Responding to the government's consultation on banning social media for children and other measures to help protect young people online, Paul Whiteman, general secretary at school leaders' union NAHT, said:

“Schools leaders are as concerned as anyone about the impact of social media and phones on children and young people.

"Schools have taken the lead when it comes to educating pupils about how to stay safe online. They work equally hard to support parents with online safety at home. 

"We welcome the news that the government will take its time to properly consider a ban on social media for under 16s. It’s important that we learn from other countries and consider the unintended consequences as well as the advantages of such an approach. 

"The vast majority of schools already have restrictions on the use of mobile phones on school sites. The government’s suggestion that Ofsted should be ‘policing’ school policies is deeply unhelpful and misguided. School leaders need support from government, not the threat of heavy-handed inspection.”