Queen Mary expert helps shape new Department for Education guidance on screen use in early years

Published by the Department for Education, the new guidance provides practical, evidence-based advice on how screens should be used with children aged 0–5, emphasising that digital technology should support learning only when used intentionally and should never replace play, conversation and high-quality interactions with adults.

Professor Bedford contributed to the guidance through written expert feedback and consultation meetings and is formally acknowledged by the Department for Education for her contribution.

Her involvement reflects her internationally recognised expertise in child development and digital pedagogy. She was invited to contribute following her leadership of the Birth to 5 Matters Digital Pedagogy Working Group, which has developed complementary guidance to help early years professionals navigate the role of technology in children's learning and development.

Professor Bedford said:

"I think it is critically important that practitioners have access to evidence-based guidance on screen use in early years settings."

The DfE guidance distinguishes between screen time and screen use, encouraging educators to focus not simply on how long children spend with digital devices, but how and why technology is used. It recommends limiting screen use, ensuring adults actively engage with children during digital activities, and prioritising real-world play, communication and exploration wherever possible. It also recognises the important role that assistive technologies can play in supporting some children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Alongside her contribution to the national guidance, Professor Bedford led the working group who developed the digital pedagogy section of the new Birth to 5 Matters framework, one of the UK's most widely used professional resources for early years educators. The second edition is being launched this week, with more than 1,000 practitioners registered to attend the launch event, where Professor Bedford will be speaking.

The work demonstrates Queen Mary's commitment to producing research that informs policy and improves practice. By helping shape national guidance, Professor Bedford's expertise is supporting thousands of early years professionals to make informed decisions about children's use of technology, with the aim of improving learning, wellbeing and healthy development.