Leigh Academy Milestone Newsletter

May 2025 - Term 5

Principal's Welcome

Dear Parents and Carers,

It’s been a module of lighter mornings and longer afternoons, which in turn has energised us all for the learning experiences, activities and events Milestone has seen over the last five weeks. To top it all, the weather has afforded us plenty of opportunities to get outside.

Students in Phase 3 and 4 have ventured off on residentials to exciting activity centres. For Phase 3, it was the largest residential we’ve ever run, involving over 30 students from across all pathways. Experiences such as these are so valuable for our students as they take on new challenges, overcome fears, make new friendships and create memories. Thank you to our committed staff who travel away with our students and make these trips possible.

With the future always in mind, Milestone played host to two key events during this module: Milestone Futures Careers Convention and an Alumni event. Careers at Milestone focuses on our young people’s entire futures: what they will learn when they leave us, where they will live, what they will do for fun, and how they will be supported. Earlier this month we hosted our biggest ever annual Careers Convention, connecting our young people to the people who can help them after they leave us. It was a superb event, attended by representatives from further education and service providers, and employers. Elsewhere, our first ever alumni coffee afternoon was a great success. Current Year 12 and Year 13 families were invited to join us for the opportunity to speak with past parents and carers who have been through the process of transitioning their young person to life after Milestone and inspired us with their onward journeys. It was a wonderful event, full of interesting discussion and highlighted the power of shared experiences.

Exam season is upon us and some of our older students have been working hard and demonstrating positive attitudes as they take on their assessments in Functional Skills and some taking GCSEs. There are more exams to come in Module 6 and we wish them all luck.

Thank you to the Trust who continues to support us in improving our facilities. We have had extensive decorating done in various areas of the school and new flooring in Phase 3. This week, work has begun on our overflow car park which will make a big difference to our staff and visitors.

It is hard to believe that we are on the precipice of the final term of the academic year! Module 6 is traditionally a busy term and this year will be no exception - please do check the Upcoming Events pages of the website to keep track of everything coming up. Key events of note are: Parents Consultations 17th/18th June, Sports Days (dates in PE Update below); and the last day of term 6 is Tuesday 22nd July with early finish at 2pm.

Please read on and enjoy this newsletter and do visit your child’s class pages for more insight and photos. I wish you all a restful and enjoyable break with your amazing children. We look forward to seeing you all when we return on Monday 2nd June, for our final module before summer.

Sarah Goosani

Principal

Phase 1

Phase 1 has had a fantastic module filled with hands-on learning and exciting new experiences. Pupils explored the theme of lighthouses and wet climates, bringing the topic to life through outdoor adventures in Forest School. Highlights included water play, relaxing in the hammock, and gathering around a real bonfire. We also took part in a brilliant ‘Born to Ride’ workshop, where both staff and pupils were trained in how to safely and effectively use balance bikes. Thanks to this, we now have 12 brand-new balance bikes and helmets, and pupils will be enjoying weekly sessions to build their balance, core strength, and confidence. We’re already looking ahead with excitement to next module’s sponsored ‘Big Toddle’ event and Teddy Bears Picnic!

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 @ Leigh Academy Cherry Orchard

In Early Years, during Module 5, we continued to explore our central idea: ‘We share the Earth with living things’. Our learning was inspired by the stories Handa’s Surprise and Oliver’s Vegetables. The children thoroughly enjoyed tasting a variety of fruits and vegetables and learning about the different animals that live in Africa.

We also marked VE Day with a special celebration. The children created colourful handprint bunting and enjoyed a lovely tea party, where they decorated their own cupcakes.

In Write Dance, we developed our movement skills to the upbeat song ‘Funky Fruit’, and had a brilliant time joining in with Playdough Disco to ‘Down in the Jungle’.

Please take a look at our class page: https://sites.google.com/latrust.org.uk/milestone-academy-phase-1/home

Carolyn Welham - Interim Satellite Director

Phase 2

Phase 2 has had a wonderful Module 5, packed full of outdoor learning, thanks to the sunshine! The children have been busy planting seeds and watching them grow as part of their Inquiry learning. They’ve also been exploring herbs through smell and touch, and discovering the various objects and animals in the garden. Many classes have ventured outside to our school gardens for rich, hands-on learning experiences, making the most of the beautiful weather. In Art, Coast and Woodland classes have created stunning nature suncatchers, as well as recreated Rinske Douna's works of Risk, Intent, and Inspire. These beautiful creations will be displayed in Phase 2 very soon. Classes have also been applying the skills they've learned in the forest school environment, which has been fantastic to observe. A highlight of the term was our Born to Ride sessions, where pupils had the opportunity to learn how to ride balance bikes. The children participated wonderfully, with some getting comfortable wearing helmets, others spinning the wheels, and a few brave risk-takers progressing to ‘air walking’ on their bikes, mastering balance and control. It’s been a term full of growth, exploration, and fun!

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 @ Leigh Academy Dartford

As we wrap up another exciting module, we’re thrilled to share the many memorable moments from the past few weeks. To celebrate the end of the module, our students enjoyed a fun-filled picnic in the park. The event was a perfect opportunity for everyone to relax and bond, reflecting on their learning journey. The beautiful weather allowed for outdoor games and tasty treats, making it a joyous occasion for all. We are also excited to welcome new students to Milestone at Leigh Academy Dartford! It’s been wonderful to see our community grow, and we look forward to the unique contributions and perspectives our new students will bring. Together, we continue to foster an inclusive and supportive environment for all.

Across the satellite, we have seen continued progress in various areas. Our students have been engaging deeply with their learning, embracing both challenges and new opportunities with enthusiasm and determination. This module, students explored a variety of intriguing lines of inquiry. They learned about expressions of belief through art, with a particular focus on Hinduism, and expressed their understanding creatively. Students also explored the world of painting through the work of Dutch artist Rinske Douna, experimenting with colors and textures to create their own expressive artwork. They engaged in a fascinating exploration of how light, plants, and farming connect us to the environment, and through gardening projects, they gained a deeper understanding of living things and farming. In French, students not only learned the language but also explored French culture, gaining a better understanding of how language connects us to others globally. They also delved into how technology, music, and language help people from different backgrounds connect, expanding their knowledge of the world around them.

Beyond academics, our students have remained active and engaged through swimming, PE, and data sorting activities. These sessions have been instrumental in developing both physical skills and teamwork. Social growth has also been a key focus, with activities such as forest school and community-based learning, including trips to the farm. Nova and Comet enjoyed exploring the local community, developing essential social and life skills along the way.

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

We are proud that we held our largest-ever residential this Module, attended by 36 Phase 3 students from all Pathways, and from both our sites: New Ash Green and Milestone @ Sir Geoffrey Leigh Academy. Everyone had a great time, overcoming fears and challenges to make new memories, new friends, and learning throughout.

This term, students have been diving deep into the transdisciplinary theme of 'Sharing the Planet'.

Romans have had a busy module. They’ve been out shopping with students from other pathways to purchase stock for the tuck shop, which they are proudly running from their classroom. This has been a great opportunity for the students to practice life skills, budgeting, and teamwork.

Stream students have had an exciting and hands-on term! They have been learning about the impact of our actions on the environment by taking part in recycling activities—reusing materials to create new items and imaginative masterpieces. They've also taken great pride in maintaining our garden and polytunnel, regularly watering herbs and plants, weeding, raking the grass, and following both verbal and symbol-supported instructions to complete these important tasks. In Science, pupils explored drugs and medicines. They investigated doctors' tools such as syringes and stethoscopes, experimenting with pushing and pulling using syringes and even role-playing giving medicine. Some pupils demonstrated great bravery by using a stethoscope to listen to an adult’s heartbeat—and their own!

Jurassic students have been taking part in a valuable work experience placement at Kentwood House this term. During their visits, they have supported nursing home staff by cleaning, making beds, and spending time with the residents, helping to entertain and engage them. This initiative has been a huge success for both students and residents, and we are delighted that it will continue into the next module.

As part of Waterfall learning, students have explored what glaciers are and why they are important to our environment. To bring this topic to life and make learning as engaging as possible, pupils created their own model glaciers using a variety of materials. They also carried out a water cycle experiment to see how water moves through our environment. Students have asked questions and learned about Otzi, a 3300 year old perfectly preserved man found in a layer of a Glacier in the Italian Alps.

In addition to their classroom learning, some Renaissance pupils have also taken part in swimming sessions this term, where they’ve been developing new skills and learning how to stay safe in the water.

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

Module 5 has been full of exciting learning opportunities and memorable experiences for our students. It’s been a particularly busy time, with many of our pupils preparing for their Maths and English Functional Skills exams, as well as some sitting GCSEs. We are incredibly proud of the effort, focus, and determination they have shown throughout this period.

One of the highlights of the module was our residential trip to Stubbers Adventure Centre. The trip was a huge success, with all pupils actively participating in a wide range of exciting activities including archery, rifle shooting, laser combat, the inflatable sofa challenge, kayaking, abseiling, bushcraft and the climbing tower. It was wonderful to see students supporting each other, building friendships, and stepping out of their comfort zones. They truly demonstrated the IB Learner Profile attribute of being risk-takers, challenging themselves and creating unforgettable memories.

As part of our community participation focus, we also had the opportunity to visit the Gurdwara in Gravesend. The guided tour allowed our pupils to explore and learn more about the Sikh religion in an engaging and respectful way. They were able to try “Parshad”, a traditional offering, and were warmly welcomed with a meal called “Langar" in the large hall before we left. The visit was thoroughly enjoyed by all and gave our pupils a valuable chance to demonstrate open-mindedness, showing respect and curiosity towards different beliefs and cultures.

Overall, Module 5 has been a wonderful blend of academic focus, personal growth, and community engagement. We are looking forward to building on this momentum in our final module of the year.

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

This module, our focus has been on the theme 'Sharing the Planet.' The students have been learning all about different habitats and the ways we can look after our environment. They’ve enjoyed getting hands-on with activities such as litter picking and taking sensory walks, exploring their environment through their senses.

It’s also been a great module for the Castle Café! Each class has been making tasty treats to sell, including toasted sandwiches, sausage rolls, and cakes. It’s been a fantastic way for students to learn about the hospitality sector while building skills in cooking, teamwork, and customer service. We look forward to continuing the cafe next module, and expanding our menu!

Alongside all of this, we’ve been working on how we connect with others - practising good communication, learning how to initiate interactions or gain someone's attention, and building positive relationships. It’s been lovely to see the students grow in confidence and enjoy working together.

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

Noleen Donaghy-Parkhouse - Assistant Principal Phase 34

Milestone @ Leigh Academy Wilmington

This term, the students submitted their external ASDAN accreditations and have been working hard as they prepare for their upcoming exams in Module 6.

We also had a fantastic visit from the theatre company “Circo Rum Ba Ba,” which provided a delightful and engaging experience for the students. Additionally, they took part in an imaginative expedition to space, which sparked their curiosity and creativity.

Some of the students had the chance to go on a residential trip to Stubbers, participating in various outdoor activities that helped them build teamwork skills. For those who stayed behind, we organised activity-themed days, including a fun sports day and a creative session where they made their own rockets.

Looking ahead to Module 6, we’re excited to announce that our learners will be engaging in a weekly work experience programme. We’ll share more details about this initiative next term, and we’re looking forward to seeing how it benefits the students.

Thank you for your continued support! If you have any questions or need more information, please feel free to get in touch.

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

Another busy module for our happy aspirational learners as they have continued to enjoy PE and other physical activities such as swimming. A particular highlight was all staff in Phases 1, 2 and Milestone @ LAD taking part in the Born 2 Ride training scheme. The hands-on training, with members of the Born 2 Ride team, took place onsite at Milestone, equipping our staff with the skills to provide a sustainable means of supporting our young people's physical development through regular structured balance bike / balance to pedal sessions. All the students involved enjoyed and embraced the sessions, facing the challenge of learning a new skill with great determination and a smile!

Sports day dates 2025

We are looking forward to hosting our sports days over the course of Module 6. Please find below the dates for each sports day event with information about dates, times and class groups. In the event that the weather is looking poor for any particular event, we already have ‘back-up’ dates later in the term and will notify you by text message the day before if a planned event is going to be rescheduled.

M@LAD (DPA) - Thursday 5th June (This will take place at Mainsite in New Ash Green)

10-11am - Moonbeam, Comet, Nova

Phase 1 - Tuesday 10th June (backup Wednesday 11th June)

10:30 -11:30am Lion, Tiger, Dolphin, Zebra

1:30 - 2:30pm Koala, Bear, Leopard

Phase 2 - Thursday 12th June (backup Friday 13th June)

10:30 -11:30am Canyon, Forest, Glacier

1:30 - 2:30pm Orchard, Mountain

Phase 3 - Tuesday 24th June (backup Wednesday 25th June)

10:30 -11:30am Tudor, Saxon, Viking, Jurassic

1:30 - 2:30pm Sparta, Renaissance, Aztec

Phase 4 - Thursday 26th June (backup Friday 27th June)

10:30 -11:30am Eynsford, Scotney

1:30 - 2:30pm Dover

PMLD activity morning - Tuesday 1st July

9.30 - 11.30am - Penguins, Woodland, Coast, Roman, Leeds

Steve Devereux - Head of PE

Horticulture News

Students in Phase 3 and 4 have been busy sowing seeds and transferring larger plants into the raised beds. Several classes have now taken responsibility for their own bed which they have planted and are maintaining through watering and weeding. They have also enhanced the wider school environment through sowing wildflower seeds outside the staff room and will shortly be planting hanging baskets. Students from Milestone@SGLA have completed work experience, planting hanging baskets at a local public house. I am looking to increase these kinds of opportunities, so please get in touch if you know of anywhere that would benefit from horticultural help. Our first plant sale is currently taking place so if you want to bag a bargain get in touch via horticulture@milestone.latrust.org.uk

Please take a look at our horticulture page: https://sites.google.com/latrust.org.uk/milestone-academy-phase-3/phase-3-202425/horticulture-202425?authuser=0

Kirsty Wiseman - Horticulture Teacher

Forest School

Spring has well and truly sprung in our Forest School area. Students have been able to witness the growth of buttercups, daisies and bluebells, as well as the different kinds of beautiful blossoms on our trees. Students have made the most of the sunny weather, by exploring water activities, such as investigating whether natural items sink or float, and making water corridors. Students have used different natural resources, such as mud, leaves, flowers and charcoal from our campfire to create artwork. The hammock has made a welcome return, giving students a place to be reflective learners and self-regulate emotions. Some more classes have been introduced to campfire safety this term, too!

Please take a look at forest school: 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

Monday 2nd June - First Day Module 6

Tuesday 17th June: Parent's consultation (virtual)

Wednesday 18th June: Parent's consultation (in person)

June: Sports days - please see PE News section for dates

Friday 4th July: 'Book & Blanket' Reading Brunch

Tuesday 22nd July - Last day of Module 6 students leave at 2pm

Please see the Upcoming Events pages of the website for more coming up.

The Dog Mentor Programme

It's been a busy term for our four legged friends. Toffee, Fudge and Betty enjoyed seeing some of our students from Wilmington at the careers fair and loved all the attention they received.

Harper has been making her regular class visits and supporting students within class. Toffee and Fudge have been enjoying visits from the students and helping our young people with staying calm - and of course have enjoyed the biscuits and belly scratches that come with those visits. They were excited to visit Scotney class last week and it was lovely to see all the students greeting them in their own communication ways.

Harper has been happy to join the morning bus routine outside school, and has supported a some of our our children with transitioning into school.

Harper also had a fabulous time visiting Phase 3 students on their residential trip to Stubber's Adventure Centre. She loved seeing some of her friends out of school. This was a great opportunity for the students to show her around and tell her about all the fun activities they had been doing. She also made some new friends and is looking forward to getting to know them more back at school. It was so wonderful to see the students chilling at the end of a very busy day and seeing them help each other. Most of all, Harper loved watching the rabbits hop around!

The Friends of Milestone - Charity No: 278677

The Friends of Milestone would like to say a huge thank you for all your support over the last couple of years with all of our fundraising efforts. Whether this has been volunteering your time, making donations either financial or donating unwanted items to our sales. Our main focus has been fundraising for a new minibus following the theft of our Lyn bus. The theft of the vehicle had a huge impact on the whole academy. We looked into many different options to replace the bus and costs made it seem like a mammoth task but we decided to apply to the Variety Club to see if they would be willing to support us to buy a new bus. I am pleased to inform you all that we were successful in obtaining with the sponsorship of some very generous individuals and the Sundridge Golf Club and were presented with a brand new bus on Friday 25th April. A small group of students and staff were invited to receive the new bus at Sundridge Golf Club. The new bus is accessible for all students with a built in tail lift and removable seating, this a great addition to the Academy fleet and hugely valuable to Milestone students.

This year we are trialing the annual fete in September, we are trying it later so as not to clash with other fetes/summer fairs and enable our new intake of students and parents to have the opportunity to come along and join us. The date for the Fete is Saturday 20th September more details will follow.

If you would like to attend one of the meetings and join The Friends please email friendsofmilestoneacademy@gmail.com

Thank you once again for your continued support.

Faye Warman – Chair

Sarah Spiers – Co-Chair and Treasurer

Lyn French – Secretary

Friends of Milestone

Therapy and Health News

Medical

We have been awarded the Asthma Friendly Schools Award. This is important recognition of the procedures in place at Leigh Academy Milestone to support children with Asthma. We take all medical needs extremely seriously and have robust procedures in place to keep children safe and well so they can attend school and make the most of every learning opportunity. We have robust procedures in place to be able to manage medical emergencies. We appreciate the cooperation of families and carers in sharing information so we always have up-to-date medical data for pupils.

Emma, Healthcare Assistant supported staff and a group of students to Sundridge Golf Course to accept the new mini bus for our school.

A few reminders for the summer term:

We are seeing an increase in allergies which seem to be affecting pupils with hay fever and asthma. Please remember to send in allergy medication, sun cream and appropriate warm weather clothing.

We are a nut-free school. Some medications, sun lotions and food products may contain nuts. We ask that you check the labelling of anything you send into school to help us reduce the risk to others in school.

Please keep us informed via pupilhealthplans@milestone.latrust.org.uk, if there are any changes to medication administered at home and in school. This helps ensure every pupils' IHCP is up-to-date so that we can support medical needs in school, on school trips and journeys and if we need to call emergency services.

All specialist clinic dates are published on the school website https://sites.google.com/latrust.org.uk/milestone-health-therapy/clinic-dates. While letters are sent from the NHS professionals we do our best to keep the list of dates accurate on the website. Do keep an eye here in case a clinic is cancelled at short notice. Despite clinics being cancelled, the Dieticians are working hard to issue new feed plans and the Paediatrician clinics will be resuming later this term.

Therapy

Total Communication

As you know, we are a Balanced System: Scheme for Schools and Settings Centre of Excellence for the work we do to support all pupils' speech, language and communication needs. As part of our universal offer, we have created an inclusive communication environment through our Total Communication approach. Please see the photos on the right as some great examples of how our early years satellite at Cherry Orchard Primary Academy, set up their morning work tasks. Activities are presented in fun and engaging ways with symbols, objects and the relevant vocabulary to support pupils' play, understanding and communication.

Makaton

Developments to strengthen our whole school approach to signing continues. The three members of our signing team were all approved to begin their Makaton Tutor training. Two of the team have completed a week-long course and are now working towards the final assessment.

Staff

At the end of this module we say thank you and goodbye to Gemma, speech and language therapy student who has successfully completed her final placement with us. We are always keen to work with the local universities to provide quality placements for students so they have a greater understanding of the needs of children and families and experience of working in a school setting.

We also say thank you and goodbye to Imogen. Imogen first came to Milestone as a speech & language therapy student back in 2023. She then worked here as a TA on a part time basis while she completed her studies. In the last year, Imogen has worked with us as a newly qualified speech & language therapist. We wish her well as she moves on to her new job where she will be working with adults with acquired neurological disorders.

Congratulations goes to Tim who, after 18 years of being a speech and language therapy assistant, has been successful in securing a place at the University of Essex to begin his apprenticeship journey towards eventually becoming a speech & language therapist.

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