Screens in Schools Clinicians Warn of Health Crisis

Screens in schools have triggered a sharp clinical warning. More than 150 doctors, paediatricians, ophthalmologists and speech therapists wrote to England’s Education Secretary Lucy Powell and Health Secretary Yvette Cooper. They argue that heavy classroom device use risks children’s eyesight, speech and development.

The open letter, organised by Health Professionals for Safer Screens with SafeScreens, reached the front page of The Times and drew BBC News coverage. Clinicians say they now prescribe glasses, hearing aids and speech therapy for problems schools may be making worse. Nearly one million children use screens in most lessons. Many exceed recommended daily limits before they leave the building.

What the clinicians are seeing

Dr Becky Foljambe, an NHS GP and founder of the group, told BBC Radio 4 that parents have no practical opt-out from excessive school screen time. She called the claim that devices simply prepare children for a digital world a lazy argument. Children still need sleep, outdoor light, rest and ordinary conversation.

The letter points to a clear rise in short-sightedness. An analysis of 276 studies covering 5.4 million people found rates among children and adolescents climbed from about 24% in 1990 to nearly 36% by 2023. UK figures show the proportion of short-sighted children has more than doubled since the 1960s. Each extra hour of daily screen time links to roughly a 21% higher chance of myopia. Four hours nearly doubles the risk. Outdoor daylight protects eye development. Classroom screens cut that protective time.

Speech and language losses

Language grows through rich, responsive talk. Screens cannot fully replace it. A three-year-old who spends three hours a day on a device misses an estimated 194 conversational turns and 1,139 adult words. Those gaps compound fast. More than two million UK children already struggle with speech and language. Clinicians see younger children presenting with more severe developmental issues. Around a third start school not ready to learn.

Face-to-face interaction, play and outdoor time support attention and social skills. Excessive device use crowds these out. Irish parents and teachers face the same pressure as digital tools expand. Strong home routines that protect digital wellbeing help balance what happens during the school day. Practical advice on screen addiction also gives families clear limits they can apply at home.

Special educational needs

The letter raises particular concern for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities. These children are often steered toward screen-based learning at the exact moment they need the closest adult supervision. Extra caution, not greater reliance on devices, is required. Clear daily limits and adult presence matter most here.

Practical steps for schools and families

Schools can review current policies. Limit consecutive screen sessions. Build in breaks and outdoor time. Keep discussion, paper-based work and physical activity central. Parents can ask how devices are chosen and used. At home, set clear boundaries and use the parental controls and safety settings available on personal devices. Device-free meals and outdoor play protect development.

The UK government is consulting on screen-time guidance for ages five to 18 and on AI and EdTech safety. Practical rules would help schools. No drug, food or toy reaches millions of children without safety checks. EdTech currently does. Clinicians want an independent health review before more public money is spent. Irish schools can ask the same questions now: what evidence shows this device is safe for daily use, and how much face-to-face time remains?

References

• BBC News: Cut screen time in classrooms to avoid long-term health issues, clinicians urge
• Open letter organised by Health Professionals for Safer Screens (covered by BBC News and The Times, October 2026)

Related Reading from CODA

• Digital Wellbeing for Families (2025 guide) — practical limits and face-to-face routines
• Screen Addiction advice for parents — recognising and managing excessive use
• Resources for Parents and safety settings — platform controls and home guidance
• Online safety presentations for Irish schools — support for school communities
• Information guides for parents — downloadable checklists and posters

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Children of the Digital Age supports families, schools and communities through online safety education, training and practical guidance. Our guides help you discuss online experiences and build safer habits alongside platform controls.

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