UK’s Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, is under pressure over the new Department for Education (DfE) guidance that would require children as young as four to be assessed using touchscreen devices.
The updated guidelines, set to take effect next term, mandate that schools conduct statutory Reception Baseline Assessments using digital technology. The change has sparked fierce criticism from politicians, teachers, and campaigners, who argue it risks normalising device use among the youngest pupils and undermining parental choices to limit screen exposure.
In an open letter to Ms Phillipson and Technology Secretary Peter Kyle, critics have called for the immediate withdrawal of the guidance. Signatories include high-profile figures such as Katharine Birbalsingh, often referred to as “Britain’s strictest headteacher,” Mumsnet founder Justine Roberts, and actress Sophie Winkleman.
“We are united in our deep concern at this retrograde step,” the letter reads. “It pushes our youngest schoolchildren, most just four years old, onto touchscreen devices, and implicitly endorses and normalises device use in reception classes.”
Under the new system, teachers will conduct one-on-one assessments using digital devices, while children will complete tasks on separate touchscreens. Previously, the baseline assessments involved physical toys and visual prompts like teddy bears to gauge early cognitive and communication skills.
Critics argue that the new approach overlooks growing concerns about the impact of screen time on early childhood development. They argue that, except in cases involving children with special educational needs, digital assessments can only be inferior to hands-on, interactive models.
The campaigners also warned that the policy undermines the rights of parents who are increasingly choosing to raise their children in screen-free or low-tech environments.
The initiative has drawn cross-party criticism. Shadow Education Secretary Laura Trott described the policy as harmful:
“Testing children as young as four on screens, instead of using books or physical objects, undermines their development. The evidence of lasting damage to children so young is now overwhelming. We must change course and protect childhood.”
Trott added that society has sleepwalked into screen dependency among children and urged immediate action to reverse the trend.
The backlash comes as the Conservatives pursue a broader agenda to limit screen use in schools, including proposals to ban smartphones and resist moves toward fully online assessments. Technology Secretary Peter Kyle has also backed tougher protections for children online and is reportedly considering limits on social media usage, including curfews and daily time caps.
In response to the criticism, a Department for Education spokesperson defended the policy, citing the need to reduce workload for teachers: “Digital assessments reduce the administrative burden on teachers, freeing up their time to focus more on teaching and supporting pupils’ learning. These assessments offer a clear picture of children’s abilities when they enter reception and help measure progress by the end of primary school.”
The DfE added that the assessments are designed to be flexible: they are carried out one-on-one, allow teachers to input verbal responses for children unable to use a screen, and offer paper-based versions when needed.
However, critics remain unconvinced, warning that even optional screen-based assessments for children so young risk shifting classroom norms and eroding the foundations of early years education.
As the policy prepares to roll out, the debate over technology’s role in the classroom and in childhood more broadly continues to intensify.
