www.bbc.co.uk/webwise

The Beeb has always done things correctly - even down to paying $200,000 to Boston Business Computing for the rights to cf33www.bbc.com.

The BBC website is arguably the best there is, and the Webwise sub-site provides an excellent guide to using the Internet, regardless of your level of experience. Hundreds of pages contain plainspeaking help, advice and news.

www.gillmacmillan.ie

Students and parents alike will find the Gill & Macmillan site useful for finding information on their new books, covering school, college and general titles. To buy a book, you are still directed to the Fred Hanna's Bookshop site, but crucially Gill & Macmillan has started publishing on its site material which complements educational books, such as teacher's notes and regular updates.

www.cnn.com

Parents concerned about website questionnaires collecting information from children will be interested in this article. As of April 21st, site operators in the US are required by federal law to get a parent's permission before they collect personal information from children. See www.cnn.com/2000/TECH/computing/04/21/internet.childprivacy.ap

www.speakout.com

There's a little of the student activist in most of us and everyone from armchair anarchists to those that still want to change the world will find something to get hot and bothered about at Speakout. Started by an American called Ron Howard, a man who "wanted to voice his opinion but didn't know exactly who to talk to", it presents a detailed look behind the stories that shape our world.

www.kidshealth.org

This is a superb site for anyone curious or concerned about children's health. With separate sections dealing with parents, young children and teenagers, it is to be commended for not shirking the big issues. "Is It OK if My Breasts Are Different Sizes?", "Dealing With Bullies" and "Disciplining Your Child" are just three of the stories flagged from the current homepage.