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What children learn in each class

A plain-English guide to Maths, English and Irish in primary school in Ireland – so you know what your child is working on, from Junior Infants to 6th Class.

2nd Class · Stage 2 (1st and 2nd Class): children start reading and writing more independently and build strong number skills.

Maths

Primary Mathematics Curriculum (2023)

  • Numbers to 199 and beyond; place value
  • Adding and subtracting with 'carrying' and 'borrowing' (renaming)
  • Multiplication as repeated adding; sharing as division
  • Fractions: ½ and ¼
  • Money: up to €5, and working out change
  • Time: quarter past and quarter to; the calendar
  • Measuring in metres and centimetres, kilograms, litres
  • Symmetry and block graphs
  • Standardised tests in Maths at the end of 2nd Class

English

Primary Language Curriculum (2019)

  • Reading fluently and with expression
  • Reading non-fiction as well as stories
  • Writing stories with a beginning, middle and end
  • Describing words (adjectives) and doing words (verbs)
  • Spelling patterns and word families
  • Joined handwriting
  • Standardised tests in English reading at the end of 2nd Class

Gaeilge (Irish)

Primary Language Curriculum (2019)

  • Reading short Irish texts and readers
  • Writing simple sentences
  • Starting to talk about the past: Chuaigh mé, D'ith mé, Bhí mé
  • Saying what they like and don't like
  • Short dialogues and role-plays

Easy ways to help at home

  • Let your child read to you, and keep reading to them too
  • Use real money in shops and let them count the change
  • Ask about their day using simple Irish phrases

Good to know

  • The official curriculum sets goals for two-year stages (Infants, 1st–2nd, 3rd–4th, 5th–6th). The points for each class are typical examples – every school plans its own order, so your child may meet some topics a little earlier or later.
  • Children learn at different speeds. If something here seems far ahead of where your child is, that's completely normal – their teacher is happy to help with any questions.
  • Standardised tests in English reading and Maths take place at the end of 2nd, 4th and 6th Class.
  • In Gaelscoileanna and Gaeltacht schools, children learn through Irish, so their Irish is usually well ahead of this guide.

Sources: Primary Mathematics Curriculum (2023) and Primary Language Curriculum (2019), NCCA – curriculumonline.ie. More parent resources: ncca.ie/en/primary/resources-for-parents.