Brent Council is launching a new initiative, the Phone Pledge,
designed to bolster online safety for children and young people. This initiative aims to provide advice and guidance to parents, focusing on the use of phones in schools and extending beyond that to improve safeguarding standards in relation to technology use.
The Phone Pledge
is a new system being developed that examines all technologies used in schools, going beyond current Department for Education guidance. It encourages voluntary sign-ups from schools and potentially parents, with a London-wide approach being developed in collaboration with neighbouring boroughs to ensure consistent safeguarding standards.
Details of the initiative were discussed at the Community and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee meeting on Tuesday, June 30, 2026. Keith Mackin, the Independent Scrutineer for the Brent Safeguarding Children Partnership, highlighted the ongoing work in online safety during the meeting, which can be found in the public reports pack here.
Nigel Chapman, Corporate Director for Children, Young People, and Community Development, explained that the Brent pledge is more comprehensive than national guidance. He confirmed that London-wide approaches are in place and that cross-border work is ongoing, addressing Councillor Alexandra's inquiry about the pledge's implementation timeline and influencing neighbouring boroughs.
