By Elgan Hearn,Jonathon Hill,Local Democracy Reporter

Copyright walesonline

All schools within a council borough in Wales could be set to introduce a blanket ban on mobile phones after the upcoming half-term holiday. The proposal is to ban mobile phones and other personal digital devices at all schools in Blaenau Gwent after concerns over pupil wellbeing, behaviour and attainment. A special meeting of Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council’s children, young people, and families scrutiny committee will take place on Wednesday, October 8, to examine guidance that would be distributed to all school governing bodies within the borough and advises schools on an all-out ban save for in emergencies. For the biggest stories in Wales first sign up to our daily newsletter . The document to be presented to councillors states: “The decision to develop mobile phone and digital device guidance for all Blaenau Gwent schools is in response to growing research and evidence around the negative impact that mobiles and digital devices are having on pupil wellbeing, behaviour, and pupil outcomes. “Concerns have been reported by school staff and trade unions. A survey conducted by the NEU (National Education Union) evidences the impact of mobile phones on schools, staff, and pupils.” The report states the purpose of issuing the guidance is to form a wider approach to “to fostering a culture of positive behaviour in our schools”. While the council will issue the “guidance” individual schools will determine how to enforce the guidance and what sanctions to impose on rule-breakers. The authority has already drafted a letter informing parents and guardians of the initiative which is scheduled to start from November 3. Deputy chief executive and director of children and young people Dr Luisa Munro-Morris said: “All schools will be supported by the local authority to implement policy relating to the banning of mobile phones and digital devices across the whole school day. “Schools will determine what their individual policies will include and will implement sanctions for non-compliance in line with their own behaviour policy.” She said each school would need to recognise “extenuating circumstances” such as medical or accessibility reasons for needing to use a mobile phone or digital device. Explaining the guidance becoming stricter around the use of phones in schools she added: “The reason for this guidance is due to the high number of representations and reports regarding increasing behaviours in school, which in turn has a negative impact on teaching, learning, safeguarding, and the overall wellbeing of staff and pupils. “By implementing this guidance we aim to ensure all staff and pupils are safeguarded and have better learning experiences with positive outcomes.”