It was an extra special back-to-school day for 11-year-old Saoirse Hayes from Kinsale, Co Cork, as the sensory room she designed for her school opened for use for the first time.

A woman with melanoma, a form of skin cancer, handed out sun hats to primary school children yesterday as part of her campaign to encourage them to be sun smart.

For many parents, school starting times pose a headache as their working day begins at the same time, writes Ailin Quinlan