Our parents association is a member of the National Parents Council Primary (NPC).
The NPC is the nationwide, government-recognised organisation representing parents of children attending early and primary education. As NPC members we follow their recommended guidelines for Parent’s Associations.
NPC Information/Helpline is a confidential service for parents. The Information/Helpline officers listen, and give information and support to parents to help them make the best possible decisions for and with their children.
Parent Association Guidelines
Description of Parents Association
The parent association is the structure through which parents in a school can work together for the best possible education for their children. The parent association works with the principal, staff and the board of management to build effective partnership between the home and school. Partnership between the home and school is important because with positive and active partnership the child gets the best that primary education can offer.
Legislation
The Education Act, 1998 sets down the role of the parent association. Under the Education Act, 1998 Section 26.
(1) The parents of students of a recognised school may establish, and maintain from among their number, a parents’ association for that school and membership of that association shall be open to all parents of students of that school.
(2) A parents’ association shall promote the interests of the students in a school in co-operation with the board, Principal, teachers and students of a school and for that purpose may –
(a) advise the Principal or the board on any matter relating to the school, and the Principal or board, as the case may be, shall have regard to any such advice and
(b) adopt a programme of activities which will promote the involvement of parents, in consultation with the Principal, in the operation of the school
(3) The board shall promote contact between the school, parents of students in that school and the community and shall facilitate and give all reasonable assistance to parents who wish to establish a parents’ association and to a parents’ association when it is established.
(4) (a) A parents’ association shall, following consultation with its members, make rules governing its meetings and the business and conduct of its affairs.
(b) Where a parents’ association is affiliated to a national association of parents, the rules referred to in paragraph (a) shall be in accordance with guidelines issued by the national association of parents with the concurrence of the Minister.
The Parent Association works with the principal, staff and the board of management to build effective partnership of home and school.
Educational research on the involvement of parents in schools shows that children achieve higher levels when parents and teachers work together.
The Parent Association can advise the principal and Board of Management on policy issues and incidents that may require a review of school policy, e.g. Bullying, Safety, Homework, Enrolment, Behaviour problems etc.
Parent Associations can suggest and/or organise extra-curricular activities.
The Parent Association is a support for parents in the school.
The Parent Association can invite speakers to address the parents on issues which are topical or relevant.
The Parent Association is not a forum for complaint against either an individual teacher or parent. The Complaints Procedure is the mechanism for this.
For further information on Parent Associations please see “Working Effectively as a Parent Association”, guidelines which are available from National Parents Council Primary.