Q. What is your policy on staff cell phones? We are currently asking staff to leave them in the staff room while they are with the children. Some employees pop in to check their phones and others are now reading messages on their smartwatches. I’m worried about it taking them away from work, but also about the safety issue.

Roxanne Gregory, Head of Nursery Operations and Training, Abbotswood Nursery

‘We ask staff to leave their phones in a clear box in the office when they come in for the day. They can come and get it on their lunch break, but they have to sign it and then come back again when they return it. It’s a good way to monitor that their phones are not with them. The rule is the same for managers – we give our landline number and expect people to call it if they want to talk to management.

‘If staff need to check their phones, they have to do it in the office. If they expect an urgent call, they can leave the phone on the desk in the office and we can answer for them and pick them up.

‘Every few months we ask staff to re-read our policies, including the phone and smartwatch policies. We allow our team to wear smartwatches, but we ask them to turn off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. We trust them to do it – we don’t check. You have to have a little trust and rely on other staff members to come and tell you if someone is breaking our rules.

‘The same rules apply to everyone working on the construction site, such as workers from outside agencies or builders. We tell them that they must keep their phones in the vehicle or in the office. We explain that they are not allowed to use their mobile phones around children, and people understand this immediately. That was never a problem.’

Michelle Wigmore, Head, Chiltern Nursery and Training College

‘Our policy recognizes the benefits and dangers of the internet and that we have a duty to support staff, families and children to stay safe.

‘Each staff member has a cabinet where all digital devices are stored. I can access them during my lunch break, when I can only use them in certain areas. We have signs telling staff where they are, completely away from children. We expect our families to do the same and remind parents not to use digital devices when returning and picking up.

Smart watches and fitness trackers have really taken off in recent years. We consider them digital devices, so we have written into our policy that staff cannot carry them in the rooms because they can connect to their phones and the Internet.

‘An important part of ensuring that staff adhere to the rules is building trust. A good way to do this is to involve them in writing policies and procedures. For example, we are currently reviewing our staff wellbeing policy and I have put together a group of staff wellbeing champions to support me.

‘Our senior management team goes round every day and we have a list of questions that we randomly ask staff which cover all of our policies. We have found that this helps to support reflective and positive practice.’

Leonie Butler, Nursery Manager, Montessori Minds

‘With our mobile phone policy, our top priority is a commitment to protection. We intend to create an environment that prevents staff from being distracted from their work and stops inappropriate use of phones or smart watches.

‘We have a box in the office where every member of staff can leave their phone with their name on it. We carry out on-site checks to ensure staff are complying. Staff can use their phones in the office or staff room. If any team member is expecting an emergency call, with their permission we answer the call for them and then pick them up. In exceptional circumstances, we will ask them to show us a fixed office number.

‘We tell staff that this approach is also for their protection, otherwise they could face charges. We return to the case of Vanessa George, who served a ten-year prison sentence after being found guilty of sexually abusing and making and distributing indecent images of children.

‘When it comes to smartwatches, we recognize that wearing them has health benefits for staff as long as they disable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

‘Staff do not dispute this policy. When we interview candidates, one of our questions is why we ban phones. Ninety percent of people understand the reasons.’

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