About one-third of primary schools - more than 1,000 in total - still have no parents' association, three years after the Government gave such associations legal recognition.

The National Parents Council (Primary), which monitors parental involvement in schools, says this shows that parents need more support and information on how to set an association up.

The council yesterday published guidelines for parents on how to set up an association in their children's schools. The guidelines emphasise the positive achievements that an association can make, and shows how they can give parents a significant say in how a school is run.

Under the Education Act 1998, parents are allowed form an association and to advise the school principal or board of management.

Fionnuala Kilfeather, chief executive of the NCP (Primary), said the guidelines would assist existing parent associations and help new ones.

The guidelines, Working Effectively As a Parent Association, list the areas where parents can influence their school, including its policies on homework, relationships and sexuality education, discipline, the timing of parent-teacher meetings and bullying.

Other issues which can be raised with the school principal directly are: safety at the school gate; behaviour on the school bus; and provision for pupils during wet and cold weather, holidays and school closures.