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Suicide levels among young Irish people 'is worrying'
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 21/05/2013.Tags: Parenting Kids Health
Ireland has a worryingly high suicide level among young people, a new report has shown.
According to the Suicide in Ireland 2003-2008 research, the country has the fourth highest rate in Europe, with the number of young males and females taking their own lives rising to more than 25 in every 100,000 - markedly higher than the ten in every 100,000 recorded in 1990.
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Ruairi Quinn lends support to school cost reduction campaign
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 16/05/2013.Tags: Parenting Parenting Kids
Education Minister Ruairi Quinn has lent his support to a campaign aiming to limit the cost of school books and to bring down the price of uniforms.
Mr Quinn said he backed the expansion of school book rental initiatives and would like to see the replacement of uniforms with school badges being considered by primary school boards of management, the Irish Independent reports.
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Search for a Dry bed campaign launches new research
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 15/05/2013.Tags: Parenting Parenting Kids
Almost a third (27%) of parents of children who wet the bed say their child “misses out” on summer activities such as sleepovers with friends and family (60%) and camping trips (24%) due to wetting the bed, according to new research published today by the Search for a Dry Bed campaign and bedwetting.ie, a website that ... click to read full post & commentsFirst phase of new afterschool childcare scheme launched
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 24/04/2013.Tags: Parenting Parenting Kids
The Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton T.D., and Frances Fitzgerald T.D., Minister for Children and Youth Affairs have today (24 April 2013) announced that the first pilot phase of the new afterschool childcare scheme will begin on 29 April.In this first phase, up to 500 childcare places will be made available to people who have been ... click to read full post & comments
Government confirms First Communion grant cancellation
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 11/04/2013.Tags: Parenting Parenting Kids
Thousand of families in Ireland could be affected after the government revealed it is to put a stop on First Communion grants.
It has been confirmed by the Department of Social Protection that exceptional needs payments (ENPs) will no longer be made for religious ceremonies in 2013, the Irish Independent reports.
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Ireland 'among the best countries to be a child'
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 10/04/2013.Tags: Parenting Kids Health
The vast majority of children in Ireland are happy with their lives, a new report has found.
According to the UNICEF study, 86 per cent of young people in the country are content with their lot, with the period between 2001 and 2010 showing steady improvement in this regard.
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Creches 'are struggling to provide care for children with special needs'
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 08/04/2013.Tags: Parenting Kids Health
Providing early childcare to children with special needs is proving difficult for many creches and pre-schools in Ireland.
This is the finding of new research commissioned by Early Childhood Ireland, which showed dozens of providers have turned away young people with learning difficulties because of a lack of timely access to specialised support personnel including care assistants and therapists, the Irish Times reports.
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Parents 'could face school places lottery' following admissions changes
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 03/04/2013.Tags: Parenting Parenting Kids
Proposed changes to admission policy rules in Ireland could result in parents facing a lottery when it comes to which school their children can attend.
These alterations have been put forward by Education Minister Ruairi Quinn and, if implemented, would lead to admission controls for primary and secondary schools being tighter than ever before.
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Monaghan 'is cheapest for childcare costs'
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 27/03/2013.Tags: Parenting Parenting Kids
Monaghan has been found to be the cheapest county in Ireland with regard to childcare costs.
According to a nationwide survey carried out by Newstalk 106-108fm, creches in the region are charging an average of 138 euros a week per child, which is below the national average of 162 euros a week paid by Irish parents.
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Parents 'are worried about online bullying'
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 19/03/2013.Tags: Parenting Parenting Kids
Parents in Ireland are growing increasingly concerned about the issue of cyberbullying, new research has suggested.
Commissioned by the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals (NAPD), the survey revealed almost one in five respondents believe their son or daughter has been the victim of online bullying, while more than half admitted to checking their child's internet activity on a weekly basis.
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FREE eye exam for Kids aged 12 to 16 during March
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 04/03/2013.Tags: Parenting Kids Health
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Opticians have launched a campaign calling for improved eyecare services for 12 to 16-year-olds. According to Eyezone, which represents almost 100 independent opticians across the country in Ireland, approximately 10% of children up to the age of 12 require glasses or contact lenses, while more than 20% do so by the age of 16. Eyezone are highlighting that there is no specific scheme in place for 12-16 year olds during these years of crucial ... click to read full post & comments
'Worst case of truancy' leads to fine for Dublin mother
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 27/02/2013.Tags: Parenting Parenting Kids
An officer from the National Education Welfare Board has described a case of truancy in Dublin as the worst ever seen by the board.
Speaking at Dublin District Court, the representative detailed how a 15-year-old girl skipped 89 out of 114 days in a school year - a total that has resulted in the teenager's mother being fined 300 euros.
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Irish teens 'continue to receive lots of pocket money'
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 25/02/2013.Tags: Parenting Parenting Kids
Teenagers in Ireland are still receiving lots of pocket money, despite their parents facing considerable financial pressures.
This is the finding of new research carried out by the Irish League of Credit Unions (ILCU) - the representative body for 487 credit unions in Ireland - and Youth Work Ireland, which showed 51 per cent of youngsters are regularly given a personal allowance, with 25 per cent being handed between 20 and 25 euros each week.
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Court convictions secured for poor school attendances
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 20/02/2013.Tags: Parenting Parenting Kids
A total of 30 court convictions were secured against parents in Ireland last year due to the poor school attendance records of their children.
Taken by the National Educational Welfare Board - which was set up in 2002 under the Education (Welfare) Act 2000 - these cases illustrate the importance of parents making sure their kids go to school on a regular basis and only miss lessons when there is a valid reason for doing so.
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Primary school children 'to learn the importance of healthy eating'
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 11/02/2013.Tags: Parenting Kids Health
Primary school children are to learn more about the benefits of a balanced diet in a bid to address growing concerns about childhood obesity.
Following recommendations made by restaurateurs Henry Dimbleby and John Vincent in their School Food Plan, young kids will be educated about the importance of eating healthily and older children will receive lessons on how to cook, the Press Association reports.
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Primary school children banned from using certain words
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 07/02/2013.Tags: Parenting Parenting Kids
A primary school in England has banned its pupils from using certain words.
The initiative - which could lead to schools in Ireland following suit - has seen parents issued with a list of words their kids should be discouraged from saying, the Daily Telegraph reports.
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Obese children 'experiencing severe bullying'
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 06/02/2013.Tags: Parenting Kids Health
Obese children at schools in Ireland may be subjected to severe bullying, new findings have suggested.
Temple Street Children's Hospital has revealed that more than one in ten overweight youngsters have experienced this form of victimisation.
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Get involved in the Freddy Fyffes Primary School Competition
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 06/02/2013.Tags: Teachers Parenting
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Freddy Fyffes is calling on 1st to 6th class primary students to get involved in their Freddy Fyffes Primary School Competition. Not only is it a fun, educational way to support children’s knowledge of where food comes from, the students could also win a VIP trip to Dublin Zoo for their class! As part of the competition students are encouraged to research and learn about the ... click to read full post & comments
Pupils 'may not receive enough PE hours'
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 05/02/2013.Tags: Parenting Kids Health
Many school children in Ireland may not be receiving enough hours of physical education (PE).
Just ten per cent of post-primary school pupils are currently taking part in 120 minutes of PE every week, despite rising levels of obesity causing alarm in the country, the Journal reports.
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Parents 'unaware of online bullying'
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 04/02/2013.Tags: Parenting Parenting Kids
Knowledge of cyber-bullying among parents in Ireland is low, new research has found.
Conducted by Dr Brian O'Neill and Thuy Dinh from European Union (EU) Kids Online and Dublin Institute of Technology, the study revealed almost seven in ten mums and dads did not know their child had been victimised online, the Irish Independent reports.
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Emergency food aid for school children 'is required'
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 31/01/2013.Tags: Parenting Kids Health
A national programme of emergency food aid is required for schools in Ireland, it has been claimed.
Independent TD John Halligan has called on Taoiseach Enda Kenny to establish such an initiative to combat the effect increasing poverty levels is having on young people in the country, the Irish Times reports.
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Guidelines on promoting positive mental health and suicide prevention in post-primary schools published
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 31/01/2013.Tags: Education And Politics Teachers News Parenting
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New national Guidelines on promoting positive mental health and suicide prevention in post-primary schools published.“Well-Being in Post-Primary Schools” important tool for schools
The Minister for Education and Skills, the Minister of State for Disability, Older People, Equality & Mental Health and the Director of the National Office of Suicide Prevention launched new guidelines for mental health and suicide prevention for post-primary schools today (31st January).
The Guidelines provide a framework, with information for schools ... click to read full post & comments
Training for parents to spot cyberbullying?
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 30/01/2013.Tags: Parenting Parenting Kids
Training courses could be set up for parents of schoolchildren in Ireland in a bid to tackle cyberbullying.
The recommendation forms part of a new national action plan on bullying and Minister for Education and Skills Ruairi Quinn has given the proposal the green light, the Irish Independent reports.
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New Action Plan on Bullying Launched
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 30/01/2013.Tags: Education And Politics Teachers News Parenting
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The new Action Plan on Bullying was launched yesterday by the Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn T.D. and the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Frances Fitzgerald T.D. The Plan sets out twelve actions to help prevent and tackle bullying in primary and second level schools. The report makes it clear that preventing and tackling bullying requires support from parents and wider society and is not a problem schools can solve alone.
At the launch of the Action Plan in Dublin, Minister Quinn said he ... click to read full post & comments
Concerns raised over lack of school places for children with autism
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 22/01/2013.Tags: Parenting Kids Health
Concerns have been raised that there may be a lack of appropriate school places for children with autism.
The Irish Times reports that families are worried young people with the condition are failing to reach their full potential due to spending cuts.
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Mother jailed for keeping kids off school
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 18/01/2013.Tags: Parenting Parenting Kids
A Dublin mother has been sentenced to 28 days in jail for failing to ensure her three children attended school.
The woman, who has not been named, allowed her children to miss more than one-third of the school term since September.
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New school exercise initiative launched
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 08/01/2013.Tags: Parenting Kids Health
A new school health initiative has been launched as experts warn that children's long-term health is being put at risk because of a lack of exercise.
The scheme has been introduced by Aviva Health Insurance in conjunction with experts from the Centre for Preventive Medicine and aims to improve the health and fitness of first and second year pupils across the country, the Irish Independent reports.
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Four out of five smartphone apps for kids 'could record data'
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 21/12/2012.Tags: Parenting Parenting Kids
An alarming report has revealed that 80 per cent of the smartphone applications designed for children do not reveal if they are recording data such as the user's location or phone number.
The research was carried out by the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and is especially worrying as many children will receive new phones or tablet devices this Christmas.
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Parents to be allowed further leave to care for young children
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 19/12/2012.Tags: Parenting Parenting Kids
The amount of time that parents can take off work to look after their children will be increased in the new year, Justice Minister Alan Shatter has announced.
Following a directive from the European Union (EU) in 2010, the new Family Leave Bill will raise the minimum amount of unpaid leave that parents of children under eight years old are entitled to from 14 to 18 weeks. The EU Directive must be transposed into law by March 8th 2013, the Irish Independent reports.
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Irish parents 'highest spenders in Europe' on toys
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 10/12/2012.Tags: Parenting Parenting Kids
Parents in Ireland are set to spend more on toys for their children than those in any other nation in Europe, a new survey has found.
Research by eBay Ireland revealed mums and dads will shell out an average of €278 on presents for their offspring, the Irish Independent reports.
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Survey-says-half-of-primary-schools-in-deficit
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 28/11/2012.Tags: Education And Politics Parenting Teachers
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A new survey of Irish schools reveals almost half of primary schools are in arrears. 46% of schools surveyed have experienced a deficit for their last financial year. 22% of schools are barely breaking even. The survey, undertaken by Amárach Research, under the auspices of the Catholic Primary Schools Management Association (CPSMA) was carried out among 540 primary schools over a period between October and November. The survey also found that there were reductions in ... click to read full post & comments
How many students from your school have gone to College?
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 22/11/2012.Tags: Education And Politics Parenting Teachers
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Secondary school records on Schooldays.ie have been updated this week to include details of the numbers of students from each school admitted to the different Universities and Colleges around Ireland in September 2012. By visiting any individual school profile on Schooldays.ie you can now view the ‘data on college progression for the school for the last seven years. Commenting on the data displayed on Schooldays.ie, Annemarie Wade, Managing Director of Schooldays stated that Schooldays.ie chooses not to ... click to read full post & comments
Poor baby nutrition leading to adult illnesses, report finds
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 20/11/2012.Tags: Parenting Kids Health
A new study has revealed baby feeding patterns and nutrition in Ireland are "far from ideal", with the nation recording the lowest breastfeeding rates in Europe.
According to the Food Safety Authority in Ireland's (FSAI's) Scientific Recommendations for a National Feeding Policy in Ireland report, the weaning of infants from milk to solid food is also an area that needs particular attention.
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Imaginosity recognised as Discover Science Centre
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 16/11/2012.Tags: Family And Leisure Parenting Education And Politics
Imaginosity is honoured to have recently received official recognition as a ‘Discover Science Centre’ by the Discover Primary Science and Maths Foundation. Imaginosity places an importance and emphasis on science and engineering, discovery and learning, through its varied interactive and educational daily programme of events and activities; hosted for both primary school and ... click to read full post & commentsSpeech and Language Therapy Service recommended for disadvantaged areas
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 15/11/2012.Tags: Education And Politics Parenting
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The establishment of dedicated early intervention speech and language therapy services in disadvantaged areas has been recommended in a children’s report launched today.The Report found that a dedicated speech and language service would enable more children to receive the intervention earlier which would help to remove or reduce a significant disadvantage from them before starting school.
The Report, was launched by the Childhood Development Initiative which has ... click to read full post & comments
Maternal smoking leads to child behavioral problems, report finds
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 13/11/2012.Tags: Parenting Parenting Kids
Children whose mothers smoked during pregnancy are 1.4 times more likely to display behavioural problems in the classroom.
This is according to a new report from the Economic and Research Institute that was conducted by Dr Cathal McCrory and Professor Richard Layte.
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Parents urged to get childrens eyes tested during Bright Eyes week
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 12/11/2012.Tags: Parenting
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Bright Eyes vision check on offer throughout the countryParents across the country have been encouraged to take their children for a special vision check during Bright Eyes Children’s Eye Health Week. (November 12-17)
The ‘Bright Eyes 6 point vision check’ has been specially developed by the Association of Optometrists to identify children’s vision problems which are not normally picked up at the school screenings.
Bright Eyes takes place from Monday to Saturday (November 12-17) and 230 independent optometrists across the country will be offering ... click to read full post & comments(3)
Minister Fitzgerald launches report on consultation with children and young people
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 08/11/2012.Tags: Parenting Education And Politics
Frances Fitzgerald TD, Minister for Children and Youth Affairs has today launched, Life as a Child and Young Person in Ireland: Report of a National Consultation.This consultation was conducted in April ... click to read full post & comments
TG4 launches new Irish language Apps for Pre-Schoolers
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 06/11/2012.Tags: Parenting Teachers
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TG4’s younger viewers (and their parents) received a timely and free Halloween treat with the launch last weekend of two brand-new and fun Irish language Apps for pre-school kids. The two new releases, Cúlacaint2 and OLLY an Veain Bheag Bhán are being officially launched at the Oireachtas na Gaeilge 2012 festival in Letterkenny. They are available to download for free to ... click to read full post & commentsStudy finds 5-year-olds worry about being fat
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 02/11/2012.Tags: Parenting Kids Health
Primary school children as young as five believe they are too fat to wear swimsuits, according to the results of a new study.
Dr Deirdre Cowman of All Hallows College, Dublin, carried out research into the effects a parent's weight obsession can have on children, the Herald reports.
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Secondary-school-students-records-at-risk-on-line
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 21/10/2012.Tags: Parenting Teachers Education And Politics
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According to the website thejournal.ie this morning, personal records of thousands of secondary school pupils could be available to view by any internet user. A serious security flaw in a schools data management system used by many secondary schools means that sensitive data such as pupils academic records, parents details and ... click to read full post & comments
More sleep leads to better school behaviour, study finds
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 18/10/2012.Tags: Parenting Parenting Kids
New research has proven that primary-aged children who get at least the recommended ten hours sleep a night behave better in school.
A study led by Reut Gruber of Montreal's McGill University and Douglas Research Center revealed that the more shut-eye a child gets, the less likely they are to be restless throughout the day.
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Teachers say pupils coming to school hungry
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 16/10/2012.Tags: Education And Politcs Teachers Parenting
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Almost 7 out of 10 teachers in Ireland (69%) believe that pupils are coming to school hungry. While 15% were unsure whether this is the case, only 15% of teachers could say that they did not believe that pupils were coming to school hungry.When teachers were asked why students are coming to school hungry, they cited a number of reasons; ... click to read full post & comments
Almost half of young people have suicidal thoughts, study finds
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 08/10/2012.Tags: Parenting Kids Health
Experts have called for greater awareness of the emotional distress faced by many young people after a new study found more than four in ten young people have felt their lives are not worth living.
The My World survey saw 8,000 individuals aged between 17 and 25 asked a series of questions addressing mental health by researchers from Headstrong and the University College Dublin's (UCD's) School of Psychology, the Irish Times reports.
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