The UK government has announced plans to introduce a legal ban on smartphones in schools in England, as stated by Education Minister Baroness Jacqui Smith during a session in the House of Lords. This amendment to the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill aims to create a statutory requirement for schools to enforce phone-free environments, reinforcing practices that many schools already follow. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson had previously encouraged schools to adopt these guidelines, emphasizing that mobile phones should not be used during lessons or breaks. The Department for Education (DfE) has asserted that mobile phones have no place in educational settings, with Ofsted set to monitor compliance starting in April. The amendment is part of broader child safeguarding measures included in the Bill, which also aims to protect children not in school. It is important to note that the approach to mobile phone usage varies across the UK, with Scotland allowing headteachers to implement bans, while Wales and Northern Ireland have different regulations regarding device use in schools.