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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

Is it normal for school to prohibit using mobiles?

34 replies

LittleCloudy · 28/06/2019 10:50

I am collecting my younger child from school. my other one attending another school but is walking home alone ( about 2 km). Theey finish same time so usually I am on my mobile with my older one ( she is little scared to walk alone but I can't be 2 places at same time) while collecting younger one. recently the school told me I'm not allowed using phone while waiting outside school and while waiting for my child. It's taking 10 minutes (as the teachers talking to parents etc). Can they really prohibit me from using it?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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sneakypinky · 28/06/2019 10:51

It's often a safeguarding measure to stop perverts taking photos or filming children on the sly posing as a parent.

Hadalifeonce · 28/06/2019 10:52

I thought you were going to talk about students.
Did you ask them why? That would have been my immediate response.

PencereTencere · 28/06/2019 10:54

I don't think that's an unreasonable request.

I'm a teacher and the number of parents who talk on their phone while collecting their child is astounding. It's safer (as a PP mentioned) and much more polite for phones not to be used on the premises.

Eminybob · 28/06/2019 10:54

Can you get a hands free head set so you can use your phone stealthily?

Original poster

LittleCloudy · 28/06/2019 11:03

Thank you so much for answering. I was really surprised first when they started complaining about phone. Especially that I was using it for one year now lol.

OP posts:

IncrediblySadToo · 28/06/2019 11:04

Do they have a problem with a lot of the parents not engaging with the kids? I guess in some areas a lot of parents will be yapping on their phones, handing the kids some crap sugary snack and energy drink whilst otherwise ignoring them... so maybe it’s part of a plan to get the parents to engage with their children when they collect them?

Maybe if you explain you’re talking to your other child who is a bit nervous they’ll get off your back?

I. Can see why you do it, but I do actually think it’s a bit rude to be yapping in a phone while collecting a child.

On the other hand I think it’s quite rude if the school to tell you to get off your phone- they do sometimes forget you’re an adult not one if the children!

So all depends I suppose...

floramcdougal · 28/06/2019 11:09

We have a no phone rule due to a child who is protected. Completely fine with it- cant see any reason you would need to be on a phone whilst collecting a child. If it’s an emergency you can step outside the school gate or call them back.

Pearlfish · 28/06/2019 11:14

My DC’s primary has a no phone rule as soon as you walk through the gates. As others have said it’s primarily for safeguarding reasons.

DtPeabodysLoosePants · 28/06/2019 11:20

How old is the child who needs to talk to you after school each day? What would happen if you were st work or in an appointment or otherwise engaged? I think the issue here is the other child's anxiety and what you can do to allieve this.

Original poster

LittleCloudy · 28/06/2019 13:07

the other child is 11 years old. and her school in like in place out of nowhere. Almost all kids taking school buses but it's not going any place near to our house so she has to take 2 public bus to get home. Not to mention we moved here one year ago from Canada so everything is new for us.

OP posts:

Original poster

LittleCloudy · 28/06/2019 13:11

@ IncrediblySadToo not engaging with the kids? can you engage with one child when you not sure if your other one is safe and not lost somewhere? That's why I need my mobile to engage with child

OP posts:

BreconBeBuggered · 28/06/2019 13:15

There may be a new need for safeguarding measures requiring this new ruling, as pps have suggested. Or it may just be a new policy to encourage parents to engage with their children when they get out of school. I often see teachers worried about certain children being taken away after school without so much as a hello from a phone-focused parent.

viques · 28/06/2019 13:27

I understand that your other child is nervous, but to be honest, a child walking alone and speaking on a phone is a prime target for someone to snatch the phone, or be mean to her in other ways. You need to teach your child to be aware of her surroundings, to be watching for traffic etc, not focussed on a phone and unaware of what is going on around her. Teach your child to walk confidently, to look confident and in control.

Sorry, I know that is not what you were asking about
I am not saying she shouldn't have a mobile but to be in constant contact with you is not a good thing IMO for reasons above. Could she perhaps call you when she sets off, then text or make a call at agreed points on the way home.

I'm setting off now.

I'm at the bus stop out side the chip shop.

Have crossed over Safe Street.

On the bench outside the co-op.

viques · 28/06/2019 13:29

Sorry, just seen she is on a bus. Same principles apply, text when on bus I. Text when on bus 2.

DtPeabodysLoosePants · 28/06/2019 13:32

Is the 11 year old at secondary school? 2 buses seems a lot are you out of the catchment area? Surely a text will suffice from her after school? Has this been going on since they started at the school? Do they have friends they travel with? My then 11 year old, now 12, likes to text and phone me after school just to say hello but I tell her that I can't keep answering my phone as I'm picking up her siblings. Your child's anxiety and maybe yours needs addressing here. The school are being a bit OTT saying no phones but there's no need to be having a conversation in the phone at pick up time. My younger dc would not feel very important if I was on the phone to their sister and the staff would rightly think it's not good either.

Sirzy · 28/06/2019 13:32

Not using a phone on school grounds is basic safeguarding practise in most schools.

I don’t think constantly talking to your daughter is going to help her and is more likely to put her at risk.

titchy · 28/06/2019 13:52

Not normal for school to say you can't use your phone outside ime.

However you are putting your older one FAR more at risk talking to her when she's walking home. You really do need to sort that out asap. It makes her much more vulnerable than if she isn't on her phone. She needs to develop some awareness of her surroundings urgenlty.

eddiemairswife · 28/06/2019 17:04

You are not a child, so the teacher should not be treating you like one. Use your phone as you think necessary.

BackforGood · 28/06/2019 23:46

I'm not sure why an 11 yr old is needing a running conversation from her mother after a year of doing this journey
By being on the phone she is missing the opportunity to chat with school mates as they come out of school, and she is making herself much more vulnerable to having her phone stolen by having it out and not being aware of what is going on around her.

IncrediblySadToo · 29/06/2019 00:28

Try READING ALL ofvmy post before getting arsey with me?!

Did you stop reading there? Or did you read the next bit??

Maybe if you explain you’re talking to your other child who is a bit nervous they’ll get off your back?

DtPeabodysLoosePants · 29/06/2019 09:33

can you engage with one child when you not sure if your other one is safe and not lost somewhere? That's why I need my mobile to engage with child

Why on earth would they be lost after a year of doing the journey?? I'm really not understanding this at all. If your eldest is in this much need of reassurance then surely you wouldn't send them to a school that requires two public buses to get too

Ambydex · 29/06/2019 17:01

I think it's fine for them to insist on this. Ours doesn't allow dogs on site or buggies indoors. Similar sort of thing really. My DD's at secondary and phones need to be switched off on site for both teachers and pupils. I think you need to respect the rules and find another solution.

How old is your youngest - old enough to walk to the school gate alone? All the dog owners gather at our school gate and the DC from Y4 upwards just meet them there. It seems a bit bonkers your DD is capable of catching 2 buses alone but actually needs you in her ear constantly. WhatsApp or text message conversation with you having 10 mins off to collect your son should do after a year, surely?

CouldBeOuting · 29/06/2019 20:30

We don’t allow phones to be used anywhere on our site. People are welcome to use their phones outside if the school gates but if we see them in use on site we ask for them to be put away.

ClownTent · 29/06/2019 20:35

When I was a teacher (not too long ago) we had an issue at pick up time where it was really difficult to catch parents’ eyes because the majority of them were on their phones, not necessarily talking but staring st them. I worked in an infants school and we released the children one at a time when we could see their parents and catch eye contact so we knew they knew their child was on their way. That’s quite hard to do when said parent is staring at their phone!

I’d hazard a guess at it being safeguarding to prevent photos of children being taken, but also to avoid a child slipping past a parent as well.

Redpostbox · 30/06/2019 16:52

There may be a child there who has escaped domestic violence or been removed/fostered against the parents wishes.
An inadvertent photo posted of the child at the school may allow them to be found. Maybe it's something like that?

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