Tories back school screen limits, citing risks to children’s health

The Conservatives are backing health professionals’ guidance to restrict children’s screen use in schools, arguing that excessive exposure can harm health, development and learning. Shadow Education Secretary Laura Trott said pupils may spend the school day on screens and then continue using them at home, and called for greater use of books, paper and textbooks.

The proposed guidance recommends no screen time in early years, minimal use in primary school only where needed for the national curriculum, and a two-hour daily limit for secondary pupils, including time outside school. Health Professionals for Safer Screens reported that one million children use devices in every lesson and 2.6 million use screens daily for learning. Labour said it would issue screen-time guidance for all children in the new year, building on advice already produced for under-fives.