APPROACH TO MOBILE PHONES AND DEVICES
General
General
Infant School technology advice (Ages 3 to 7)
Junior School technology advice (Ages 7 to 11)
Senior School – General technology advice
Middle School mobile phone advice (Years 7 to 9)
Upper School technology advice (Years 10 to 11)
Sixth Form technology advice (Years 12 to 13)
School Trip Rules Regarding Mobile Phones and Devices
Online
Overview
This strategy outlines the school’s recommendations and advice on mobile phone and device usage across Infant, Junior, and Senior School, with a focus on supporting parents and fostering responsible and healthy technology use at home. Our aim is to strike a balance between embracing technological benefts and minimizing potential risks.
This strategy has been thoughtfully developed by leaders in Pastoral Care, Safeguarding, Teaching and Learning, and Technology teams from across the school. In shaping our approach, we have drawn on both UK and international best practices to ensure it refects the most up-to-date guidance.
One particularly helpful resource is the MOH Singapore Guidance on Screen Use in Children (18 Jan 2025), which we encourage all parents to read. It ofers practical advice and insights into healthy screen use at diferent ages.
You can access it here: MOH Singapore Guidance on Screen Use in Children (18 Jan 2025).pdf
A Partnership Between School and Parents
We believe that developing healthy mobile phone habits is a partnership between the school, parents, and students. While the school will provide education, guidance, and recommendations on responsible technology use, parents play a crucial role in shaping their child’s relationship with technology at home. The discussions and agreements parents establish with their child around phone usage are essential in developing lifelong healthy habits.
We understand that these conversations can be challenging, as children naturally push for more freedom and access. However, helping them navigate these boundaries responsibly will ultimately empower them to make informed choices. The school will ofer support, parent workshops, and guidance, but consistent parental involvement and communication at home are key to ensuring the success of this strategy.
General Technology Advice
Raising children in a digital world is a complex and constantly evolving challenge. The convenience and connectivity ofered by mobile phones and devices can also introduce issues related to overuse, online pressure, and screen-related conficts at home. Parents are encouraged to approach device use in the same way they would approach diet, sleep, and physical activity—with thoughtful routines, consistent expectations, and open communication.
While every family dynamic is diferent, the following general advice can support parents in developing healthy and sustainable technology habits at home:
• Delay as long as possible: There is no rush to introduce smartphones or personal devices. Delaying access helps protect childhood and encourages real-world interactions.
• Set clear boundaries early: Children beneft from structure. Establish rules around screen time, content, and device-free zones early, and revisit them regularly.
• Be a digital role model: Children absorb the behaviours they observe. Model the habits you want your child to develop—limit scrolling, prioritise presence, and avoid screens at mealtimes or in bed.
• Keep technology in shared spaces: Avoid isolated device use. Having phones and tablets in communal areas fosters openness and reduces secretive online behaviour.
• Create and uphold a Family Online Agreement: This helps establish mutual expectations and encourages accountability. Make it a collaborative conversation and review it regularly.
• Stay informed: Keep up to date with the apps, platforms, and trends your child may encounter. Resources like the Tanglin Online Safety Hub and ParentWise workshops can support this.
• Avoid contacting your child during the school day via mobile phones/devices: Contacting your child during the school day can disrupt their learning, undermine their independence, and interfere with school routines. It also places them at risk of breaking school rules by using their phone during lesson times, which may lead to disciplinary consequences. If urgent communication is needed, the school ofce should always be the frst point of contact. This approach supports your child in staying focused, avoiding unnecessary anxiety, and developing confdence in managing their day independently.
• Prioritise connection over control: Ultimately, healthy phone use is rooted in a strong parent-child relationship. Maintaining trust and communication is more efective than surveillance alone.
General Advice on Talking to Your Child using Age
Open, age-appropriate conversations about technology help children feel supported, informed, and confdent in navigating the digital world. Whether you are setting a new rule, discussing online risks, or responding to a problem, how you talk to your child matters.
The approach you take should evolve with your child’s age and maturity. Below are tailored strategies for diferent developmental stages:
i.ADVICE ON SPEAKING TO YOUR INFANT CHILD (AGES 3–7)
• Keep it simple: Use language that’s easy to understand. For example, “We turn screens of because our brains need rest.”
• Focus on feelings: Talk about how screen time makes them feel—excited, tired, angry—and link it to healthy habits.
• Set routines: Explain that devices are part of a daily routine— just like meals or bedtime—not something used whenever they want.
• Talk during activities: Use storytime or play to introduce ideas about balance, patience, and taking turns with screens.
• Celebrate screen-free time: Praise creativity, outdoor play, and interactions that don’t involve devices.
ii.ADVICE ON SPEAKING TO YOUR JUNIOR CHILD (AGES 7–11)
• Use real-life examples: Link conversations to situations they understand—e.g., “When we saw someone not paying attention because of their phone…”
• Encourage questions: Let your child ask why rules exist. Be open and non-judgemental in your responses.
• Involve them in rule-making: Children are more likely to follow rules they’ve helped create. Ask what they think is fair.
• Discuss risks gently: Talk about the idea that “not everything online is true or kind,” using child-friendly examples.
• Keep conversations ongoing: Make digital talk part of daily life rather than a one-of ‘serious talk’.
iii.ADVICE ON SPEAKING TO YOUR MIDDLE SCHOOL CHILD (AGES 11-14)
• Talk about trust: Explain that phone privileges come with trust and responsibility—and how both can grow over time.
• Be curious, not confrontational: Ask what they like about certain apps or games before setting limits. This shows you respect their perspective.
• Discuss peer pressure: Talk about how they can handle pressure to join group chats or post online, and what it means to walk away from negativity.
• Frame boundaries positively: Instead of “You can’t use your phone,” try, “Let’s make sure your screen use fts with your goals and wellbeing.”
• Normalise help-seeking: Let them know it’s okay to come to you (or another trusted adult) if something online makes them uncomfortable.
iv.ADVICE ON SPEAKING TO YOUR UPPER SCHOOL CHILD (AGES 14–16)
• Shift towards partnership: Frame conversations around shared responsibility and wellbeing rather than control.
• Explore mental health impacts: Openly discuss how social media or notifcations might cause stress, distraction, or comparison, and brainstorm coping strategies together.
• Talk about digital identity: Encourage them to consider what they post and how they want to be perceived now—and in the future.
• Support autonomy with accountability: Allow more freedom where earned, but maintain agreed-upon consequences for misuse.
• Stay connected without hovering: Show interest without spying—“How was your online world today?” can open doors.
v.ADVICE ON SPEAKING TO YOUR SIXTH FORM CHILD (AGES 16-18)
• Focus on adult life preparation: Link technology conversations to university, career, and independence. Discuss digital etiquette, scams, professional boundaries, and healthy routines.
• Use refective questions: Ask “What helps you focus best during exam prep?” or “How do you feel after scrolling at night?” to promote self-awareness.
• Respect their independence: Rather than imposing rules, engage them in co-creating strategies for balance and wellbeing.
• Reinforce self-regulation: Help them set their own goals for screen time, detoxes, or social media use—and check in on how it’s going.
• Be a consistent sounding board: Even as they grow more independent, they still beneft from a trusted adult who listens without judgement.
Infant School Technology Advice
(Ages 3 to 7)
School Recommendations
• The school strongly advises that children in the Infant School do not own mobile phones or devices.
• If parents allow their child access to a mobile phone or device, they should ensure full parental supervision and restrict usage to age-appropriate, educational content.
• The school provides educational sessions to parents on suitable technology use.
Advice for Parents
• Avoid Ownership: Delay giving young children access to their own devices. The early introduction of personal devices can reduce the time children spend on creative play and physical activities essential for development.
• Supervised Use: Always supervise screen time to ensure that content is educational, age-appropriate, and noncompulsive.
• Screen Time Limits: Set clear daily limits for screen time (for example, no more than 30 minutes for young children) to prevent overstimulation and poor sleep patterns.
• Device-Free Zones: Create device-free family spaces, especially during meals, bedtime routines, and playtime. This encourages communication and bonding.
• Model Behaviour: Children mimic adults, so demonstrate healthy device habits by limiting your own phone use around them.
In School Learning
• Recognise how technology afects feelings.
• Balance digital with non-digital activities.
• Be a principled user (THINK: True, Helpful, Inspiring, Necessary, Kind).
Junior School Technology Advice
(Ages 7 to 11)
School Recommendations
• Smartphones are discouraged.
• The school discourages parents from purchasing smartphones for children.
• If a parent has signed a waiver for their child to leave school unaccompanied or is a 5pm bus user (Year 5 onwards only), we recommend that parents have a way to contact their children whilst in transit.
• Parents are encouraged to consider basic phones with limited functionality.
• If you are a parent of a child who has a smart phone we encourage you to set up their phone as a “family member”, so that they can track the phone’s whereabouts at all times.
Rationale for Delaying
Smartphone Ownership
• Cognitive and Emotional Development: Smartphones provide access to content and interactions that children may not be developmentally ready to handle.
• Online Safety Risks: Younger children are more susceptible to online grooming, harmful content, and peer pressure.
• Social Skills: Excessive screen time can hinder the development of essential interpersonal and communication skills.
• Academic Focus: The presence of smartphones can reduce focus and engagement in learning activities, leading to lower academic outcomes.
• Physical Health Concerns: Increased screen time is linked to a sedentary lifestyle, which can impact children’s physical health, including vision and posture issues.
• Emotional Regulation: Children may fnd it harder to manage their emotions if they become reliant on instant gratifcation from digital interactions.
• Peer Pressure and Social Comparisons: Younger children are less equipped to handle the pressures and comparisons that come with social media, which can negatively impact self-esteem.
Junior School Technology Advice
(Ages 7 to 11)
Advice for Parents
• Basic Phones First: Start with a simple phone that allows only calls and texts, fostering responsible communication habits.
• No Phones in Bedrooms: Charging phones in a central area overnight helps maintain healthy sleep patterns and prevents unsupervised nighttime usage.
• Device-Free Zones: Implement strict device-free rules during family meals and homework times to enhance focus and social bonding.
• Screen-Free Bedtime: Establish a device shut-of time at least one hour before bed to improve sleep quality.
• Parental Controls: Enable content flters and usage tracking on devices to block inappropriate content and limit screen time.
• Open Conversations: Regularly discuss the pros and cons of phone ownership, responsible online behaviour, and digital etiquette.
• Digital Ground Rules: Create an Online Family Agreement outlining expectations and consequences for misuse.
• Gradual Trust: Reward responsible behaviour with increased device privileges over time.
In School Learning
• Digital citizenship, privacy, and critical thinking.
• Recognising scams and cyberbullying.
• Emotional literacy through Lifeskills curriculum.
Navigating Social Media
Social media platforms typically require users to be 13+. We recommend parents respect these age limits. Even supervised use carries risks. Explore safer alternatives and monitor digital behaviour closely.
Senior School
While it is not essential for students to have a mobile phone at school, we recognise that many families choose for their child to carry one for communication and safety reasons, particularly when travelling to and from school. Parents should feel reassured that not all students—especially in the Middle School—own a phone, and having one is not a prerequisite for social connection or academic success at Tanglin.
Students are permitted to bring phones to school but are expected to store them securely in their lockers during the school day. Phones must not be used during lessons, break times, or lunchtime unless specifcally authorised by a member of staf.
To support positive habits, responsible use of mobile devices is addressed through the Lifeskills curriculum, school assemblies, and ongoing pastoral guidance. Our approach aims to foster thoughtful, respectful, and balanced use of technology in line with our core values.
Please note that expectations around phone use in the Sixth Form difer slightly to refect students’ age, maturity, and growing independence. These are outlined in more detail later in this document.
Rationale for Restricting Phone Use
• Minimising Distractions: Unrestricted phone use can reduce focus and impact academic performance. To help students stay on task, we recommend that the phone is managed through a separate account from their school iPad, preventing crossplatform sharing of messages, apps, and notifcations.
• Protecting Mental Health: Phones can expose students to harmful content, online bullying, and social media pressures, all of which can negatively impact their mental well-being.
• Encouraging Social Interaction: Excessive phone use can limit opportunities for meaningful, face-to-face interactions, potentially afecting students’ social development and confdence.
Middle School Mobile Phone Advice
(Years 7 to 9)
School Recommendations
• Owning a phone is not essential for school life.
• Phones must be stored in lockers during the day.
• Responsible phone use taught via Lifeskills and assemblies.
• Student iPad and phone accounts should be separate to avoid academic disruption.
Advice for Parents
• Introduce responsibilities gradually with clear boundaries.
• No phones during meals or in bedrooms overnight.
• Set app limits and downtime using parental controls.
• Review app use regularly together with your child.
• Discuss risks like harmful content, bullying, and scams.
• Support healthy balance between online and ofine activities.
• Use an Online Family Agreement for device use. (further information available in the booklet)
In School Learning
• Confict resolution and drama escalation in group chats.
• Cyberbullying recognition and strategies.
• Impact of social comparison and digital selfpresentation.
• Online safety: identity, permanence, privacy settings.
• Cybercrime awareness: safe passwords, data protection, accountability.
Upper School Technology Advice
(Years 10 to 11)
School Recommendations
• Phones allowed but must remain in lockers during the day.
• Digital habits supported through Lifeskills curriculum.
Advice for Parents
• Increase trust with monitored independence.
• Use age-appropriate fltering and control apps where required.
• Keep phones out of bedrooms overnight.
• Emphasise positive digital footprints and responsibility.
• Encourage breaks from social media to reduce pressure.
• Maintain open family communication.
Sixth Form Technology Advice (Years 12 to 13)
School Recommendations
• Students are trusted to self-regulate phone use.
• Sixth Form students may use their phones in the Common Room but are not permitted to use them elsewhere on campus.
• Staf reinforce digital responsibility and balance.
Advice for Parents
• Encourage wellbeing check-ins and discuss screen stress.
• Encourage your child to use tools like iPhone Screen Time or Android Digital Wellbeing, so they can monitor and start to take responsibility for their own usage.
• Guide students to build a professional online identity.
• Raise awareness of scams and data privacy issues.
• Support self-imposed digital detoxes during assessments/ examination periods.
• Continue positive conversations about digital impact.
School Trip Rules regarding Mobile Phone Use and Devices
i. INFANT SCHOOL
• No phones, smartwatches (with camera/cellular), tablets, laptops or tracking devices like AirTags.
ii. JUNIOR SCHOOL
• No mobile phones, smartwatches (with camera/cellular), tablets, laptops or tracking devices like AirTags.
iii. MIDDLE SCHOOL
• Middle School Year Group Residentials: No mobile phones, smartwatches (with camera/cellular), or tracking devices like AirTags.
• Middle School Gippsland Residential: Students can take phones so that they can use them on the journey to and from Australia. On arrival, phones will be kept in the campus safe. Contact with parents will take place on a weekly basis via a TEAMS video call. Devices for school work will be provided in Australia.
• Middle School Sports, Performing Arts, Subject, Holiday (e.g. Skiing) trips: Students can take phones and it will be at the teachers’ discretion if they are used during the day. Phones will be taken from students on an evening and held by the members of staf to ensure that students are not disturbed when they should be sleeping.
• Students will not be able to take tablets or laptops on any school trips.
iv. UPPER SCHOOL
• Upper School Year Group Residentials: The trip leader will decide on whether phones are allowed based on the nature of the trip. For trips where phones are necessary, such as homestays, students will be allowed to bring them. For other residentials, students should not take phones unless permitted in advance. Where phones are permitted, their use during the day will be at the teacher’s discretion. Phones will be taken from students on an evening and held by the members of staf to ensure that students are not disturbed when they should be sleeping.
• Upper School Sports, Performing Arts, Subject, Holiday (e.g. Skiing) trips: Students can take phones and it will be at the teachers’ discretion if they are used during the day. Phones will be taken from students in the evening and held by the members of staf to ensure that students are not disturbed when they should be sleeping.
• The need for tablets/laptops for school work will be determined by the trip leader in conjunction with the Head of Year and the Head of Upper School.
v. SIXTH FORM
• Phones may be brought on all school trips but use is restricted to enhance social interaction and engagement within the group. Staf have the right to temporarily remove phones if students cannot moderate their use or it impacts their or other students’ wellbeing/safety
• The need for tablets/laptops for school work will be determined by the trip leader in conjunction with the Head of Year and Head of Sixth Form.
Online Family Agreements
We recommend families establish a collaborative Online Family Agreement outlining technology expectations. This agreement serves as a useful reference for discussions at home. Agreements are not about control—they’re about communication, setting expectations, and promoting digital wellbeing for everyone in the household.
Why Create an Online Family Agreement?
• Sets clear expectations around screen time, privacy, and respectful behaviour
• Encourages responsible and safe use of technology
• Builds trust and open communication between parents and children
• Helps children feel involved in decisions that afect their lives online
• Promotes digital wellbeing and balanced tech habits
Tips for Parents on establishing an Online Family Agreement
• Start with a conversation: Involve your child in discussing how they use devices and apps.
• Keep it collaborative: Create the agreement together so everyone feels ownership.
• Be realistic and fexible: Revisit and revise the agreement as your child grows.
• Lead by example: Model the online behaviour you want to see.
• Post it somewhere visible: Like the fridge or a family noticeboard.
The Tanglin Online Safety Hub
The Tanglin Online Safety Hub ofers expert resources, app reviews, control guides, and information on digital wellbeing to parents and staf.
• Parents: Social media advice, app setup support, incident reporting guidance.
• To access this, you simply need to sign in with your Tanglin email address (no sign up or password necessary).
• Requests: The community can suggest new articles or support topics.
Monitoring and Safety Apps
To support parents in managing their child’s phone use, several monitoring and safety apps are available. These can help set limits on screen time, block harmful content, and monitor online activity. While these tools can be valuable, it’s essential to use them in partnership with your child to maintain trust and encourage open communication. Children may attempt to bypass these apps if they feel overly restricted or excluded from decision-making.
Recommended Apps
Please note that whilst these apps try to provide comprehensive protection and monitoring, there are always loopholes that children fnd and can exploit, so it is important that parents regularly review and amend their settings.
Qustodio
• What It Can Do: Provides screen time management, content fltering, and detailed reports on app usage. Parents can set time limits and block specifc websites or apps.
• Advantages: Comprehensive control and detailed activity reports.
• Disadvantages: Some older children may fnd ways to bypass restrictions. Can be seen as invasive if not discussed openly.
• Cost: Approximately SGD 80 per year for up to fve devices.
Bark
• What It Can Do: Monitors social media, text messages, and emails for signs of cyberbullying, inappropriate content, or mental health concerns.
• Advantages: AI-driven monitoring provides proactive alerts.
• Disadvantages: Can be perceived as intrusive without clear communication.
• Cost: Approximately SGD 150 per year.
Monitoring and Safety Apps
OurPact
• What It Can Do: Enables screen time management, app blocking, and location tracking.
• Advantages: User-friendly interface with customizable schedules.
• Disadvantages: Premium features require a subscription, and some bypass attempts have been reported.
• Cost: Approximately SGD 90 per year.
ScamShield App:
• What It Can Do: ScamShield ofers checking, fltering and blocking of scams across SMS, call, Telegram, WhatsApp, and weblinks, for a better way to protect yourself against scams.
• Advantages: Efectively blocks scam and robocalls, providing users with enhanced security and peace of mind.
• Disadvantage: Occasional legitimate calls might be mistakenly blocked.
Family Link (by Google)
• What It Can Do: Allows parents to manage app downloads, set daily screen time limits, and track their child’s location.
• Advantages: Free and integrates seamlessly with Android and Windows devices with limited support for Apple.
• Disadvantages: Limited features for iOS users and less comprehensive monitoring.
• Cost: Free.
Apple Family (by Apple)
• What It Can Do: Allows parents to manage app downloads, set daily screen time limits, and track their child’s location.
• Advantages: Free and integrates seamlessly with Apple devices.
• Disadvantages: No features for Android or Windows users
• Cost: Free.
Family Safety (by Mircosoft)
• What It Can Do: Allows parents to manage app downloads, set daily screen time limits, and track their child’s location. Limits time on Xbox.
• Advantages: Free and integrates with Windows and Android devices.
• Disadvantages: No features for iOS users
• Cost: Free.
Guidance for Parents:
• Open Communication: Explain to your child why you are using these tools and involve them in setting boundaries.
• Balance and Trust: Avoid micromanaging every aspect of your child’s phone usage, as this can damage trust.
• Age-Appropriate Restrictions: Gradually adjust monitoring settings as your child demonstrates responsible behaviour.
• Regular Reviews: Periodically review the efectiveness of these apps and adjust usage based on family needs.
At Tanglin Trust School, we recognise that preparing students for life in a digital world is as important as equipping them with academic knowledge. Our Lifeskills Curriculum is a spiral programme taught throughout the school, tailored to each age group’s developmental needs and reviewed annually to refect the rapid evolution of online life, social media, and digital behaviours.
Tanglin Lifeskills Curriculum
CURRICULUM FOCUS BY AGE GROUP
Infant & Junior School (Ages 3 to 11):
• Students explore foundational concepts such as kindness, respect, and digital balance. They are taught how to manage emotions around screen time, how to use technology safely, and how to recognise inappropriate content. We focus on positive online behaviours, establishing healthy boundaries, and introducing the idea of a digital footprint.
Middle School (Years 7 to 9):
• In Years 7 to 9, the Lifeskills curriculum explores the complexities of adolescence and digital identity. Students learn about cyberbullying, online privacy, the impact of social media comparisons on mental health, and strategies for being an upstander. There is also a strong focus on group chat behaviour, digital escalation, and confict resolution both online and ofine.
Upper School (Years 10 to 11):
• At this stage, students are encouraged to explore their longterm digital footprint and develop a refective understanding of their digital identity. Topics include building resilience to online stress, identifying misinformation and harmful messaging, being a critical consumer of what they encounter online, and the responsible use of digital platforms.
Sixth Form (Years 12 to 13):
• In Sixth Form, Lifeskills supports the transition to adulthood and professional environments. Students are taught to manage online distractions, establish a professional digital presence (e.g. LinkedIn), and recognise the implications of data sharing. There is a strong emphasis on wellbeing, time management, and safe navigation of the digital world as independent adults.
• Our Lifeskills programme is designed as a spiral curriculum, meaning that key themes are revisited and expanded upon as students progress through the school. This ensures that learning is age-appropriate, builds upon prior knowledge, and stays relevant to students’ lived experiences both in and out of school.
• To stay responsive to the fast-moving digital world, the Lifeskills Curriculum is reviewed annually. We respond to local trends, international guidance, parent feedback, and the lived experiences of our student body. This fexible and evolving approach ensures we equip our students with the tools to make safe, informed, and ethical decisions online.
ParentWise Workshops
ParentWise is Tanglin Trust School’s termly parent engagement programme designed to support families in navigating the evolving challenges of modern parenting, including those related to mobile phone use, online safety, and digital wellbeing.
Each term, ParentWise workshops focus on key areas relevant to the lives of our students, ofering practical advice, expert guidance, and a space for open discussion. Sessions are informed by student trends, safeguarding concerns, and parent feedback, ensuring that the content is timely and meaningful.
Workshop Topics Include:
• Navigating social media and age-appropriate usage.
• Managing screen time and digital boundaries at home.
• Understanding online gaming and in-app risks.
• Cyberbullying, peer pressure, and digital confict.
• Parental control tools and monitoring options.
• Strategies to support student wellbeing in a digital world.
ParentWise also complements the school’s Lifeskills Curriculum and Online Safety Hub by ensuring that the same language, expectations, and values are reinforced at home. This school-home partnership ensures consistency for students and empowers families to make informed, confdent choices about mobile technology.
Safety Week
At Tanglin Trust School, the wellbeing of our students is at the heart of everything we do—including supporting them to navigate the digital world safely, confdently, and responsibly. Each year in Term 2, we host our Online Safety Week to align with the UK’s national Safer Internet Day. This important week shines a spotlight on key aspects of digital safety across all age groups, from our youngest learners in the Infant School to our Sixth Form students.
Online Safety Week complements the Lifeskills curriculum by ofering tailored lessons, discussions, and external speakers focused on emerging trends and digital challenges. We have recently worked with the Breck Foundation—an organisation committed to educating young people about the dangers of online grooming and exploitation. Through powerful, ageappropriate assemblies and presentations, the Foundation helped our students refect on trust, personal boundaries, and the importance of staying safe online.
We recognise, however, that our work cannot stop at the school gates. Digital safety requires an ongoing partnership between school and home. Parents play a crucial role in keeping conversations open, asking questions, and building trust around their children’s online experiences. This is not a one-time event, but a continuous, collaborative efort. Together, we can ensure that our students are not only informed, but also empowered, to thrive safely in an ever-evolving digital world.
