A primary school is set to rent basic mobile phones to families as part of efforts to successfully implement a smartphone ban among pupils.

Concerned about children’s exposure to the internet, and friendship issues created by apps like WhatsApp and Snapchat, Cheriton Primary School in Folkestone intends to have new rules around the possession of smartphones from September.

While youngsters can currently bring devices to school, where they are locked away in the office before being returned to them at the end of the day, from the start of the new school year headteacher Sophia Dover is introducing a ‘blanket ban’ and asking that smart devices aren’t brought on site at all.

If any child is subsequently found to have a smartphone with them, it will kept by the school until a parent can collect it in person.

But acutely aware some families wish for their children to have a phone if they walk to and from school alone - as well as those who may already have paid-out for a device - Ms Dover has revealed the school is planning to buy phones that will only call and text which it will loan to households under a contract and for a small fee.

Ms Dover, a parent herself, says she appreciates that for previous generations phone boxes ‘on every corner’ provided an element of reassurance when children were out alone but that isn’t something available to parents today.

She explained: “If they have spent money on buying their children a smartphone they could be quite irritated about this.

“There also aren’t phone boxes around, so I do understand why parents are anxious and that’s something we need to be understanding about.”

The rental approach could also possibly extend to air tags or other location devices in the future, says Ms Dover, as she explores ways to support families as she brings in the new rules.

“You have got to meet in the middle haven’t you,” she said, “It would be naive to think that everyone will jump on the bandwagon with you.”

Last year the-then Conservative government announced a mobile phone ban for all parts of the school day as part of efforts to improve children’s behaviour.

While many schools already controlled use in classrooms, politicians were concerned they were still being widely brought out during break and lunch times, particularly by secondary-aged students.

However critics of the policy, which serves as guidance to headteachers but isn’t law, say it doesn’t go far enough with most still able to regularly look at their phones.

Felicity Winkles from the campaign movement Smartphone Free Childhood, says while 90% of schools adopt a ‘never seen never heard’ policy, it isn’t ‘robust’ enough to give children a break from devices.

She explained: “It’s simply not working. Children are accessing the internet to and from school, in between breaks and in the school loo.”

With two daughters herself Felicity says she understands parents’ desire to keep their children safe but insists that the ‘cons outweigh the pros’ when it comes to smartphones.

“There are plenty of alternatives on the market” she said.

“It’s allowing the internet to access them.

“But we can give an alternative to a smartphone so that parents can contact children. There’s no need for smartphones in the school environment.”

John Wallis Academy in Ashford became the first school in Kent last year to begin locking away pupils’ smartphones in pouches during the school day.

The school, which won an award in January for the policy’s positive impact on children, said the move had sparked a 40% drop in behaviour issues.

Speaking at the time head teacher Damian McBeath said: “We are delighted to receive this prestigious award. It is recognition of our collective efforts to address something which is becoming a significant issue in all schools.

Ms Dover says despite their tender age her Church Road primary pupils are not immune to all of the issues access to the internet can bring and while she longs for national guidance to support staff and parents, she feels passionately about doing all she can to protect children.

She said: “The moment you add a smartphone to your child’s life you are opening up the potential for them to be bullied 24/7.

“Imagine waking up to hoards of messages saying nasty things.

“At no point are schools telling parents how they should parent.

“What we are saying is that smartphones - which we are finding to be a real issue in school - they are affecting children’s mental health and affecting our ability to teach in school.

“My big concern is that I really fear for the future. We are taking children’s childhoods away. They are entitled to not be worrying about this stuff. I think we are putting a lot of onus on them to manage their own mental health and what they are seeing.”

In an attempt to overcome peer and parent pressure, Smartphone Free Childhood encourages households to sign an online pledge in which they promise not to give teenagers a smartphone until they reach at least the age of 14 - and ideally age 16 for social media.

While the average age for a child to get their first phone is currently nine the group says the Netflix hit-series Adolescence does seem to be striking a chord with families.

In Kent a fortnight ago around 3,000 parents had pledged to keep devices out of children’s hands before the age of 14 - but sign-ups have rocketed to 4,200 in just two weeks.

“Parents are talking about Adolescence and it’s giving them a real insight” added Felicity.

“Adolescence is driving real change. It’s more than a TV show, it is a wake-up call.”