00:00Education Secretary Bridget Philipson addressed delegates at the Association of School and College Leaders Conference in Liverpool,
00:08outlining concerns about children growing up in a highly connected online world.
00:13I know that schools, teachers, parents and carers worry about social media.
00:18We worry about the impact on our children's education, their learning, focus, their sleep and mental health.
00:24There are opportunities to seize with technology, but we must get the balance right.
00:30So this government has launched a consultation on children's digital well-being.
00:33And the Prime Minister has already announced new legal powers so that we can act on the findings immediately.
00:39She highlighted how smartphones provide both social connection and exposure to disinformation and harmful content,
00:47warning of pressures from social media that can affect mental health, well-being and educational outcomes.
00:55The complexity of modern childhood demands a system of support that is joined up, no gaps to fall into.
01:03MPs recently rejected an amendment to ban under-16s from social media outright,
01:08though officials stress action will be taken to remove damaging content.
01:13Schools will be supported to help children navigate online risks,
01:17backed by targeted funding for specialist staff and inclusive provision.
01:21Colleagues, the changes that you have seen in your classrooms over the past decade.
01:25The poverty, the additional need, the technology.
01:28This is a new era of childhood and it calls for a new era of education.
01:33An end to policy in parts.
01:36Instead, a village around the child, every child, with schools as the beating heart of that support.
01:42The government consultation seeks views on introducing an Australian-style social media ban for under-16s,
01:50alongside proposals including overnight curfews and restricted AI access.
01:55Ministers are also reforming the SEND system, investing £4 billion to improve inclusion
02:00and provide local specialist support such as speech therapists and SEND teachers.
02:05It's about every child, but it's also about the next chapter in our country's story.
02:10Because if we have every young person leaving education ready to contribute to the economy,
02:16to society, to the world that awaits them, it's the whole country that reaps the rewards.
02:21Stakeholders note that while reforms offer support, concerns remain about increased pressures on schools
02:27and adjustments to legal protections for SEND pupils.
02:30Education leaders are urged to respond to consultations and integrate guidance into safeguarding strategies
02:36to manage online exposure, mental health and well-being.
02:40We all want the same thing, to see every child get the opportunity to succeed,
02:46no matter their background, no matter their needs, no matter where they were born or how much their parents earn.
02:51The government highlights that children remain confident and enterprising
02:55despite the challenges of the digital environment.
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