Up to 89% of parents of primary school children are concerned that heavy school bags could be injuring their children’s backs, according to the National Parents Council (Primary).

Supports are to be allocated without the need for the assessment of pupils to guarantee extra help at school.

The campaign by fee-paying and other schools against moves to practically outlaw places being held for children of past pupils has succeeded, as Fianna Fáil plans to support Government plans in this area.

Parents of secondary school children are spending an average €258 on a new uniform for September.

Hard-pressed families will be forced to borrow hundreds of euros and put off paying other bills to pay for books, uniforms, and other items to send their children back to school.

The right questions from parents is key, writes Helen O’Callaghan.

The protection of children from bullying — in and out of school — may be helped by another 100 training sessions for parents.

NEW anti-bullying procedures were introduced at primary and post-primary level last September and schools have until next term to develop an anti-bullying policy in line with these procedures.

It’s better to talk gently to kids about why they are unhappy at school, says Helen O’Callaghan.

Schools that repeatedly refuse enrolment or breach proposed new admissions rules could get away with it unless an independent appeals system remains available, a parents’ leader has claimed.

Parents need to consult children about resistance to homework.

Parents are being pressured into giving schools hundreds of euro in “voluntary” contributions because the Government is failing to give the facilities the money they need to survive.

A Reform Alliance TD has claimed a “void in the law” in relation to sex abusers may have led a school principal to notify parents about a paedophile living in their area.

Some health professionals are diagnosing children with disabilities so they will get extra educational supports, TDs, and Senators were told yesterday.

The Department of Education does not know how many schools will close to host voting in today’s Seanad and Court of Appeal referendums, as parents call for elections to be moved elsewhere or to weekends.

Parents are being asked to have a direct say in possible changes to how primary schools cater for religiouslydiverse groups of pupils.

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

The importance of creating a positive spirit in schools is key to the success of new anti-bullying procedures, a parents’ leader has said.

Primary school education groups have warned that educational spending could be a huge political issue in next year’s local elections.

Parents dissatisfied with how teachers are treating their children face a brick wall as legislation granting them a grievance process still has not been enacted 15 years after it was first draw up.

Parents, principals, and teacher unions have slammed the latest cuts to special needs resources claiming the Government is directly targeting the most vulnerable children.

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.

“Creative solutions will have to be found” if school enrolment fees are to be outlawed, school management bodies have warned.

The education community has broadly welcomed the first Department of Education guidelines for 20 years on bullying in schools.

Primary school pupils will have their progress tracked in the education system by a long-awaited database that could help the Government develop better education and social policies.

More than half of Irish primary school children own mobile phones — and those without are likely to be pestering their parents for the latest in cellular technology as they look to keep up with their classmates.

It’s a wrench when your child starts school, the flip of what you felt as an infant. It’s a beginning and an ending, says Sue Leonard

Schools must stop forcing hard-pressed parents to pay over-the-odds prices for their children’s uniforms — some of which cost up to 15 times more than less-expensive, generic brands.

The first handover of Catholic primary schools to new patrons will take at least two years, but parents have welcomed the key role they will have in the process.

Churches have serious concerns about the religious identity of their schools as a result of moves to make them more inclusive, a Catholic schools leader said.

Half of parents have complained to their child’s school about bullying, with experts calling for clear guidelines to help tackle what is becoming a growing problem.

Parents have welcomed moves to introduce powers to remove the ability of bad teachers to work.

Parents and school boards have criticised the move to use primary school budgets to part-reverse cuts to teacher numbers at disadvantaged schools.

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

Educationalists now believe homework is worthless and even creates bad habits. David Young asks if it is as pointless as it seems

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.

THE decision on whether or which schools should be divested to new patrons should not be decided by a simple local vote, parents and Catholic bishops appeared to agree yesterday.

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

FAIR treatment by schools of all children, regardless of their beliefs, is more important to parents than who is patron, a forum on pluralism in education will hear this morning.

PUPILS with special needs are to lose 10% of the resource teaching they need under the latest education cutbacks imposed because of EU/IMF staffing limits.

Ruairí Quinn’s moves to transfer some Catholic schools to other patrons has been well received, writes Education Correspondent Niall Murray

AMBITIOUS plans by Education Minister Ruairí Quinn to transfer up to half of Catholic primary schools to new patrons from early next year have been broadly welcomed.