Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government how they consult health professionals on the health implications for pupils of the use of screen-based devices and educational technology applications in schools in England; and which committees, working groups or advisory bodies they maintain for that purpose.

The department works closely with the Department of Health and Social Care, including on regular policy and evidence exchanges on the implications of screen-based devices and education technology for pupils. This includes drawing on medical and child development expertise, and wider evidence on children’s health, wellbeing and learning.

The department established expert arrangements to inform its work on screen use, including an expert group co-chaired by the Children’s Commissioner for England and Professor Russell Viner to support evidence-based guidance for children and families.

The department has also launched a Call for Evidence on screen use for children aged 5 to 18 and exploring how to support schools and families to make informed, evidence-based decisions about technology use.

Schools are expected to use technology in a safe, proportionate and purposeful way, alongside statutory safeguarding duties, filtering and monitoring requirements, and statutory guidance that schools should be mobile phone-free environments by default.