Primary schools are starting to recognise the importance of games technology and smartphones, according to research by the British Educational Suppliers Association (BESA). But there is plenty of residual anxiety, particularly over the phones.

BESA director Ray Barker, explains: “Our research has found that teachers have very different opinions when it comes to the use of mobile phones by primary school aged children. On the one hand, 39 per cent stated that children should not have access out of school to mobile phones, while another 29 per cent of teachers said the ideal situation would be if all pupils had access to a mobile.”