New National Survey To Help Schools Support Parental Separation & Family Change
Survey by One Family, The Separation Network and WHAT WORKS (Department of Children, Disability and Equality)
6th July 2026 – for immediate release
Parents and teachers across Ireland are being asked to complete a new, national survey which will be used to develop new guidelines for primary schools to best support families and children through separation, divorce and other family changes.
Parents can complete the survey if:
- They live in Ireland.
- Have a child/children currently in primary school or who attended primary school between 2022-2025.
- Are a lone parent, separated, divorced, sharing parenting, a step-parent, a legal guardian or kinship carer.
School staff can complete the survey, including:
- School principals.
- Teachers.
- SNAs.
- School secretaries.
- Any person working in the school.
The survey is open until Friday 31st July and both surveys are available here.
Aisling Kelly, Parenting Manager, One Family said:
“We’re really happy to bring this opportunity to parents nationally. We know for the direct support we give to one-parent families at One Family how necessary this survey is. The end goal is to develop guidelines for schools, so they can be supported to help families through times of transition and to also help families be supported during what can be a stressful or difficult time. One in four families with children in Ireland is a one-parent family, so it’s not uncommon. We want to make sure that schools are equipped and empowered with the tools to navigate times of family change and that families across Ireland can be met with understanding, empathy and help.”
Geraldine Kelly, The Separation Network said:
“Family separation can represent a profound loss for children, who may be grieving the life they once knew while adjusting to new family dynamics across two homes. These emotional experiences can significantly impact a child’s wellbeing, sense of belonging and ability to engage in learning. This research is a vital first step in supporting schools to recognise and respond to the diverse realities of children’s lives. By equipping teachers and schools with practical guidance, we can help ensure children feel understood, included and proud of their family form, while supporting both parents to remain meaningfully involved in their child’s school life. Ultimately, our shared goal is to strengthen school communities so they can better support children at vulnerable times of family change.”
Quote from What Works:
“The Department of Children, Disability and Equality’s What Works initiative, funded by the Dormant Accounts Fund, is pleased to support this new, national survey to support both families and schools through separation and changes to family form. Findings from the survey will support a coordinated, evidence-based approach to developing guidelines for families, schools and other professionals.”
[ENDS]
For more information, please contact Vicky Masterson, One Family Communications Manager on 083 447 0645 / vmasterson@onefamily.ie
Notes to Editor:
This survey is supported by the Department of Children, Disability and Equality as part of the What Works Initiative, which is funded by the Dormant Accounts Fund.
- One Family is Ireland’s organisation for people parenting alone, sharing parenting, and separating. We have been working with one-parent families for over 50 years. We provide a range of direct services to parents and children, along with campaigning and advocating for legislative and social change to deliver true equality for all families. Services include direct family support, parenting courses, New Futures employability programme, AskOneFamily helpline and counselling for those experiencing an unplanned or crisis pregnancy. You can learn more about One Family at www.onefamily.ie
- The Separation Network was established to ensure that the well-being and voices of children remain central to family separation, divorce, and relationship breakdown. You can learn more about The Separation Network at https://rainbowsireland.ie/separation-network/about-us
- WHAT WORKS is an initiative led by the Department of Children, Disability and Equality, with funding from Dormant Accounts, to support a move towards evidence informed prevention and early intervention services for children, young people and their families.
Homework is considered to be beneficial in helping children to learn how to manage time, planning and priorities, and to learn independently and take responsibility. These are all skills that will help them in the future in many ways. Homework also helps teachers to determine how well students are understanding their lessons. It is important as parents that we support our children in doing their homework. This keeps us in touch with what’s happening at school and how our children are managing, and will help children to achieve academically throughout their education. As part of our weekly ’10 Ways to’ series of parenting tips, here are our 10 Ways to Manage Homework with Primary School Children.
- Homework belongs to the child not the parent. Teach your child from entry to school that they are responsible for homework being done. Your role is to support your child with homework, but not to do it.
- Create the necessary environment for your child to work in. They need a calm space with no TV or other distractions. Allow them time to relax when they come in from school and have a snack and change of clothes ready.
- Always demonstrate an interest in your child’s homework, support them, champion them and stand up for them. You know them best, so encourage and support yet know when it’s time to stop. Know your limits and theirs.
- Encourage your child if they feel it’s too hard. Acknowledge that it is hard but tell them you know they can do it. If you find yourself being negative with them, or saying something like, “Yes, you are no good at maths”, then it is advisable to look at your own issues with homework.
- Set a start and end time for homework. Sometimes you may feel your child has too much homework on a particular day. Let the teacher know it will be completed by the end of the week rather than pushing a very tired child to finish it that evening.
- The National Parents Council offers a guide to the amount of time each age group should spend on homework, stating that in general the following guidelines apply:
- Junior/Senior infants: No formal homework but perhaps some drawing, preliminary reading, matching shapes and pictures or listening to stories read by parents.
- First/Second class: 20-30 minutes.
- Third/Fourth class: 30-40 minutes.
- Fifth/Sixth class: 40-60 minutes.
- When you are tired and your child is tired, it’s usually time to stop. Your level of patience will be lower. Remember that your relationship with your child is more important than homework.
- Arguing late in the evening over homework leaves everyone unsettled and stressed which can lead to bedtime routines being disrupted.
- Talk with the school/your child’s teacher if you feel your child cannot get their homework done without your help. Children should be able to do their homework alone with parents nearby. Your role should involve encouragement, checking it’s done, and testing them on key things such as spelling.
- Sometimes children need time off too. Explore how many extra activities they have on and look at creating down time for them. Would you like to bring home work every day? A school day is long and it is important to acknowledge all the work they have already done that day. Try not to focus on the areas they’re less successful at as this will do nothing for self-esteem and achieve nothing. Appreciate that children have a lot on and need you to recognise the effort they are making in every task.
This article is part of our weekly ’10 Ways to’ series of parenting tips, and is by One Family’s Director of Children and Parenting Services, Geraldine Kelly.
For support and advice on these or any related topics, call askonefamily on lo-call 1890 66 22 12 or email support@onefamily.ie.