A group of over 150 clinicians has warned that the amount of time children in England spend on screens at school could be detrimental to their "physical and developmental health". GPs, paediatricians, and other specialists sent an open letter to Education Secretary Lucy Powell and Health Secretary Yvette Cooper, stating that tablets and laptops are being used without a full understanding of their long-term health impacts, including on eye health.
The clinicians reported prescribing glasses, hearing aids, and speech therapy to children for problems they believe are being exacerbated in schools. They highlighted that nearly one million children are reportedly using screens in most lessons. An analysis of 276 studies, covering 5.4 million participants globally, was cited by the group, which claimed it showed a rise in short-sightedness among children and adolescents from approximately 24% in 1990 to almost 36% by 2023.
Dr Becky Foljambe, an NHS GP and founder of Health Professionals for Safer Screens, a signatory to the letter, stated that parents have not been given the option to "opt out" of what she described as "excessive" screen use in schools. She added that an "explosion" in short-sightedness "cannot be put down to genetics alone".
A Department for Education spokesperson confirmed that the government is developing new screen-time guidance for children aged five to 18. They also stated that the government will consult on the safety of artificial intelligence and educational technology in schools, noting that "used well, technology can be a powerful tool to support learners who need it and free up teachers to deliver the excellent education every child deserves."