see what they think.School may listen if there are a few of you.Phones are part of life now.There are very few payphones now.

Bank card is fine but if it's rarely used then they might forget the pin.
I don't ever look at my kids locations but in case of an emergency it would be handy.

I don't agree that tracking location stunts their independence because without the ability to do that then some kids wouldn't be given the independence or freedom to do the thing or go to the place by themselves at all.

They might be allowed to take the bus by themselves if they have a smart phone and location on, but if not then their parent finds another way for them to get home.

Or they might be allowed to make their own way from school to an afterschool activity as long as they have a smart phone, but if they didn't then they don't get that independence and it has to be arranged that someone else would take them.

I agree that smart phones and social media can cause problems, but a lot use it responsibly.

Unless you work in the school I don’t think you can really know. There could be a plethora of incidents on a weekly basis created by phone usage that you wouldn’t even know about. I’d take a guess there is, particularly in the toilets or lesson change over.

To answer your last question, unfortunately yes! Social media, games, watching Netflix, listening to music, pictures etc. It isn’t just a phone and many of them are addicted to it. Why would I be making this up? They can still engage of course but with phones removed as a distraction. I’m not saying this is every child of course but there is enough for it to be a real issue.

But he would still have a phone that would be confiscated?!! How would that help/change the situation?

You do not need to hand over your phone. Just ask them for a number to ring.

If I’m honest, I’d also be very wary of assisting someone who needed access to my phone. While I’d like to think I’d help someone in genuine need, I’d be worried about being mugged or scammed sadly.

This is sad but very very true.
While many adults would happily give a stuck child 50p to let them use a phone box, few adults would happily hand over a £££ phone for a child to call home.
I'd be very wary incase they legged it with my phone and I'd have no chance of keeping up with them.

It’s been a rubbish week for travel disruption into London on my route this week. If I can’t use the usual route, I need to check in real time which train/tube lines are running and check connecting bus timetables to find an alternative way to and from home before travelling. I would hate to travel without this ability, and be able to adapt to issues that spring up en route. They are currently too young to travel independently but I’d hate for my DC to run into issues and get stuck on an unfamiliar route without the ability to call me.

If I’m honest, I’d also be very wary of assisting someone who needed access to my phone. While I’d like to think I’d help someone in genuine need, I’d be worried about being mugged or scammed sadly.

OP can you set up alert on the relevant tube line about half hour before school ends. Any disruption, call the school office to pass the message to your DS and share info on how to get home. If enough parents do this, they might need to rethink?

It’s mainly preparation for the greater freedom that being older/ going to high school brings. Learning how to budget your food money, getting yourself from school to after school activity. It’s not walkable / no public transport where we are so he needs collecting if not on the school bus. Park , woods, mates house, I’d rather not spend ages hunting around.

I do get the issue of the use of apps for buses, tube, trains, etc. Presumably, the school don't put stuff on Apps or refer to online stuff if they don't approve the kids having phones

I was more thinking the risk of a box of phones getting nicked. But yes that could have been a pricy moment of daftness!

I totally get the logic of last year primary kids having them.
I'm sure a chunk of young kids having phones is driven by separated parents wanting to contact child without going via other parent. Then you have the kids who stop going to wrap around care - latch key kids. And the rest is peer pressure and generally just learning to be responsible with phones in the relatively safe and cozy primary school.

How about a tiny phone?

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I love the argument that previous generations had phone boxes. Yes, we did, but huge numbers didn't have anyone to ring even if we used one. We didn't have a home telephone until the 80s.
Most of my friends didn't have one. It was a huge novelty to go to the one 'posher' friend and see them use it. 😅
Although as a Brownie with my friends in the 70s, we had coins to 'make a call in an emergency', we didn't really understand who we could ring. 😆
As kids, we roamed all day without being in touch with parents apart from descending like locusts for cakes at times with friends in tow

I just don’t understand how this works in areas where all travel passes are held in apps or similar? Or I know there are times when even if I tap my bank card to pay that I need to authorise the payment in the app? That’s before even starting on the ability to contact parents.
I think handing it in or the pouches mentioned by PP’s makes sense, but the rule itself is ridiculous.

They start walking home on their own in preparation for usually a longer journey to high school.

It works at my DD's school. They aren't so addicted they can't engage in anything else! Do other people's DC really do nothing else but use their phone?!

Why do they need them 'in preparation' at primary?! What is to prepare?

We didn't have a car, ever.