Can schools ban parents using phones on site?

[shadowfiesta]

Primary school have updated their mobile use policy and all staff / parents / visitors cannot use mobile phones on site. I get some of it - can't take photos of kids, staff shouldn't get distracted when teaching etc but we're not even allowed to take a call or check emails in that dreadful wait for the doors to open at the end of the day.....god, we're all going to have to talk to each other aren't we??!!

(Mine are still in ks1 so have to go on site to collect. Ks2 parents can wait on the road so they can probably do what they like!)

Why can't they? It's school property

Doesn't matter, you aren't school property, and they can't actually do anything about it. What does it matter to anyone else if I take a call while I'm waiting in the school yard? It doesn't.

what about people who are on call?

People on call will hear their phone ring if it's in their bag or pocket.

They can walk away from the gate and answer it.

Bizarre. Do it anyway.

I'm a supply teacher and my agency often texts me during the school day and asks me to call back at break/lunch/after school, to arrange work for other days.

Any school that didn't allow me to use my phone would risk me losing work. I would probably not go back to that school again.

As pps have said, I resent being treated like a child. I can be trusted not to make or answer calls whilst in charge of a class, or to take photos of children.

It's sad this rule is being enforced but I can understand why.

We've been told that a ban is enforced for safeguarding. Phones mustn't be used although not sure how they will enforce it. Phones must be on silent at all times and not out at all when on school property.

No looking at phones while waiting, no taking calls, emergency or otherwise and no glancing at the screen.

I sort of thought 'it doesn't really bother me' as I'm not there that often but I was collecting from after school club and went to check the time on my phone to sign the kids out and went and had to search the room for a clock!

Just to confirm it's parents, staff and visitors.

Is it really the end of the world? Pay attention to your kids for five minutes. If you arrive early, wait offsite.

My phone's a disability aid, I could do with the money a lawsuit would bring.

What a twattish attitude.

Crochet belle - urm no one said it was the end of the world...

I was more curious as to whether it's something they can enforce.

Collect from playground was a 5 minute walk to offsite in my case.
I'd often have to wait 20 mins for my ds.

I'm on my phone/listening to music because I have issues with crowds due to my asd and it distracts me. Wonder how far that would legally count as a disability aid...?

I am not usually glued to my phone , i didnt get a mobile until ds2 started school

But having more three children in three different schools i would be unhappy if i couldn't even check if it was my child

Not life and death but i was once contacted by a hysterical child and had to run out of work (my child...not just a random one)

So i would do it, but wouldn't be happy about it

Is it really the end of the world? Pay attention to your kids for five minutes. If you arrive early, wait offsite.

That's really not the point. What if you are a medic on call? Besides, it is ludicrous for members of teaching staff not to be able to use their mobile phone during non-contact time.

Errr...........no, I cant see how they can enforce it at all and I would completely disregard it.

"Wonder how far that would legally count as a disability aid...?"

Probably not far as it's not essential. There are alternatives.

What if you are a medic on call?

I would imagine if there were not alternatives, such as a pager (do the ES still use them?), special circumstances would be permitted.

People have had children for years. People have had children in different schools for years. People have had to be away from those children for years. How on earth do people cope at work, or in another non-phone environment (e.g. flight, hospital) without 24/7 contact with a mobile?

What a poor message some parents send out to their kids . I see why schools have discipline problems and issues with phone use when parents cant possibly not use a phone for 5 minutes.

I would love to see a headteacher asking a parent to leave and be told their kid will be escorted to the gate to meet said parent

I can't see how they can enforce it with parents collecting children but I actually fully agree with it

There's lots of reasons people may check a phone, swapping phone numbers, checking a calender for making arrangements etc. Phones are very useful tools for organising life, not just taking photos or using social media. It's pretty patronising to have a blanket ban when they have many practical functions that don't compromise safeguarding.

I visited a primary school to do a transition visit last term (I'm a secondary teacher) and was told by a jobsworth in the office to hand in my phone because of "safeguarding". I was really annoyed because firstly I had photo ID from my school so they knew who I was, secondly, taking a phone call is NOT a safeguarding issue and thirdly, I'm a professional. The woman was extremely officious in her behaviour so I made a complaint to the class teacher, who agreed how stupid it was.

I use a smartphone, but it is not only a phone. I have a number of apps on it that I use in conjunction with my work: a metronome, a tuning app, lots of examples of different music etc as well as my timetable. In my secondary school, staff are asked to use their professional judgment regarding phones. I would NEVER take a photo of a child on my phone - I made an audio recording of a student playing a piece who was stressing about her tone quality, but I deleted it as soon as we listened back to it. Having this on my phone means I can carry less kit around - my instrument is very cumbersome. I would not be able to teach as effectively in that setting as I could not use my preferred methods and ultimately the kids would lose out.

I think blanket bans are not necessary and I would not hesitate to answer a call if it was work-related or concerned the health of my children/family. In the situation of the OP, I would write in airing my concerns and suggest that they review the policies of other schools to come up with some sort of sensible compromise.

If you're a medic on call what happens if you get a call and you've just got your kids? Sound like a BS excuse to me. If your on call you should be available not doing childcare runs or else it's not that urgent.

Hooray, I want to cheer for this school I hope others follow suit.

Is it any wonder kids are glued to devices when parents can't leave their phone alone for what, 15 minutes?

Why does it send a poor message? My phone went away as soon as my ds's class came out.