'From abuse to bullying, phones are a growing risk to the safety of children'

CALLS TO BAN HANDSETS IN SCHOOLS

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said Shadow Education Secretary Laura Trott. She wrote to Ofsted, calling for reform and saying the watchdog currently treats smartphones as an issue that could affect pupils' behaviour.

But Ms Trott said phones should instead be considered a safeguarding concern, as they can put children in danger. In a letter to schools chief inspector Sir Martyn Oliver she added: "Schools should fail the safeguarding check if smartphones are present for students during the school day."

Calls for a phone ban are growing and 145,000 parents signed up to bar their children from owning a mobile until they are at least 14.

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They are backed by campaigners Smartphone Free Childhood.