Digital safeguarding incidents in schools with and without smartphone policies: a cross‐sectional study in England

Safeguarding incidents involving smartphones or social media are occurring in schools throughout England. Schools with mobile phone policies were more likely to report digital safeguarding incidents, suggesting an association between policy presence and reporting. Vast variation in policy content and inconsistent 'ban' rhetoric undermine the potential for effective safeguarding. These findings underscore the need for standardised definitions of digital risks and consistent policy approaches.