Parents are to receive special training as part of a crackdown on bullying, it was revealed.

Cash-strapped families will put off paying bills to cover the cost of their children’s First Holy Communion a charity has warned, after the Government confirmed that a grant for “religious ceremonies” is to be axed.

The timescale for the first hand-overs of Catholic schools in areas where parents want more choice will be revealed by Education Minister Ruairi Quinn today.

MORE than 50,000 Irish children are about to say one of their first major goodbyes, as they leave the safe world of primary school. And with post-primary on the horizon, summer holidays may not be as carefree as usual. It’s a coming of age with its own set of hurdles to be navigated.

The Garda Commissioner, Martin Callinan, has launched a new campaign to “wipe out” online bullying of young people.

MORE school parent groups are finding ways of easing the financial pressure associated with First Holy Communions.

EXCESSIVE homework is a pointless exercise that is eroding family life, an education expert has claimed.

A PARENTS’ group says children’s pre-packed lunch box favourites must have clearer nutritional labelling showing levels of salt and sugar in them.

ALTERNATIVE course options, grant applications and deferring college places are among the biggest concerns for students and their families checking third-level offers this morning.

CHILDREN as young as seven are being bullied on social networking sites and mobile phones, an expert warned yesterday.

MORE Irish children consider they spend too much time on the internet than their European counterparts.

Teenagers who smoke believe they are not healthy but persist with their habit because they think it’s “cool”, research published today reveals.

THE Government must end its piecemeal approach to school transport and make it the responsibility of a single department, parents have warned.

A parents’ group today urged schools to “pull up their socks” following a €10,000 award to a pupil who was bullied.

AN EXTRA 400 primary teaching posts will be created over the next two years to help reduce class sizes, Education Minister Mary Hanafin promised yesterday.

TEACHERS and parents have given a guarded welcome to a plan backed by Justice Minister Michael McDowell to develop school-based childcare.

I ASSURE Tom Cunnane (Irish Examiner, May 31) that National Parents Council Primary has, over the past 20 years, developed well researched and democratically formed policies.

REPORTS on school inspections will be published in future to give more information to parents, Education Minister Mary Hanafin said yesterday.

CHILDREN making their First Holy Communion are collecting up to €1,000 from friends and relatives — almost treble the amount made in the 1990s, research has revealed.

CHILDREN as young as 10 are refusing to go to school on their birthday because of a new ‘birthday-bashing’ craze sweeping through primary and secondary schools.

CHILDREN who surf the net are being exposed to paedophiles.