Schools should limit time children stare at screens in class because it is a danger to their health, Tories say

Detailed summary

The Conservatives are supporting guidance drafted by health professionals recommending that children in school should have no screen time.

Published: 16:35 GMT, 14 November 2026 | Updated: 16:40 GMT, 14 November 2026

Schools should limit the time children spend staring at screens in class because it is a danger to their health, the Conservatives have said.

The Conservative Party are supporting guidance drafted by health professionals recommending that children in early years education should have no screen time.

Screen use in primary school should be kept to a minimum and used only when necessary to fulfil the national curriculum's requirements, according to the guidance.

Screen use amongst secondary school pupils should also be limited to two hours a day including outside of school hours.

The guidance added that using computers and tablets in school can lead to physical and developmental problems including eyesight, sleep and musculoskeletal issues.

Screens can even affect speech and language development as well as cause emotional dysregulation.

But since Covid-19 the use of electronic devices including tablets, laptops and interactive whiteboards in the classroom has never been bigger.

Shadow Education Secretary Laura Trott said screens were causing 'real damage' to children after schools embraced the technology for day-to-day activities.

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