This month I was delighted to host my local event on smartphones in schools, and I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who came along — parents, teachers, and experts alike — to share their experiences and ideas.
We know the impact smartphones can have on children’s wellbeing, learning, and mental health. I’ve spoken to countless parents and teachers who are worried about screen addiction, anxiety, online bullying, and the erosion of social skills. And, my own local parent survey showed that 65% believe their children spend too much time on social media, with nearly three-quarters feeling that smartphones make bullying worse. These concerns are real — and increasingly urgent.
That’s why I’ve been campaigning nationally in Parliament for a ban on smartphones in schools for under-16s and working locally to support schools who are making positive changes.
I’m pleased to say that the event showed just how much appetite there is within our community to tackle this head on. The evening brought together a brilliant panel including Jesse Elzinga, Head of Sevenoaks School and Andrew Reid, Head of Amherst School who have both implemented highly successful smartphone-free approaches; Arabella Skinner from Health Professionals for Safer Screens who set out the evidence behind the health concerns; and Crispin Eccleston from the excellent campaign group Smartphone Free Childhood.
Each speaker brought valuable insights — from the positive change seen in schools who have removed phones, to the neurological and emotional impacts of excessive screen time, and the practicalities of how families can manage the transition at home.
But, perhaps what struck me most was the sense of unity in the room. Parents spoke openly and honestly about their struggles, and there was a real hunger for collective action. Many left the event feeling empowered to start those difficult conversations at home, or to work with their schools to implement change.
Thank you again to everyone who came. I will continue pushing this issue in Parliament, and locally, to ensure every child has the best possible environment to learn and grow.
Another issue I have been working on closely this month is addressing the charging errors for contactless from our local stations.
Contactless travel from six Sevenoaks area stations was introduced earlier this year, following our successful campaign, to make commuting easier. But, it’s incredibly frustrating — and totally unacceptable — that passengers have been overcharged when travelling into London between 4pm and 7pm.
When I first heard about these charging errors, I hoped they were just isolated glitches. But, as more constituents got in touch, it became clear something more serious was going on.
Despite Transport for London (TfL) being responsible for the contactless software, their customer service team repeatedly denied that any problem existed. I raised the issue with the Deputy Mayor for Transport, Seb Dance, in May — but received no reply, even after multiple follow-ups. The only subsequent clarity came from Southeastern, who confirmed that TfL’s system had been charging passengers incorrectly but that the problem had been fixed in early June.
It was only after I wrote to the Transport Minister and publicly raised the issue on Facebook that the Deputy Mayor for London finally responded. He admitted there had been a charging error and claimed TfL was working on a way to refund affected passengers automatically. He also said passengers could request refunds through TfL’s customer services. However, I tested this claim — and I’m afraid to say it was simply not true. As of last week, TfL was still insisting the higher fare was correct and refusing refunds. That’s just not good enough.
I now have written assurance from the Transport Minister that no one need apply for a refund – and that TfL will ensure automatic refunds within the next few weeks. However, there are serious questions about why it took pressure from me, for this problem to finally be acknowledged and why, when TfL along with Southeastern were aware of this issue for some months – they did not warn the public.
For now, my priority is making sure passengers get their money back. I strongly advise anyone using contactless to register their card with TfL here. It’s the easiest way to track your fares and get support if something goes wrong.
I’m angry on behalf of every passenger who trusted the system and was overcharged. TfL must now urgently issue the refunds and I will be monitoring the situation and keeping the pressure up until they do. However, on a more positive note, I have been assured absolutely that contactless is now charging correctly.
As ever, if you wish to discuss anything with me, please do not hesitate to get in touch at [email protected].
Laura Trott
MP for Sevenoaks and Swanley
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