NES Educational Leadership (815) Diagnostic Test

Case: Lantern Cove Primary School: arrival observations and family participation choices

Lantern Cove is organizing a family partnership around children's explanations of how they solve everyday problems. The school wants participation to be accessible without making attendance at an event the measure of family commitment. The principal is also reviewing a community offer of support for families. Records describe the current planning cycle.

Document: Arrival observations and family participation choices

Family-conference arrival check

Staff observed 20 families arriving for scheduled conferences. The invitation directed visitors to the east entrance. That entrance was locked after the school day; the staffed entrance was on the courtyard side. Nine families waited at the east entrance and reached their conferences late. Four of them had arrived before the appointment time. Reception staff used the courtyard entrance during their own check and reported no delay. Families who had previously visited the campus were more likely to know the alternative route. The school can change the invitation instructions before the next round.

Ways of contributing

Families may join an event, send an audio account of a home activity, or discuss an example during a telephone conference. The school has received examples through each route. Participation records will identify the method used, not rank families by attendance. A family may invite an adult supporter to a school planning meeting under the school's meeting procedure.