Parents play a key role in their children’s education. Effective early childhood settings and schools take account of the influence of the home on children’s learning and they build on the experience children bring to the setting or school. Establishing strong links with parents helps make children's education as successful as possible.
Both the National Parents Council (Primary) and the National Parents Council (Post-primary) are represented on the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA).
The NCCA developed Aistear: the Early Childhood Curriculum Framework (2009) in partnership with the early childhood sector. Parents played a key role in this. Aistear states that:
"Parents are the most important people in children's lives. The care and education that children receive from their parents and family, especially during their early months and years, greatly influence their overall development. Extended family and community also have important roles to play". (Principles and themes, p.9)
The NCCA developed the Primary School Curriculum in 1999 through a partnership process involving parents. The curriculum reminds us that:
"parents are the child's primary educators, and the life of the home is the most potent factor in his or her development during the primary school years". (Introduction, p.21)
Post-primary initiatives have also involved both the input of parents and the development of relevant materials to facilitate involvement in their children’s education.
To access information about curriculum and assessment, click on the relevant link/s below:
Aistear: the Early Childhood Curriculum Framework (2009) (PDF)Well-Being and Post-Primary Schooling (2008)(PDF)Senior Cycle: Moving Forward (2008)(PDF)Exceptionally Able Students: Draft Report on the Consultation (2008)(PDF)Report Card Templates - information for parents (2008)(PDF)Report Card Templates – information for parents Lietuvi (Lithuanian) (2008)(PDF)Report Card Templates – information for parents Polski (Polish) (2008)(PDF)Report Card Templates – information for parents Francais (French) (2008)(PDF)Your guide to understanding standard scores (PDF)(Chinese - Simplified) (Deutsch) (Polski) (Lietuvi) (Francais) (Latvietis) Your guide to understanding STen scores (PDF) (Chinese - Simplified) (Deutsch) (Polski) (Lietuvi) (Francais) (Latvietis) The What, Why and How of Children's Learning in Primary School (Broadband video)The What, Why and How of Children's Learning in Primary School (Booklet)(PDF) (Chinese - Simplified) (Deutsch) (Polski) (Lietuvi) (Francais) (Latvietis)NCCA summary and commentary on ESRI research into the experiences of third year students (2007)(PDF)Pathways through the Junior Cycle: The Experiences of Second Year Students (2006)(PDF)Moving Up: The Experiences of First Year Students in Post-primary Education (2004)(PDF)Your Child's Learning (2000)(PDF)
Framework for Early LearningFramework for Early Learning: Background PapersListening for children’s stories: Children as partners in the Framework for Early LearningPrimary School CurriculumCurriculum OnlineJunior Cycle FactsheetsDepartment of Education and ScienceDocuments of interest to parents who are newcomers to Ireland are available from the Department of Education and Science's website in the following languages:
National Parents Council PrimaryNational Parents Council Post-primaryNational Council for Special Education