Staff Mobile Phone Safety and Safeguarding Guidance with SchoolPro Safety

“How does your school ensure the fastest and most effective emergency responses whilst maintaining a safeguarding-first approach?”

Even in school, you might think it is the most natural thing to carry your mobile phone with you at all time. But our sponsor SchoolPro Safety provides here some guidance on mobile phone safety and safeguarding in school.

School Staff Mobile Phones | Balancing Safety and Safeguarding
In recent months, whilst delivering first aid courses across various educational settings, I have noticed a growing trend of policies prohibiting staff from carrying personal mobile phones during the school day. This is particularly common in Early Years settings, although it exists across all age ranges.
 
Policies restricting mobile phones often stem from safeguarding concerns. Misuse, distractions, or breaches of privacy are valid reasons for such rules. However, a blanket ban can conflict with the nuanced demands of emergency preparedness, sometimes even undermining a school’s first aid protocols.
 
The Case for Mobile Access
Every setting is unique, but consider a large primary school on a summer day, where children are playing at the far end of a field, 100 meters from the main building. One child experiences their first allergic reaction to a wasp sting and begins struggling to breathe. This child is not known to have severe allergies, so they do not have an auto-injector available. In such a case, the response is clear: do not move the child, call 999, and follow the call handler’s instructions.
 
The most effective way to do this is for the nearest staff member to use their mobile phone, placing the call on speaker to follow the call handler’s instructions whilst assisting the child. A policy restricting mobile phone access could result in critical delays, potentially costing lives. While such incidents are rare, high-profile cases like the death of five-year-old Benedict Blythe in 2021 remind us of the stakes.
 
The Problem with Personal Mobile Phones
Staff personal mobile phones undeniably pose challenges in schools. More trivially, the buzzing and beeping of notifications can distract staff, disrupting teaching and learning. While they might be used professionally to set reminders of a break duty or the need to set homework, misuse, such as checking social media is common. More concerning are cases where personal phones have been used to photograph or film students inappropriately, posing severe safeguarding risks that can be as harmful as a dangerous accident involving first aid. 

Possible Solutions

​1. Two–way radios: These are used affectively for lots of reasons in schools; but, in my opinion are not a good solution to this problem. Communication takes a long time and is often unclear. It is almost impossible to pass on messages to a 999 call handler effectively.
 
2. Work-Provided Devices: Issuing staff with work-only mobile phones or basic devices ensures consistent access and protects privacy. These can be included in grab bags with first aid kits, particularly for remote or high-risk areas. Though costly, this option provides a comprehensive solution.
 
3. Senior Leadership Teams (SLT): Equipping SLT members with work devices positions them as first responders, reducing the need for all staff to carry phones.
 
4. Policy Flexibility: Adopting “off and away” mobile phone policies for staff, similar to those used for students, could balance safety and accountability. Exceptions can be made for emergencies or specific roles.
 
5. Training and Accountability: Instead of outright bans, my favoured approach is schools training staff on responsible phone use. Clear guidelines and regular oversight can ensure phones are accessible without compromising safeguarding.
 
Getting the Balance Right
The UK government has encouraged mobile-free environments in schools to reduce distractions and improve behaviour. Engaging staff and the broader school community in creating and revising policies can build trust and foster a safety-conscious culture. Balancing emergency readiness with safeguarding concerns requires ongoing review and adaptation to fit each school’s unique context.

Ultimately, the question remains...
How does your school ensure the fastest and most effective emergency responses whilst maintaining a safeguarding-first approach? Exploring solutions like these could help bridge the gap between competing priorities.

By Jamie Bartlam, Director SchoolPro Safety (SchoolPro TLC Ltd)

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