A parent's guide to primary school - Katy Byrne

There are two universally known truths: 1) Smart kids work well. 2) You can't change people. The first is incorrect. It isn't the smart kids who work well, it's the kids who work well who are smart. Intelligence and diligence are not quantities fixed at birth. They can both be very considerably enhanced. The second one is right; you can't change people. The task is, then, to create the environment in which the kids can work well and allow them to blossom almost by themselves. As long as the systems are designed and maintained well, this is a very low stress way of getting what both parents and kids really want. A wonderfully comprehensive guide for parents providing advice on every aspect of their child's education; from choosing a suitable school, to communicating with teachers, through to dealing with the trauma of homework. Practical and accessible, this book really does tell parents everything they need to know to help their children succeed at school.