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School Screen Time Limits in 2027: NSW and Victoria Explained
NSW and Victorian public primary schools will limit classroom screen time from 2027. What the new caps are, why they are coming and what it means at home.
Read the guideKey points
NSW public schools will cap daily screen learning at up to 15 minutes for Kindergarten to Year 2, 30 minutes for Years 3–4 and 45 minutes for Years 5–6. The limits are recommended from Term 1 2027 and mandatory from 2028 [1].
Victorian government primary schools will limit device use to 90 minutes a day for Years 3–6 from 2027, with minimal device time for Prep to Year 2 [3][4].
NSW guidelines also recommend at least one hour a day of pen-and-paper learning [2].
The changes do not ban technology. They aim to make device use deliberate rather than the default.
What is changing in NSW public schools?
On 13 September 2026, the NSW Government announced new limits on how long students in public schools use laptops, tablets and desktop computers for learning [1]. The limits are set out by year group [1][2]:
Year group — Daily screen-learning limit
Preschool — No individual device use
Kindergarten to Year 2 — Up to 15 minutes
Years 3–4 — Up to 30 minutes
Years 5–6 — Up to 45 minutes
Years 7–10 — Up to one-quarter of lesson time per subject
Years 11–12 — Up to half of lesson time per subject
The allocations operate across a full week of lessons [2]. This gives teachers some flexibility, as long as the weekly average stays within the limit.
When do the NSW limits start?:
Schools are recommended to follow the limits from Term 1 2027. They become mandatory in 2028 [1].
What else is in the NSW guidelines?:
The guidelines recommend a minimum of one hour a day of learning using pen and paper, with an emphasis on handwriting and reading from physical texts [2]. Schools will also be advised to limit screen-based homework, and digital homework is not recommended before Year 5 [1][2].
Are there exemptions?:
Yes. Adjustments apply for students with disability, students with additional learning needs, English language learners and students whose personalised learning plans include digital support [1][2].
What is changing in Victorian primary schools?
The Victorian Government announced in October 2025 that students in Years 3 to 6 at government primary schools will spend no more than 90 minutes a day on devices at school from 2027 [3][4]. Students from Prep to Year 2 will have minimal device time [3].
Schools will be required to provide tablets and laptops for classroom use, so parents will no longer need to buy devices for primary students [3]. The government said this would save families more than $500 per child [3].
The ABC reported that the rules apply to state primary schools, not private schools [4]. In June 2026 the Victorian Government also announced that secondary schools must include planned device-free learning time from Term 1 2027 [5].
Why are governments limiting screen time in class?
The NSW Government pointed to its own research, which found that only 32 per cent of primary school parents and 45 per cent of secondary school parents believe the benefits of technology outweigh the disadvantages. About half of the students surveyed said screens distracted them in class [1]. The government also said Australian students use digital devices for learning nearly twice as much as the OECD average [1].
NSW Deputy Premier and Minister for Education Prue Car said screens "should not be the default" [1]. In Victoria, Minister for Education Ben Carroll said digital skills are essential, "but we know that these devices can also be distracting" [3].
The timing also follows weak national results. Australia's maths and reading scores in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2025 fell to record lows [6].
Is this a move away from technology?
Not entirely. Both states still expect students to use devices, and Victoria is requiring schools to supply them [3]. The Victorian Government has said that when devices are used, they should serve a deliberate educational purpose [5].
The change is better understood as a rebalancing. Some tasks suit screens well, such as short practice activities, research or coding. Others, such as handwriting, working through a maths problem on paper or discussing ideas in a group, may work better without one.
Not everyone agrees on the details. In Victoria, the Australian Education Union questioned whether schools had the funding to provide devices to every student, and the principals' association raised concerns about equipment [4].
What does this mean for learning at home?
The school limits do not apply at home, but they are a useful prompt for families.
Think about quality, not only minutes:
A short, focused activity with a clear purpose is different from hours of passive viewing. Ask what your child is doing on a screen and whether it helps them learn, create or connect.
Keep homework balanced:
If your child's school follows the NSW guidance, you may see less screen-based homework, especially before Year 5 [2]. Paper-based practice, reading physical books and talking through problems all support learning.
Mix paper and screen practice:
For maths, writing out working helps children see their own thinking. Short digital practice can complement this, particularly for building quick recall of number facts. Our free printable maths worksheets (noooli.com/worksheets/maths) are one paper-based option.
Follow the national guidelines for recreational use:
Australian guidelines recommend no more than two hours of sedentary recreational screen time a day for children aged 5 to 17, not counting schoolwork [7]. We cover this in more detail in our guide to screen time guidelines for primary school children (noooli.com/learn/screen-time-guidelines-primary-school-children-australia).
Talk to your school:
Schools will put these rules into practice in different ways. Ask how your child's school plans to use devices in 2027 and what that means for homework.
How Noooli can help
Noooli offers short daily maths practice, about 10 minutes, for Kindergarten to Year 6, aligned to the Australian Curriculum. The short format fits within a balanced approach to screens. Parents can see their child's progress, and free printable worksheets (noooli.com/worksheets/maths) with answer keys support pen-and-paper practice.
References
1. NSW Department of Education, "Screentime limits in public schools to lift our game in the classroom", 13 September 2026. https://education.nsw.gov.au/news/latest-news/screentime-limits-in-public-schools-to-lift-our-game-in-the-clas
2. NSW Government, "Screentime limits in all public schools to lift our game in the classroom" (ministerial release), September 2026. https://www.nsw.gov.au/ministerial-releases/screentime-limited-from-next-year
3. Premier of Victoria, "Parents To Save Money On Students' Digital Devices", 16 October 2025. https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/parents-save-money-students-digital-devices
4. ABC News, "Victorian primary schools to introduce 90-minute screen time limit for students", 16 October 2025. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10-16/victorian-primary-schools-screen-time-limit/105897548
5. Premier of Victoria, "Less Time On Devices Means More Time Learning", 15 June 2026. https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/less-time-devices-means-more-time-learning
6. Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER), "PISA 2025: Australian students outperform OECD average in world's largest learning assessment", 2026. https://www.acer.org/au/news/article/pisa-2025-australian-students-outperform-oecd-average-in-worlds-largest-learning-assessment
7. Australian Government Department of Health, "Physical activity and exercise guidelines for children and young people (5 to 17 years)". https://www.health.gov.au/topics/physical-activity-and-exercise/physical-activity-and-exercise-guidelines-for-all-australians/for-children-and-young-people-5-to-17-years
Common questions
What are the new NSW school screen time limits?
NSW public schools will have daily screen-learning caps of up to 15 minutes for Kindergarten to Year 2, 30 minutes for Years 3 and 4, and 45 minutes for Years 5 and 6, measured across a week. The limits are recommended from Term 1 2027 and become mandatory in 2028.
What is Victoria's 90-minute screen time limit?
From 2027, students in Years 3 to 6 at Victorian government primary schools will use devices for no more than 90 minutes a day at school. Students from Prep to Year 2 will have minimal device time. Schools will provide the devices, so parents will not need to buy them.
Do the school limits apply to screen time at home?
No. The caps apply to learning on devices at school. NSW guidance does recommend reducing screen-based homework and does not recommend digital homework before Year 5. At home, national guidelines suggest no more than two hours of recreational screen time a day for children aged 5 to 17.
