At the October Committee meeting, the members weighed up pro’s and con’s of the mobile phone ban in many High Schools across Suffolk.
The committee agreed that banning phones in schools can significantly impact young carers. Some rely on their devices for various reasons, including:
- Communication: Young carers may need to stay in touch with family members for emergencies or updates about their care responsibilities.
“You have to sneak out of lesson to go to the toilet to use the phone to check on your family”.
“I would hate to feel something had happened at home and I wasn’t aware” - Coordination: Young Carers often use their phones to coordinate schedules, manage appointments, or connect with support services.
- Access to Resources: Phones can provide access to educational resources, online support groups, or information about their caring role.
The committee also looked at the imposed ban from another perspective, acknowledging some young carers welcome the ban because:
- Encourages temporary detachment: Reduces the fear of receiving an emergency message from home. Allows individuals can concentrate on being at school uninterrupted.
“I found I would check my phone regularly out of habit, dreading in case I got a message to say something had happened” - Reduces dependency: Releases the young carer from being the support provider for the person they care for when they are at school by providing them with a valid reason why they cannot provide regular check ins.
- Communication: Focus on peer support and friendship at break times.
“Time to be with friends”
The Committee agreed that if a school implements a phone ban, it’s essential for them to consider the unique needs of young carers. Here are some potential solutions:
- Exemptions: Schools could create exemptions for young carers, allowing them to use phones for specific purposes during the day. The phone could be kept in an agreed place to reduce dependency/frequency of calls.
- Designated Times: Allowing phone use during breaks or designated times can help young carers manage their responsibilities without disrupting the learning environment. The Committee also identified break times were important social opportunities and felt the use of the phone needed to be limited so it didn’t take over the break times.
- Supportive Policies: Schools can develop policies that recognise and acknowledge the voices of Young Carers.
