A big thank you to everyone who attended our Wait Mate session last week. It was a valuable opportunity to continue the conversation about digital devices and young people, and to reflect on how we can work together to support children’s wellbeing, development and learning. We encourage you to explore the resources, spread the word and consider making a commitment to delay smartphone ownership for your child.

The Wait Mate session reinforced the importance of making intentional, informed decisions about access to digital devices, guided by research and an understanding of their impact on young people. You can find practical information and resources to support families in delaying their child’s ownership of a mobile phone, or implementing appropriate supports and strategies if their child already has one, on the Wait Mate website.

At Woodend Primary School, we are committed to ensuring that all digital devices are used purposefully and in evidence-informed ways to enhance learning.

Technology as a tool for learning

Digital devices have an important place in learning when they are used with a clear purpose. At Woodend Primary School, we want our students to become creators with technology, not simply consumers of it. Our Technologies program gives students opportunities to use digital tools to capture and share their thinking, explore coding, research ideas, collaborate, problem-solve and create digital products that showcase their learning. Just as importantly, we want students to become critical and responsible users of technology, learning to question what they see online, make informed choices, think carefully about the information they access and understand how technology can be used positively.

Our commitment is to use digital devices and tools when they add genuine value to learning, empowering students to use technology purposefully, creatively and thoughtfully, rather than simply increasing screen time.

We also recognise that children need plenty of time away from screens to play, move, rest, connect with others face-to-face and develop the social and emotional skills that are so important to their wellbeing. Children’s brains are still developing, and experiences such as hands-on play, physical activity, conversation, reading and handwriting help build important neural connections that support memory, concentration, language and learning.

What does this mean for our school?

As part of this commitment, our Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) arrangement continues to be phased out over the coming years.

• In 2027: BYOD will apply only to students in Years 5 and 6. Students in Reception to Year 4 will use school-owned devices that are carefully integrated to support their learning.
• In 2028: BYOD will apply only to students in Year 6. Students in Reception to Year 5 will use school-owned devices.
• In 2029: BYOD will be fully phased out, with all students using school-owned devices to support their learning.

For students in Years 5 and 6 in 2027: If your child already brings a personal device to school for learning, we will continue to support this arrangement. If you would prefer or need your child to use a school-owned device, please contact your child’s teacher early in 2027 and this can be arranged. Please do not purchase a device for your child to use at school.

Thank you to our families and wider community for continuing to engage with us in these important conversations. By working together, we can support children to develop healthy, balanced relationships with technology, while ensuring that every digital tool used at school has a clear purpose and adds genuine value to their learning.