Roadmap

Current Status: Framework in Active Deployment

The Children’s Digital Wellbeing Framework is being stewarded by FUNdamentally Children during its founding phase.

This period focuses on:

• Finalising the open-source framework documentation

• Piloting certification methodology

• Establishing assessor standards

• Building cross-sector adoption

• Stress-testing governance mechanisms

• Gathering implementation data across product types

The framework itself remains open source and publicly accessible.

Why a Founding Steward?

Launching a new standard requires:

• Coordinated development

• Financial and reputational risk

• Operational oversight

• Clear decision-making authority

FUNdamentally Children is currently carrying this responsibility to ensure the framework is robust, practical and evidence-led.

This stewardship is time-bound and purpose-specific.

The next 12 months focus on collaborative build-out.

Founding Certified Partners

Organisations seeking early alignment and public leadership recognition.

Advisory Working Groups

Cross-sector input on:

• Age calibration
  
  

• Activity modules
  
  

• AI-enabled systems
  
  

• Implementation guidance
  
  

• Policy alignment
  
  

Pilot Certification Cohort

Early adopters participating in structured accreditation pilots.

Research & Benchmarking Contributors

Organisations contributing anonymised data to build the first Digital Wellbeing Index.

Sponsorship of Launch & Report

Supporting the April public launch and initial benchmarking report.

Participation now allows organisations to shape the practical evolution of the framework.

During the founding period, a formal governance transition structure will be developed.

This includes:

• Draft constitution for independent not-for-profit governance body
  
  

• Independent chair identification
  
  

• Multi-stakeholder board composition design
  
  

• Conflict-of-interest safeguards
  
  

• Certification oversight charter
  
  

• Auditor licensing framework
  
  

• Public transparency mechanisms
  
  

A Governance Advisory Panel will be convened during this phase.

The transition to independent governance will occur once the framework reaches defined maturity thresholds:

Indicative triggers include:

• Adoption across multiple product categories
  
  

• Geographic expansion beyond the UK
  
  

• Minimum number of certified products
  
  

• Established assessor standards
  
  

• Published benchmarking data
  
  

• Operationally stable certification model
  
  

These thresholds ensure the framework is sufficiently robust before structural transfer.

Upon reaching maturity milestones:

A dedicated, independent not-for-profit entity will be established to:

• Hold stewardship of the open-source framework
  
  

• Oversee certification governance
  
  

• Maintain update cycles
  
  

• Manage public consultation processes
  
  

• Protect the integrity of the certification mark
  
  

• Publish annual transparency reports
  
  

Board composition will include:

• Independent chair
  
  

• Academic representation
  
  

• Child development experts
  
  

• Industry representatives
  
  

• Policy specialists
  
  

• Founding steward representation (non-controlling)
  
  

FUNdamentally Children will retain a defined founding role within the governance structure but will not hold majority control.

The long-term integrity of the CDWF will be protected by:

• Clear separation between governance and commercial certification delivery
  
  

• Transparent certification criteria
  
  

• Published conflict-of-interest policy
  
  

• Auditor standards and licensing controls
  
  

• Annual independent review of governance
  
  

• Public reporting of certification data
  
  

The open-source framework will remain publicly accessible at all times.

The certification mark will remain protected to ensure trust and consistency.

The CDWF aims to become:

• A recognised reference standard for children’s digital design
  
  

• A benchmark for investors and procurement
  
  

• A tool for policymakers
  
  

• A trusted signal for parents and educators
  
  

• A platform-neutral framework adaptable across jurisdictions
  
  

The governance transition ensures that the framework’s authority grows beyond any single organisation.

Organisations participating during the founding phase will:

• Help shape implementation guidance
  
  

• Influence governance architecture
  
  

• Contribute to the first benchmarking index
  
  

• Demonstrate leadership in digital responsibility
  
  

• Receive early recognition as founding adopters
  
  

This is a formative period in the establishment of a new sector standard.

From the outset, the CDWF is being developed with:

• Open documentation
  
  

• Public consultation pathways
  
  

• Defined governance transition plan
  
  

• Separation of framework and certification mark
  
  

• Independent oversight as a stated objective