Apparently even more British children have smartphones than I’d have guessed.

Ofcom data says 97% of children have one by the age of 12

The idea of introducing some official guidance on a “ban” (severity left up to discretion) on kids using them in schools seems like a reasonable idea to me, even whilst already many schools do this.

I’d love to see a life-lesson on “how to use your phone in a way that doesn’t negatively impact your life” introduced too. If anyone actually knows how to do that.

@braindump That lesson is exactly what we should have, alongside a robust set of lessons for lots of "How To Live Life" ideas. Then, on top of that support for people who wish to supplement that in their communities.

The local shopkeeper was telling me that the children who pop in for sweets do not know how to add up their money and instead rely on their phones. It's embarrassing that even one child would be in this position in this country, let alone the degree to which parents — and all of us who claim to care about community — are directly neglecting their duty of care in this way.