A booklet looking at ways they can support their children's learning is on its way to the parents of the State's primary school children. Distribution of Primary School Curriculum: Your Child's Learning, Guidelines for Parents, began last week, along with a letter in which the Minister for Education, Michael Woods, says the new curriculum "recognises the very important role parents play in their children's education, both at home and in school". The Guidelines booklet provides information about what is new in the curriculum and where there are changes in emphasis. It shows too how parents can help children learn at home and suggests ways in which they can support the school in implementing the curriculum.

Advice is included on helping make Irish relevant and on suitable books for children. With social, environmental and scientific education (SESE) now beginning in infant classes, the booklet suggests taking children who are old enough to places which are interesting in terms of history, geography and science.

Children with special needs, homework, the function of textbooks and the range and methods of assessment are all examined.