“Everyone else has one.” If you’ve got a child in Year 5 or 6, you’ve probably heard it already. Phones and social media are one of the biggest worries parents raise with us – and this year, the rules around them have changed. Here’s what’s actually new, what’s still only planned, and what you can do at home now.

What’s changed in schools

From September 2026, schools in England are expected to be phone-free by default. Government guidance on mobile phones in schools is now statutory, which means schools must take it into account rather than treat it as optional. The House of Commons Library summarises the change like this:

• pupils shouldn’t have access to their phones at any point in the school day – including breaks and lunchtime, not just lessons
• each school decides how it does this, for example lockers, pouches or phones handed in at the start of the day
• schools can make exceptions for individual pupils who need them
• Ofsted now looks at schools’ phone policies on inspection

So if your child’s school has tightened up this term, that’s why. It’s worth reading your school’s own policy, because the practical details – where the phone goes, and what happens if it’s seen – vary from school to school.

What’s planned for social media

On 15 June 2026, the government announced that under-16s will be banned from social media, with the ban expected to be in place from spring 2027. It is likely to also restrict features such as livestreaming and messaging strangers.

It’s important to know that this isn’t in force yet. The government still has to put the detailed rules before Parliament, which it is aiming to do by the end of this year. Until then, most platforms keep their existing minimum age of 13 in their own terms. You can follow progress through the House of Commons Library briefing.

For most primary-age children, nothing changes in practice: they’re already below the age most apps allow. The bigger difference will be for 13–15-year-olds, and for younger siblings who’ll grow up with the new rules as the norm.

Why it matters

You don’t need to read the research to know the pattern: late-night scrolling, group-chat fallouts that carry on after school, and a phone that’s always within reach during homework. The new rules aim to give children longer stretches of the day without that pull.

But rules at school only cover part of the day. Evenings and weekends are where families make the biggest difference.

What you can do at home now

You don’t have to wait for 2027. A few simple habits help most families:

• Agree a home phone plan together. Where phones live in the evening, when they go off, and which apps are allowed. Children follow rules better when they’ve helped make them.
• Keep phones out of bedrooms overnight. A charging spot in the kitchen or hallway protects sleep, which matters for mood, focus and learning.
• Delay rather than ban. If your child doesn’t have a smartphone yet, a basic phone for calls and texts can cover the walk home without the apps.
• Use the controls you already have. Phone settings, app age ratings and your broadband router all let you limit content and screen time. Internet Matters has free step-by-step guides.
• Talk about it, not just at it. Ask what they enjoy online, who they talk to and what worries them. Children are more likely to come to you about a problem if phones aren’t only ever a source of arguments.
• Model it. If our own phones come to the dinner table, theirs will too.

Talking to your child about the changes

Children often hear about rule changes from friends first, sometimes with a few myths attached. Keep it simple and positive:

• explain that the school rules are the same for everyone, so no one is singled out
• frame the social media changes as about keeping children safe, not punishing them
• acknowledge the fear of missing out – it’s real – and agree other ways to stay connected with friends, like meeting up or calling

If your child is anxious, upset by something they’ve seen online, or you’re worried about who they’re talking to, talk to their school. The NSPCC also has free advice for parents.

Quick takeaways

• Schools in England are now expected to be phone-free all day, including breaks.
• An under-16 social media ban is planned from spring 2027, but it isn’t law yet.
• Check your school’s own phone policy for the practical details.
• At home: agree a plan, keep phones out of bedrooms, use parental controls.
• Keep talking – children share more when phones aren’t a battleground.

Find out more

If you’d like to know more about our after-school club and tuition in Longsight, Old Trafford and Oldham, get in touch.