Leigh Academy Milestone Newsletter
February 2025 - Term 3
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Principal's Welcome
Principal's Welcome
Welcome to our module 3 newsletter and our first of 2025! We have had a great start to the new year, in a term that has seen a brand new class open on our mainsite and one of our Phase 4 classes move to our Wilmington satellite.
I want to express a warm welcome to the parents/carers of Zebra class. This brand new class, based in Phase 1, is led by experienced teacher Phil Watts and a great team. The new children in Zebra have transitioned well and we are encouraged by the progress they are already making. Elsewhere, Canterbury class has moved to its new home at our Wilmington satellite, with all students embracing the change and quickly making themselves at home amongst their new peers.
Students at Milestone@SGLA and Milestone@W sat Functional Skills exams in Maths and English this term. All these students demonstrated hard work and commitment in preparing for and sitting these exams, traits which we love to see. They coped well with the demands of the exams and we are confident of good outcomes. There will be further exams in the spring/summer and we know our students will rise to the challenge once more.
Last term, I waxed lyrical about our wonderful performing arts offering here at Milestone which is designed to empower students through communication and development of self-confidence. Over the course of module 3, Phase 3 has been working incredibly hard in preparation for their forthcoming performance of ‘Macbeth’ at the Shakespeare Schools Festival. The students are excited to showcase all they’ve learned. The performance promises to be a powerful and captivating mix of classical and modern influences, with every performer bringing their passion and energy to the stage. Their big night is Friday 14th March at The Woodville in Gravesend, tickets are on sale now.
Thank you to all those who attended the IB workshop at the end of January. I hope you found it useful. It’s important for us that you are informed about how we approach learning here at Milestone and that you feel better equipped to support and collaborate on your child’s learning journey. We are very fortunate to have so many specialists within our Milestone team, and as a result we are able to offer valuable events for our parents and carers. I encourage you to take advantage of these opportunities where you can. Next term we are hosting two Makaton training sessions for families, and a sensory needs coffee morning. Please look out for the details and come along to learn more and make connections with others.
https://www.leighacademymilestone.org.uk/events/
A reminder that the Leigh Academies Trust’s annual Parent Voice survey closes at 4pm on Friday 14th February at 4pm. The Trust is keen to understand your views about what is going well and how it can improve. To complete the survey please click here
Please enjoy this newsletter and do visit your child’s class pages for more insight. I hope you are able to have some valuable time with your children during the break. We look forward to seeing everyone back, rested and recharged, on Monday 24th February.
Sarah Goosani
Principal
Phase 1
Phase 1
This module welcomed a new class, 'Zebra' to Phase 1 and they have settled in brilliantly. The pupils are quickly adapting to their new routines, building positive relationships with staff, and engaging well with learning activities. It has been wonderful to see their confidence grow as they explore their new environment and interact with their peers. Across the rest of Phase 1, our learners have been continuing to explore the transdisciplinary theme ‘How We Express Ourselves’ through play, movement, and sensory experiences. We have been learning about ‘People Who Help Us’, including Florence Nightingale, using role play and hands-on activities to explore how she cared for others. We have also been discovering how to look after babies, using dolls to practise gentle hands and thinking about what they need to feel safe and happy. Lion Class have been enjoying their swimming sessions at Fairfield, gaining confidence in the water while having lots of fun. Our Forest School sessions have been full of exciting sensory experiences, from exploring natural textures to engaging in imaginative outdoor play. A real highlight has been the opening of the new Sensory Smile Room, where pupils have been able to express themselves through lights, sounds, and interactive elements. It has been a fantastic term of discovery, creativity, and new experiences!
Please take a look at our class pages: https://sites.google.com/latrust.org.uk/milestone-academy-phase-1/home
Catherine McHugh-Moss - Phase 1 Leader
Claire Woolmer - Assistant Principal Phase 1
Milestone @ Cherry Orchard
Milestone @ Cherry Orchard
In Early Years we have had a really fun and exciting term exploring lots of new activities. We have shared the sensory stories: ‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar’, ‘Elmer’ and ‘The Tiger who came to tea’. During our cooking activities we did some food tasting, made sandwiches and a fruit salad.
In Write Dance this term we practiced our movement to the song ‘Elephant steps’ and then did lots of different sensory mark making. We have also enjoyed some sensory play and practiced filling and pouring. We explored jelly, pasta, custard and angel delight.
This term we have also been working really hard on our individual communication targets using PECS, switches, communication boards and/or objects.
Please take a look at our class page: https://sites.google.com/latrust.org.uk/milestone-academy-phase-1/home
Carly Bailey - Satellite Director
Phase 2
Phase 2
This term, our learning has been full of fun and exploration, all linked to the theme 'How We Express Ourselves'. We have been discovering the wonders of jungles and rainforests, learning about the amazing animals and plants that live there. In our water play and outdoor activities, we explored the water cycle, watching how water moves through rain, puddles, and sunshine! At Forest School, we have loved experiencing all kinds of weather—from snowy days to warm sunshine—talking about how it feels and what we can do in different conditions. We have also been getting creative with junk modelling, using different materials to build and make, expressing our ideas through art and play. Pupils have also enjoyed exploring the new SMILE room and developing their regulation skills through sensory activities. It has been a fantastic term of curiosity, creativity, and outdoor adventures!
Please take a look at our class pages: https://sites.google.com/latrust.org.uk/milestone-academy-phase-2/home
Lucy Sparks- Phase 2 Leader
Michelle Hilton - Assistant Principal Phase 2
Milestone @ Dartford Primary Academy
Milestone @ Dartford Primary Academy
As we wrap up Module 3, we wanted to share the exciting learning journey our students have experienced. Throughout this module, our Lines of Inquiry focused on themes such as Cultures, Communities and Environments, Cycles, Systems and Habitats, and 'Expressing Our Ideas'. In our exploration of 'Our Environment', students have learned about the importance of protecting the planet and how communities interact with nature. They’ve developed an understanding of how small actions can have a big impact on the environment. Our inquiry into 'Who is Jewish and What Do They Believe?' allowed students to explore the key beliefs, traditions, and customs of Jewish culture, broadening their understanding of world religions and cultural diversity. In 'Earth and Space', students studied the water cycle, seas, and oceans, gaining insight into how interconnected Earth’s systems are and how water plays a crucial role in sustaining life. The 'Rural & Urban' inquiry compared rural and urban environments, with a particular focus on rainforests and jungles, helping students appreciate the diversity of habitats and ecosystems around the world. In art, students combined materials to create 3D rainforest scenes inspired by the works of Henri Rousseau, blending creativity with their environmental studies.
In terms of enrichment activities, Moonbeam class has been thoroughly enjoying their swimming lessons, which have helped build water confidence and essential life skills. Comet class has been learning about budgeting and visiting the local shops, giving them practical experience in money management and understanding how local communities function. Nova class has been having a great time in Forest Schools, connecting with nature and developing both practical skills and a deeper appreciation for the environment.
As part of our end-of-module celebrations, we held a dance workshop, where students explored different cultures through music and movement, reflecting on British values and embracing cultural diversity. We are incredibly proud of the progress our students have made this module, and we’re excited for the next steps of their learning journey in module 4
Please take a look at our class pages: https://sites.google.com/latrust.org.uk/milestone-academy-phase-2/home
Jessica Street - Interim Satellite Director
Phase 3
Phase 3
Module 3 has been filled with creativity, growth, and fun learning moments. Romans have continued to work on our transdisciplinary theme of 'How we express ourselves'. In PSPD we have been focusing on 'changing me' and learning about how we have grown from babies, to children, to teenagers. We have explored the different toys, clothes, music and food for each stage. For our careers we have been learning about different jobs, including doctors and nurses, learning about and getting to explore different uniforms and equipment as well as learning the relevant signs. In the Stream pathway, students have been exploring and expanding understanding the zones of regulation through the colour monster sensory story, in their performing arts and cooking. Students have really enjoyed music, creating their own music over a popular song keeping with its rhythm. There has also been time for relaxation, as students enjoyed mindfulness with a foot spa.
River pathway students have been exploring 'The Lion, the Witch and Wardrobe'. Aztec class has been using the novel to explore other areas of the curriculum for our Transdisciplinary theme, 'Where we are in place and time'. While looking at the history of the slave trade, we explored the treatment of others and how we make choices. We considered the Christian and Buddhist view on helping others and ourselves during times of suffering no matter how big or small, and how we make choices to be a good citizen and support others. Aztec class were very enthusiastic in these class discussions. We have also worked incredibly hard on writing skills, in particular forming sentences and handwriting to showcase our subject knowledge.
Jurassic class has also worked hard producing a piece of artwork of Aslan. We poured our creativity and teamwork into bringing this iconic character to life, and we're so proud to be entering it into the LAT's Visual Arts Competition. Our Aslan is a vibrant mix of textures and techniques. We explored a range of materials, from teabags and wool, to paint, crayons, and tissue paper, in order to capture the richness of his mane and fur. We used brushes to practice making long, straight lines (linking to our maths lessons!), and experimented with cotton buds, wool, and even tinsel for added sparkle. Look closely and you'll see intricate patterns made from coloured paper squares – another connection to our maths learning! Creating this masterpiece wasn't just about art; it was a journey of collaboration. We used our speaking and listening skills to share ideas and make decisions together, and practiced our turn-taking skills. Most importantly, we had a fantastic time bringing a beloved character from our class text to life. Wish us luck in the competition!
In Waterfall pathway, Year 11 students have had an eventful time at Bore Place, participating in lots of different outdoor learning activities, including; great garden bird survey, potting seeds, bug hunts, making scones and having smores from a fire they made and lit with flint and steels. Viking class has enjoyed swimming and grown in confidence within the new environment and in the water.
Our Phase 3 inquiry day explored Chinese New Year, students used all their senses to experience our own celebrations. They learned and experienced the dragon and lion dances, they made chinese drums, and developed the skill of playing to a beat. Students have also investigated music and art from China along with using Chinese symbols to write names. Some have even created fireworks in a jar!
Please take a look at our class pages: https://sites.google.com/latrust.org.uk/milestone-academy-phase-3/home
Maria Steer - Phase 3 Leader
Kyle Marsh - Assistant Principal Phase 3
Milestone @ The Sir Geoffrey Leigh Academy
Milestone @ The Sir Geoffrey Leigh Academy
As Module 3 draws to a close, we're delighted to reflect on another busy and productive period at M@SGLA! Despite the chilly weather and gloomy skies, our students returned with positive attitudes and a renewed enthusiasm for learning, producing some truly fantastic work demonstrating both creativity and dedication.
This term has seen significant progress and growing enthusiasm as students continue their learning journeys. It's been packed with exciting opportunities, from exploring new topics in the classroom to participating in enriching school trips.
Our Year 11 students have begun their Functional Skills English and Maths exams, demonstrating impressive resilience and impressive dedication.
Community Participation Day was a great success. Our students represented the school exceptionally well, demonstrating curiosity and enthusiasm as they engaged with a variety of activities and opportunities. It was a day filled with learning, growth, and excitement.
Our trip to the Science Museum was another highlight, where students explored fascinating exhibits that connected perfectly with our transdisciplinary theme, 'Where we are in place and time'. The experience allowed students to see the real-world applications of their classroom learning, reinforcing our central idea 'Human experiences are shaped by time and place'.
We celebrated Chinese New Year and welcomed the Year of the Snake with a range of exciting activities. We learned to say 'Happy Chinese New Year' in both Mandarin and Makaton, helping us practice new languages and develop our communication skills. Each student discovered their Chinese zodiac sign and completed creative activities linked to it. As an IB school, we recognise the importance of celebrating different cultures and embracing diversity. This celebration helped us learn more about Chinese traditions and appreciate the diversity in cultures.
We hope everyone enjoys a well-deserved and restful break. We look forward to welcoming students back refreshed and ready for an exciting Module 4.
Please take a look at our class pages: https://sites.google.com/latrust.org.uk/milestone-academy-phase-3/home
Sofia Pinto - Satellite Director
Phase 4
Phase 4
The students in Phase 4 have worked extremely hard this term through the transdisciplinary themes of 'How we express ourselves' in our Brook and Stream classes, and 'Where we are in place and time' in Dover class. The students have been working towards their ASDAN accreditation by building relationships with their peers both in class and the wider Castle community through a range of activities including turn-taking games, table cricket and lunch time clubs. This has allowed students to work on their individual communication targets, using their preferred communication aids to initiate interactions with others.
During enrichment the students have had the opportunity to visit White Oak Leisure Centre for swimming each week, focusing on their gross motor skills and confidence in the water. Students have continued to work on increasing their independence during functional activities such as using the washing machine and dishwasher, applying the skills they have learnt in the classroom to everyday activities. The students have utilised spaces such as the flat and kitchen to engage in real life activities such as cooking and cleaning. This term the students have had the opportunity to engage in table cricket with an external coach from Kent Cricket, focusing on their striking and fielding skills and working together with their peers.
Please take a look at our class pages: https://sites.google.com/latrust.org.uk/milestone-academy-phase-4/home
Katy Morez-Stephens - Phase 4 Leader
Milestone @ Wilmington Academy
Milestone @ Wilmington Academy
Module 3 has flown by, and we are proud of our students who have recently sat their exams, showing high resilience and positive coping strategies.
We are pleased to announce that Canterbury Class has now joined the department, and the transition has been a tremendous success. The students have adapted wonderfully to the changes, showing enthusiasm and excitement!
Our business enterprises continue to flourish, demonstrating the hard work and dedication of our learners. In Computing, students have been creatively using a Cricut machine to make delightful Easter products, showcasing their innovative skills. Meanwhile, in our Preloved and Reloved project, students have successfully upcycled some stunning pieces of furniture, learning valuable sustainability practices
We welcomed a visit from a Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) who facilitated a vital discussion on the impact of social media and hate crime. This was a powerful and engaging session for our students.
Throughout the term the students have continued to make excellent progress on their ASDAN accreditations alongside their short courses. In the Hair and Beauty short course, learners have been perfecting their hair washing techniques while honing their customer service skills. It's wonderful to see our students thrive and develop their talents!
Please take a look at our class pages: https://sites.google.com/latrust.org.uk/milestone-academy-phase-4/home
Nicky McCarthy - Satellite Director
PE News
PE News
Students from Milestone @ SGLA took part in a judo event at Meadowfield School in Sittingbourne. The students thoroughly enjoyed the new learning experience and developed new skills. The session was delivered by two coaches Eddie and Caz who both represent GB in Judo.
We have established a new link with Hartley Country Club, who sent two coaches to teach Tennis skills to students in Phase 3. The coaches will return in Module 5 to do a six week course of lessons.
Students have been learning about the effects of exercise on the body and fitness testing. Some classes have been developing movement skills in Dance this term.
STRIVE PE and Sport, based in Medway offer an excellent SEN service in the school holidays with camps lead by experienced SEN teachers 07378951411 https://strivepeandsport.co.uk/
Steve Devereux - Head of PE
Horticulture News
Horticulture News
We have started to sow seeds in the polytunnel to hopefully get a headstart on sowing outside when the weather warms up. So far we have planted a range of vegetables including lettuce, radish and tomatoes; herbs and flowers. These will be transplanted into the garden to be used in cookery sessions. Any excess will be available to buy in due course!
Milestone Horticulture at M@W held a successful sale of spring bulbs raising £30 (so far). Renovations have begun on the garden area which will allow us to plant even more produce as well as provide a relaxing outside space for the students to enjoy.
Please take a look at our webpage for further updates: https://sites.google.com/latrust.org.uk/milestone-academy-phase-3/phase-3-202425/horticulture-202425?authuser=0
Kirsty Wiseman - Horticulture Teacher
Forest School
Forest School
Students in Phases 1 and 2 have been wrapped up warm and enjoying a wide variety of wintery weather this module. We have had rain, wind, snow and hailstones, as well as some sunny days too! Students have been building on their communication and social skills through shared experiences and activities, including campfires, group den-building and parachute games. We have also benefited from a donation of a larger mud kitchen, which has provided lots of opportunities for fine motor skills, turn-taking and imaginative exploration.
https://sites.google.com/latrust.org.uk/milestone-academy-phase-1/phase-1-202425/forest-school
https://sites.google.com/latrust.org.uk/milestone-academy-phase-2/phase-2-202425/forest-school
Cheryl England - Forest School Teacher
Dates for Your Diary
Dates for Your Diary
Monday 24th February - First day of Module 4
Wednesday 5th March - Makaton training for families (more info soon)
Thursday 6th March - World Book Day
Wednesday 12th March - Makaton training for families (more info soon)
Monday 17th March - ASD coffee afternoon (1.30 - 2.30pm)
Wednesday 19th March - Phase 1 coffee morning (09.30 - 11.am)
Thursday 20th March - Supporting sensory needs coffee morning (09.30 - 11am)
Friday 21st March - Red Nose Day
Thursday 27th March - School photo's (DPA, SGLA and Wilmington)
Monday 31st March - Phase 4 Springtime Afternoon Tea
Thursday 3rd April - School photo's (Cherry Orchard and Mainsite)
Friday 4th April - Last day Module 4
Tuesday 22nd April - First day of Module 5
The Dog Mentor Programme
The Dog Mentor Programme
Our dogs have been very busy this term! They were keen to come back to see all of the students following their christmas break. Toffee and Fudge have been busy with lots of walks and visits with students and enjoyed travelling further afield to students at Dartford Primary Academy - we are looking forward to making this a regular visit after the half term break! Harper has been busy around our main site, encouraging lots of wonderful communication skills from our students, with one student making up his own story with Harper as the main character! Betty has been busy working with and supporting individual students, enjoying lots of walks and lots of attention, helping motivate students with their work and especially communication!
Friends of Milestone - Charity No: 278677
Friends of Milestone - Charity No: 278677
Wow the end of Module 3 already! The Friends of Milestone have been busy planning events for the year. We are looking at revamping our traditional Summer fete - look out for more information soon!
We have our Mother's Day Wrap coming up for those special people in our students' lives, this will take place on Thursday 27 March, details to follow.
We have our next meeting on Thursday 20th March at 10am-11am, please do come along and join us if you would like to find out more about joining, even if it’s just for occasional events; we would love to welcome some new faces!
Once again thank you for your continued support.
Faye Warman – Chair
Sarah Spiers – Co-Chair and Treasurer
Lyn French – Secretary
Friends of Milestone
Therapy and Health News
Therapy and Health News
Practice Education: This term, I am pleased to welcome Gemma, a speech & language therapy student to our team. Gemma is in her final year at Canterbury Christ Church University. She will be with us for three days a week, for twelve weeks. We look forward to working with Gemma and know she will make a valuable contribution to supporting the children.
Clinic Room Makeover: TRAC 4, our clinic room has had a makeover. There is more clinic related information for parents/carers including some helpful websites. There are toys for the children to explore during appointments. There is a change to the seating arrangements to make the area more accessible for all and we hope, a more positive feel to the room. We hope you like it and let us know if you have other suggestions.
Family Events: Plans are underway for two family events in Module 4. On Thursday 5th and Thursday 12th March, in collaboration with local charity More Than Words https://www.morethanwordscharity.com/ we are hosting Makaton Training for families. Letters will be coming home home soon. This training is free for all Milestone families. Please note, attendance at both sessions is essential in order to complete the course. I anticipate this will be a popular event and places will be limited so do look out for the letters to reserve your place.
On 20th March, the Consultant Occupational Therapist will be running a coffee morning focussing on supporting sensory processing difficulties at home. Look out for the letter and please do reply so we know how many attendees to expect.
Occupational Therapy: Here at Milestone, children with postural seating needs are overseen by the Kent Community Health Occupational Therapy Service. Families are encouraged to contact this service or their OT directly. Contact details can be found on clinic reports and letters sent to you directly.
We also employ a Specialist Occupational Therapist to support other needs such as sensory processing difficulties, fine motor skills and functional skills. This may involve direct intervention in terms of assessment, review, intervention and programmes. It may also involve training staff and families to deliver specialist interventions. The Occupational Therapist is employed for a number of days per year; she is not available at Milestone all the time. For this reason, we ask that families do not contact the OT directly but instead ALL queries should be sent via info@milestone.latrust.org.uk for the attention of Liz Skilton, Therapy & Medical Team Lead. Families should be reassured that there is close collaboration between families, teachers and senior leaders every day and so messages will always be dealt with and responded to in a timely manner. Thank you for respecting this expectation.
Mind Maps:
Mind Maps are a great way to help structure ideas and make links between words. Once created you are left with a useful visual for the child to refer back to. Here are some steps that can help:
Stage 1: Think about a topic e.g 'shopping' and think about some of the key words associated with this and write them down, or use pictures/photos. This might be to help make your shopping list.
Stage 2: Group words into categories. Underline or circle words/pictures in the same category in the same colour e.g. salad in green, fruit in blue, meat in red.
Stage 3. Draw the branches. Now draw branches off of each category e.g from fruit draw branches for each item you want to buy.
Stage 4: Add images and words. Add more words or pictures to the branches you have made to make it as visual as possible.
For more information please use this link: https://www.elklan.co.uk/Blog/A_picture_is_worth_a_thousand_words
Clinics: This Term we have successfully held an Immunisation clinic at our main site and hosted Dietician and Paediatrician Clinics. Continence Clinic was cancelled.
All clinic dates are published on our website, do take a look. We hope this information is helpful: https://sites.google.com/latrust.org.uk/milestone-health-therapy/clinic-dates
Calls Home: It may be necessary for the Medical Team to call or email home. This may be to inform you of an accident, injury or illness. Sometimes we may ask you to collect your child. We will always discuss with you and involve you in decision-making. We may also call to gather more information about a message passed on either verbally, via email or via transport. We may call to ask for documentation to be shared via pupilhealthplans@milestone.latrust.org.uk. Please do let us know and share updated specialist plans or reports, including hospital discharge letters and diagnostic reports as soon as you have them. Once the IHCP is amended, please return it as soon as possible. Thank you for your support with this; it helps us keep the IHCPs updated so that we can support children’s medical needs in school.
Do take a look at the Therapy & Health pages on the website: https://sites.google.com/latrust.org.uk/milestone-health-therapy/home
From Liz Skilton and all in the Therapy & Medical Teams
Useful Information and Websites
Useful Information and Websites
Message from Kent County Council
Support available from KCC for families not eligible for free school meals. https://www.kent.gov.uk/householdsupportfund
If eligible each household can apply for one of the following:
• £100 food voucher
or
• £100 energy card
or
• £60 food voucher and £40 energy card
If the application is approved, the food voucher or energy support will be sent to the applicant by email. Funds for this scheme are limited, and they will be allocated on a first come first served basis with only one award being available for each household.
You will be eligible for assistance if you:
are aged 16 or over
are a Kent resident, permanently living within one of the 12 local authorities covered by Kent County Council (this excludes Medway, Bexley, or Bromley)
are in receipt of means tested benefits, or your household income is less than £40,000 per annum before tax
do not have more than £1000 in savings
do not receive free school meals voucher support from your child’s school over the school holidays, for any child within your household.
If you are referring yourself, you will need to provide proof of residence at a Kent address as part of your application. We expect professionals who are completing the application on behalf of someone else to check that recipients of vouchers meet all the eligibility criteria.
Adaptive Clothing
Adaptive fashion has hit the high street as Primark launches an adaptive clothing range, this could be helpful for some of our older students.
https://corporate.primark.com/en-gb/a/news/corporate-news/adaptive-fashion-hits-the-high-street-as-primark-launches-first-men-and-womens-range-with-victoria-jenkins
Support Websites
Useful websites with information and resources for schools and parents to support toileting are:
ERIC at www.eric.org.uk
Bladder and Bowel UK www.bbuk.org.uk
Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust
Also look at the Facebook page for Kent Community Health as they also have information of sessions offered for parents on various topics.
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