With the new term kicking off, you might be thinking about giving your child a smartphone. In fact, around 83% of 11-year-olds in the UK already own one. While it’s an exciting step, it can be a bit concerning for parents. For example, you might worry about them being distracted from homework or viewing inappropriate content online.

The good news is, you can easily set up your child’s phone to keep them safe - and give yourself some peace of mind. Think of it as giving your child a bit of freedom, but with some friendly boundaries to keep things running smoothly. Here’s all you need to know:

This school year brings a big change to the rules. The Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act (introduced in April 2026), means schools in England now have a ban on mobile phones during the school day. Exactly how each school manages that may vary, but the idea is the same. Phones stay out of the way so pupils can focus on learning.

It's a good excuse to introduce a few phone rules at home too. Maybe phones stay downstairs overnight or get put away during meals. The rules don't have to be complicated – just clear and consistent.

And if you decide on implementing a few phone rules, you're not alone. Ofcom found that 94% of children aged 8-17 already have at least one phone restriction in place. For most families, it's a natural part of helping children learn how to use their phones responsibly.

Both iPhone and Android have some really useful built-in tools to help you manage screen-time. This is a common concern for parents - according to recent Ofcom research, UK children aged 8-17 spend an average of three hours a day on their smartphones. So if you think that’s too much, here’s what you can do:

If your child has an iPhone, head to Settings > Screen Time. From there you can set Downtime for homework or bedtime, limit certain apps, and choose what content they can access.

If they're using an Android phone, Google Family Link makes things just as straightforward. You can approve app downloads before they're installed, see where they are on the school run, check how much time they're spending on their phone, and even lock it remotely if you need to.

You should think of these tools as a helping hand rather than a way to keep tabs on everything your child is up to. They make it simple to build good smartphone habits from day one, so they’re well worth checking out.

Here's something lots of parents don't realise. Even if you've switched on parental controls, knowledgeable kids can get around them!

Research this year found that almost half of UK parents didn't know VPNs and hidden browsers can sometimes bypass router-level parental controls. And 16% of young people who use a VPN admit it's specifically to get around parental controls or school Wi-Fi restrictions.

Here’s our top VPN tip: rather than trying to block every VPN, it's much easier to stop them being downloaded in the first place. Both iPhone Screen Time and Google Family Link let you give your approval before any new app can be installed. That means if your child wants to download something, you'll know about it first.

If you don’t put a cap on spending, it’s easy for teenagers to run up extra charges - whether that's premium-rate texts or spending outside their monthly allowance. That's where iD Mobile Bill Capping comes in.

Simply set it to £0, and there won't be any out-of-plan spending at all. It only takes a minute:

• Open the iD Mobile app.
• Tap Bills.
• Choose Manage bill cap.
• Slide the Bill Cap to £0.

And of course, you can cap it at an amount above zero (up to your credit limit) if you want to give your child some wiggle room.

Starting a new school year is a big change, especially if it's a first phone too. Spending a few minutes getting everything set up now can make the whole term run a bit more smoothly.

A few sensible screen time settings, approving app downloads and chatting regularly about staying safe online all help build good habits that will stick. Add a £0 Bill Cap and you'll know there won't be any unexpected charges either.

Every family has their own way of doing things, so we'd love to hear yours. Which screen time apps or phone rules have worked best in your house? Let us know in the comments below!