• Current Projects
• Contact Details

The Ellis Guilford EIP, established in 2006, is part of the city-wide EIP strategy of schools working together to maximise their expertise and share resources.  School that form the Partnership are Ambleside, Heathfield, Hempshill Hall, Old Basford, Rosslyn Park and Whitemoor Primary Schools and Ellis Guilford Secondary School and Sports College.  The partnership emerged from an existing family of schools and strong historical relationships.  Ambleside Primary joined in 2008 in recognition of the significant numbers of children moving to Ellis Guilford on transition.

We are a Reading Connects Partnership and aim to raise educational standards and provide positive engaging learning opportunities for our children and families.  In particular we hope our work will inspire a love of reading and a desire to succeed within our communities.  As a result of innovative work around reading and promoting Reading Champions, both Ellis Guilford School and Ambleside Primary have gained national awards through the National Literacy Trust.  See the Literacy Trust's website. The Partnership was also a strong supporter of the City's Year of Reading 2011 and we work alongside our local Nottingham Libraries in Basford, Aspley and Bulwell.

The cohesive group of Head Teachers direct the work of the EIP and provide professional peer support.  They are also keen to evaluate the impact of the various projects to ensure we are working effectively and are supported by a part-time Partnership Manager.

Over the past five years we have worked successfully with a range of partners, including: -

• The British Council in developing international partnerships with Spain and sub-Saharan Africa;
• Museums, Libraries and Archives (MLA), the National Gallery, and Nottingham Museum and Art Gallery and their Take One Picture visual literacy project;
• Nottingham City Council outdoor, music and arts teams;
• Nottingham Trent University and University of Nottingham;
• Local voluntary and community groups to promote holiday provision.

Back to top 

Current Projects 2012/13

• Second Story - Writers in Residence; we have recently received funding to provide a creative writing programme for our Y3-7 children.  Over the year staff and children will be working with local and national authors and other providers to experience the excitement of being a writer.  We are pleased to be working with children's illustrator Lynne Chapman, the Nottingham Post, the Broadway Independent Cinema Education Team and Jonny Zucker.  As part of this project we have been able to fully book the Pantomime for an EIP visit at Nottingham Playhouse in January 2013 and will also be working with a professional theatre company on developing play scripts.  We are excited that both staff and children will gain a huge amount from these experiences.
• MegaRead; we know that the best writers are those that read!  Our commitment to promoting books and the love of reading continues with a co-ordinated group of literacy co-ordinators looking at best practice in developing reading skills and also planning author visits for younger children not part of Second Story.  This includes a visit from Kes Gray, highly acclaimed author of the Daisy books, and also Andy Cope with his Spy Dog, Lara.  Andy will also be sharing some of his ideas to promote positivity and self-belief for Y5/6 in the 'Art of Being Brilliant'  recognising that 'attitude' is a key to unlocking potential. (See the Art of Being Brilliant website.)  We will be running a MegaRead Book Award and our annual Question of Sport Quiz as well as lots of in-school activity to keep reading high on the agenda.
• Attendance; all our schools work hard to help all children attend school every day, all day and on time.  Staff in schools will go the extra mile to support parents fulfil their responsibility to ensure their child's attendance.  We know that this gives children the best chance of learning and success.  Therefore we will be supporting Attendance Officers already working in EIP schools and looking for innovative ways of achieving even better attendance rates.
• Music; Musicians from EIP schools form the majority of the Basford Area Band, the largest ensemble in the city.  We perform regularly to family and friends and more recently took part in the Jubilee celebrations at Vernon Park.  Over the next year we will be providing ensemble tutors to support the Area Band children prepare for their performances and look forward to the Christmas concert, Light Night and other opportunities to share these talents.  A recent research report told us that there is a link between children who play a musical instrument and their capacity for empathy.
• Sharing School Strengths; the Partnership recognises all schools have skills to offer as well as areas for development, and staff will continue to visit colleagues and other schools to develop their learning.  This reciprocity underpins the ethos of the Partnership as schools seek to support and challenge one another and take responsibility for shared school improvement.  A group of senior staff, Deputy and Assistant Heads oversee this area of work which is a key part of our aim ultimately to see all our schools being graded as outstanding by Ofsted.

Back to top

For more information please contact:

Ellis Guilford Education Improvement Partnership Manager
c/o Old Basford Primary School
Percy Street
Old Basford
Nottingham   NG6 0GF

Tel: 07930 670 537
Email: heidi.shewell-cooper@nottinghamcity.gov.uk