
Scottish Youth Parliament members lead online safety campaign
The group, which includes members of the Scottish Youth Parliament (MSYPs), will lead the Amplifying Child Safety Online Project as 'digital safety ambassadors'.
The drive is a partnership between the Scottish Youth Parliament and the NSPCC and aims to put children's views and experiences at the centre of the conversation.
Catriona Daw (16), MSYP for Falkirk East, said: 'It's important that young people are involved in making the internet a safer place.
'The only people who can truly know the dangers of the internet that face young people are me and my peers as we experience it firsthand.
'Leaving children and young people out of the discussion would lead to important issues being overlooked.'
The NSPCC's online safety participation group, Voice of Online Youth, and young people aged 11 to 18 from across Scotland will also take part in insight gathering and workshops to co-design resources.
Evan Rae (16), MSYP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith, said: 'I am most concerned about content such as disinformation, violence and pornography that are being pushed into young people's feeds by the algorithms of big social media platforms.'
The NSPCC believes technology is a valuable space for young people to learn, play, socialise, and explore their interests, but safety is becoming increasingly challenging.
Joanna Barrett, NSPCC associate head of policy for the devolved nations, said: 'We believe children have a right to be safe online and their voices should be heard on the issues that matter most to them.
'It is crucial that we hear from children and young people so we can identify what support they need to keep them safe and confident online.
'Young people bring unique perspectives and valuable insights. By listening to them and championing their voices.
'We can support decision makers and those with responsibility for child safety online to keep young people at the heart of solutions to preventing online harm.'
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The Independent
05-06-2025
- The Independent
Charities welcome free school meals change but warn ‘more is needed'
Charities have welcomed the expansion of free school meals as a 'first step' towards easing child poverty, but urged the Government to axe the two-child benefit cap as economists warned the scope of the change would be limited. Campaigners and school leaders said the change, which will see all pupils in families that claim universal credit in England made eligible for the scheme, will relieve pressure on household budgets. But organisations including the NSPCC, the National Children's Bureau and Action for Children insisted the abolition of the two-child welfare rule was still needed. Meanwhile, the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) warned the expansion would 'not see anything like 100,000 children lifted out of poverty next year' and that lifting the cap 'would have a lower cost per child lifted out of poverty.' The cap, which was introduced in 2017, restricts child tax credit and universal credit to two children in most households. Hundreds of thousands more pupils across the country will be able to access means-tested free school meals when the provision is extended from September 2026, the Department for Education (DfE) announced on Thursday. Currently, households in England on universal credit must earn below £7,400 a year (after tax and not including benefits) to qualify for free school meals. But the Government has announced that every pupil whose household is on universal credit will have a new entitlement to free school lunches from the start of the 2026/27 academic year. The move comes after campaigners and education leaders have called for free school meals to be extended to all children whose families are on universal credit to ease pressures on young people living in poverty. Nearly 2.1 million pupils – almost one in four of all pupils (24.6%) – in England were eligible for free school meals in January 2024. The DfE has said more than half a million more children are expected to benefit from a free meal every school day as a result of the expansion, and nearly £500 will be put back into parents' pockets every year. It suggested that the expansion will lift 100,000 children across England completely out of poverty. Chris Sherwood, chief executive of the NSPCC, said the move was a 'welcome step in the right direction' and 'a lifeline for many families who are struggling to survive in this cost-of-living crisis'. But he added: 'By removing the two-child limit, the government could lift over 350,000 children out of poverty, which, if coupled with an ambitious child poverty strategy later in the year, would help tackle the crisis children are facing.' Action for Children chief executive Paul Carberry said the changes would make a 'big difference' but 'by itself, it can't deliver the bold, ambitious reduction in child poverty that the Prime Minister has promised'. Sir Keir Starmer has indicated he is considering scrapping the two-child limit amid the prospect of a backbench rebellion over the policy, but has declined to give further details ahead of the publication of the Government's flagship child poverty strategy in the autumn. Mr Carberry said: 'This must set out a comprehensive and funded plan to fix our inadequate social security system, beginning with the abolition of the cruel two-child limit and benefit cap.' Anna Feuchtwang, chief executive of the National Children's Bureau, said the expansion should be a 'down payment' on further investment in addressing child poverty in the autumn. She said it was 'crucial' that the Government reconsiders its position on the two-child limit for the autumn. Anna Taylor, executive director of The Food Foundation, called it a 'landmark day for children'. She said: 'The expansion of free school meals is supported by the overwhelming majority of people in the UK – regardless of how they vote. 'We all know that feeding our children well, whatever their background is not rocket science, it is about priorities and today the government put children first.' The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) said that in the long term, the change would mean free lunches for about 1.7 million additional children, but that in the short run, the announcement would benefit 'considerably fewer pupils'. Christine Farquharson, associate director at the think tank, said: 'Transitional protections introduced in 2018 have substantially increased the number of children receiving free school meals today – so in the short run, today's announcement will both cost considerably less (around £250 million a year) and benefit considerably fewer pupils (the government's estimate is 500,000 children). 'This also means that today's announcement will not see anything like 100,000 children lifted out of poverty next year.' She added: 'There is some evidence too that school meals can have benefits for children's health and attainment. 'But if the government's main interest is to reduce child poverty, there are other measures – such as lifting the two-child limit – that would have a lower cost per child lifted out of poverty.'


North Wales Chronicle
16-05-2025
- North Wales Chronicle
Senedd debate considers impact of smartphone-free schools
Carolyn Thomas, who chairs the petitions committee, led a debate in the Senedd on May 14 amid a growing chorus of calls for restrictions on mobile phone use in schools. The committee launched an inquiry in response to a 3,369-name petition submitted by Zena Blackwell, publishing a report with recommendations for the Welsh Government. Ms Thomas told the Senedd her committee found no clear consensus, urging Welsh ministers to introduce national guidance rather than an outright ban. Pointing out that 83% of children have a smartphone by year six, she said: 'Classroom teachers… told us phones cause all sorts of problems in schools, we heard some quite shocking evidence on this.' But she raised evidence from the children's commissioner, NSPCC, Barnardo's and Parents Voices in Wales, which all expressed concerns about a ban. The Labour politician, who represents North Wales, pointed to evidence from Diabetes UK that smartphones help children manage their condition throughout the schoolday. Carolyn Thomas MS (Image: Chris Haines, ICNN Senedd Reporter) Ms Thomas added that exemptions could be required for young carers and disabled or neurodivergent children who may similarly rely on their smartphones. 'We all struggle with the addictive nature of phones,' she said. 'There's the strong argument that children are that much more vulnerable and need greater protection. 'But they also need to learn how to safely function in a digital world. Legislators, and society in general, are still struggling to find the right answers.' She said: 'The evidence base is still quite limited but growing all the time. As a committee, we felt strongly that 'something has to be done' but actions need to be evidence-based.' Calling for guidance to ensure a consistent approach across the country, she emphasised the importance of parental engagement and being mindful of teachers' workloads. Natasha Asghar, the Conservatives' shadow education secretary, similarly said: 'We cannot continue with the… status quo – something needs to give.' But Ms Asghar went further than the committee in supporting an outright ban on smartphones, save for exceptional circumstances such as medical needs. She told the Senedd: 'Mobile phones can indeed be a major distraction, taking our students' focus away from learning, which is exactly what schools are for.' Ms Asghar pointed to research showing pupils in schools with an effective ban achieved GCSE results up to two grades higher compared to children in schools with laxer policies. Criticising plans to let Welsh schools set their own restrictions, she said: 'The evidence shows that simply doesn't work, with one in eight pupils saying schools never confiscate phones even when rules forbidding them are indeed ignored.' With more and more countries 'waking up to the damage phones are doing in our schools", Ms Asghar called for a non-ambiguous approach to ensure consistency. She said: 'I believe a ban, which sees phones locked up at the start of each school day in lockers and retrieved at the end of the day, is the best approach. It's the right thing for teachers, it's the right thing for children and it's the right thing for parents.' Cefin Campbell, Plaid Cymru's shadow education secretary, suggested national guidance with local implementation by schools would be the best way ahead. Mr Campbell said: 'We have to strike the right balance… between not harming learners – and there is evidence, of course, that that's happening – and, on the other hand, preparing them for the technical world we live in today.' John Griffiths emphasised the importance of considering screen use at home as well as in school, with children from 'alarmingly' young ages spending a lot of time on smartphones. The Labour Senedd member, who represents Newport East, expressed concerns about psychologists being drafted in to make mobile phone games as addictive as possible. 'I see evidence of that in my own family, as I'm sure just about everyone else does,' he said. Rhys ab Owen, an independent member of the petitions committee, agreed phones can be more of a problem at home with children staying up late at night. 'Very often that's when the bullying happens, at home rather than at school,' he said. Backing an outright ban, the Tories' Gareth Davies raised restrictions introduced by France from 2018 with a 'digital pause' seeing pupils hand over phones at the start of the day. Lynne Neagle set out the Welsh Government's formal response to the report, accepting three of the committee's five recommendations in full and the other two in principle. Wales' education secretary said: 'Like the committee, I recognise that an outright national ban does not allow the space for schools to manage the needs of their learners. 'Our approach has always been to give schools autonomy to make decisions on the use of mobile phones… however, I also recognise the need for additional support.' Ms Neagle told the Senedd an expert group will examine mobile phone use, developing national guidance and exemptions alongside the wider school community.

Leader Live
16-05-2025
- Leader Live
Senedd debate considers impact of smartphone-free schools
Carolyn Thomas, who chairs the petitions committee, led a debate in the Senedd on May 14 amid a growing chorus of calls for restrictions on mobile phone use in schools. The committee launched an inquiry in response to a 3,369-name petition submitted by Zena Blackwell, publishing a report with recommendations for the Welsh Government. Ms Thomas told the Senedd her committee found no clear consensus, urging Welsh ministers to introduce national guidance rather than an outright ban. Pointing out that 83% of children have a smartphone by year six, she said: 'Classroom teachers… told us phones cause all sorts of problems in schools, we heard some quite shocking evidence on this.' 'Addictive' But she raised evidence from the children's commissioner, NSPCC, Barnardo's and Parents Voices in Wales, which all expressed concerns about a ban. The Labour politician, who represents North Wales, pointed to evidence from Diabetes UK that smartphones help children manage their condition throughout the schoolday. Ms Thomas added that exemptions could be required for young carers and disabled or neurodivergent children who may similarly rely on their smartphones. 'We all struggle with the addictive nature of phones,' she said. 'There's the strong argument that children are that much more vulnerable and need greater protection. 'But they also need to learn how to safely function in a digital world. Legislators, and society in general, are still struggling to find the right answers.' 'Something needs to give' She said: 'The evidence base is still quite limited but growing all the time. As a committee, we felt strongly that 'something has to be done' but actions need to be evidence-based.' Calling for guidance to ensure a consistent approach across the country, she emphasised the importance of parental engagement and being mindful of teachers' workloads. Natasha Asghar, the Conservatives' shadow education secretary, similarly said: 'We cannot continue with the… status quo – something needs to give.' But Ms Asghar went further than the committee in supporting an outright ban on smartphones, save for exceptional circumstances such as medical needs. She told the Senedd: 'Mobile phones can indeed be a major distraction, taking our students' focus away from learning, which is exactly what schools are for.' 'Damage' Ms Asghar pointed to research showing pupils in schools with an effective ban achieved GCSE results up to two grades higher compared to children in schools with laxer policies. Criticising plans to let Welsh schools set their own restrictions, she said: 'The evidence shows that simply doesn't work, with one in eight pupils saying schools never confiscate phones even when rules forbidding them are indeed ignored.' With more and more countries 'waking up to the damage phones are doing in our schools", Ms Asghar called for a non-ambiguous approach to ensure consistency. She said: 'I believe a ban, which sees phones locked up at the start of each school day in lockers and retrieved at the end of the day, is the best approach. It's the right thing for teachers, it's the right thing for children and it's the right thing for parents.' TOP STORIES TODAY Cefin Campbell, Plaid Cymru's shadow education secretary, suggested national guidance with local implementation by schools would be the best way ahead. 'Right balance' Mr Campbell said: 'We have to strike the right balance… between not harming learners – and there is evidence, of course, that that's happening – and, on the other hand, preparing them for the technical world we live in today.' John Griffiths emphasised the importance of considering screen use at home as well as in school, with children from 'alarmingly' young ages spending a lot of time on smartphones. The Labour Senedd member, who represents Newport East, expressed concerns about psychologists being drafted in to make mobile phone games as addictive as possible. 'I see evidence of that in my own family, as I'm sure just about everyone else does,' he said. Rhys ab Owen, an independent member of the petitions committee, agreed phones can be more of a problem at home with children staying up late at night. 'Very often that's when the bullying happens, at home rather than at school,' he said. 'Autonomy' Backing an outright ban, the Tories' Gareth Davies raised restrictions introduced by France from 2018 with a 'digital pause' seeing pupils hand over phones at the start of the day. Lynne Neagle set out the Welsh Government's formal response to the report, accepting three of the committee's five recommendations in full and the other two in principle. Wales' education secretary said: 'Like the committee, I recognise that an outright national ban does not allow the space for schools to manage the needs of their learners. 'Our approach has always been to give schools autonomy to make decisions on the use of mobile phones… however, I also recognise the need for additional support.' Ms Neagle told the Senedd an expert group will examine mobile phone use, developing national guidance and exemptions alongside the wider school community.