Milestone Academy Newsletter
December 2023 - Term 2
Principal's Welcome
Dear Parents and Carers,
Welcome to our Christmas newsletter! This letter is slightly different to the usual format as we are trying to improve the way we share information and give you more insight into the experiences of your children in school.
Each phase has written a short piece about the main events this term but has reduced the text and provided a link to the area on the school website where you can see your child’s class site. On the class pages you will be able to see more information about the focus of study with pictures of children and their work. We hope you use the link and enjoy the pages that capture, in more detail, the activities of your child’s class. If you have a problem accessing anything please contact us so that we can help.
This module we had several very successful phase events, not least of all our Christmas nativities and concerts. At one of our coffee mornings we were able to talk to parents and carers who made helpful suggestions on how to improve communication with everyone. In response to the conversation, we will be inviting you into a parents forum for a “brew and chew!“ This will be an informal session with refreshments that will give you the opportunity to have direct access to the leadership team and hear first-hand what is happening in your child's pathway. We hope this will be a collaborative experience, where you can ask questions, share your thoughts and also connect with your fellow parents and carers. It cannot be overstated how important networking in this way can be, both in terms of your child's ongoing journey at Milestone, and also your own experience as a parent or carer. The date will be sent out in the new year and I do hope to see as many of you as possible. Please remember to check the upcoming events tab on our website where we publish everything that is happening at Milestone.
I am delighted to announce that we have new parents joining The Friends. We still need more! The Friends is not just a group focused on fundraising, it also provides an essential network for parents who might feel isolated and who would benefit from contact with other families who share their experiences. It is a supportive and enjoyable group to be part of. Please contact Faye Warman if you would like more information.
It remains for me to wish you all a wonderful break and festive season. I hope the new year brings you all joy and we look forward to welcoming you back in 2024!
Sarah Goosani - Principal
Phase 1
It has been a very busy and exciting term for Phase 1 as we prepared for our Nativity performance. All classes spent time practicing their song and signs, making props and headdresses and familiarising themselves with the stage during our music lessons. We would like to say a huge thank you to Jo Donegan, our Phase 1 HLTA who worked extremely hard choreographing the Nativity as well as organising us as a phase and ensuring the performances ran smoothly. We really hope you enjoyed coming to watch.
Tiger Class has also been attending swimming lessons, once a week at Fairfields Leisure Centre. The children worked on dressing and undressing themselves, as well as learning how to keep themselves safe on poolside and in the water with adult support. Next term, it will be Leopards turn to go swimming
For more information about our learning, please go to our class pages:
https://sites.google.com/latrust.org.uk/milestone-academy-phase-1/home
Claire Woolmer - Assistant Principal Phase 1
Phase 2
Phase 2 has had a wonderful Term 2. We have all come together to share our inquiry sessions. On Wednesday afternoons, students from all cohorts meet to share a brilliant sensory experience focusing on our Transdisciplinary theme ‘Who we are’. Some of our favourite activities have been: pom pom dance classes, messy tuff trays and boom waker club. All of our students have formed meaningful friendships with others in neighbouring classes and have developed new language. We have worked on our social communication skills in addition to a whole host of personal development targets.
In classes we have thoroughly enjoyed exploring Kings and Queens throughout History. From the King of the jungle to His Royal Highness King Charles we have shared sensory sessions including crown craft and creating timelines. In Science we have explored different habitats, some familiar and some further afield. This was particularly exciting when exploring extremely slimy and tactile, stimulating ponds full of forestry and slime. In Religious Studies and PSPD we have explored a number of exciting events such as Diwali, Christmas and celebrating self differences. This term we have enjoyed collaborating together to reach our targets and expand our socialisation and awareness of others. We are particularly looking forward to our huge Christmas event where we will explore and visit different Christmas themed stations after sharing a Phase 2 Christmas dinner!
Here is a link to our class pages: https://sites.google.com/latrust.org.uk/milestone-academy-phase-2/home
Michelle Hilton - Assistant Principal Phase 2
Milestone @ Dartford Primary Academy
The students at M@DPA have been focussing on our central idea of ‘History and Culture influences who we are’ in this module. The children have enjoyed learning about King Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth II and comparing their reigns. All classes have had the opportunity to take part in an offsite activity again this term, with Moonbeam accessing Forest School, Comet attending Fairfield Leisure Centre for swimming lessons and Nova visiting Dartford Library to continue to develop their love of reading and to broaden the texts they have access to. We were lucky enough to be visited by a member of the Fire Museum, who brought along a range of different helmets from across the years and across the continents, the children really enjoyed trying on the different helmets.
For more details about your child's activities and achievements this term, please visit the class pages on our website.
https://sites.google.com/latrust.org.uk/milestone-academy-phase-2/home
All the staff at M@DPA wish you a restful break and look forward to seeing all of the children and families in the new year.
Faye Mendez - Satellite Director
Phase 3
Our Transdisciplinary theme has continued to be ‘Who we are’ , with students extending their knowledge about different cultures, what culture means to us, where different cultures are from and what they celebrate. Similarities and differences have been compared. Through all the learning, students have been developing their collaboration skills to complete different tasks; including running our phase tuck shop and cooking.
During our English, River and Waterfall pathway have been reading ‘Danny Chung don't like maths’, which has involved getting to the know the characters and predictions around their actions. They have also completed comprehension and developed skills to summarise the events of the book. Stream and Brook have been looking at ‘We’re All Wonders’ and ‘A Christmas Carol’. They have used these to explore emotions and be good friends to each other. In Maths, students have been learning about Statistics and number, which has included developing skills within the four rules of number.
We have been looking at the Rights of Child in Citizenship and developing our French in our language learning. Auditions were held for our forthcoming production of Midsummer's Dream and rehearsals for the show in March 2024 are underway.
Students helped gather food items for our school food bank and designed labels and packaging for the Enterprise project.
Phase 3 Christmas Carol signing concert was a huge success with over 80 families attending. We raised £117 for Friends of Milestone and £20 in cake sales. All students were fantastic and staff were very proud of the commitment they gave to learning the signing.
Please look at our class pages on the following link: https://sites.google.com/latrust.org.uk/milestone-academy-phase-3/home
Kyle Marsh - Assistant Principal Phase 3
Milestone @ The Leigh Academy
As Module 2 comes to an end, we want to celebrate the wonderful progress and achievements of our students. Their dedication and hard work have made this term truly special. As we reflect on these accomplishments, let me express gratitude to parents, staff, and students for their amazing support. We've been incredibly busy with our learning, attending workshops, and preparing for our Enterprise Christmas Market. As part of our community involvement, we successfully completed The Big Ambition survey, providing valuable information to support the Commissioner in her role within our local community. Additionally, we enjoyed two fantastic days dedicated to community participation. Some of our students have also carefully prepared for their Functional Skills and mock GCSE exams, putting in their best effort to perform well. To add a touch of joy, we wrapped up the term with a memorable trip to the pantomime, "Snow White" at the Woodville Theatre in Gravesend. It's been a collective team effort, and everyone's determination and teamwork have made this term memorable.
For more details about your child's activities and achievements this term, please visit the class pages on our website.
https://sites.google.com/latrust.org.uk/milestone-academy-phase-3/home
Wishing all families a fantastic break! See you again in the New Year!
Sofia Pinto - Satellite Director
Phase 4
Phase 4 has been busy this term preparing for our Christmas Fair on the 12th December. The students have been engaging in a variety of new creative activities including sewing, using the cricut machine to make labels, making playdough and designing Christmas cards. In addition to our enterprise activities, the students in Phase 4 have had the opportunity to engage in work related activities including visiting Bore Place, where we have made bird feeders, fed the calves and raked the leaves to ensure the environment is clear. The students in Dover and Canterbury class enjoyed a visit from the Red Cross where they learnt about a variety of basic first aid activities including CPR. In addition to our work-related learning, the students in Phase 4 have continued to focus on their Maths targets, in particular exploring sequences of numbers, shape and pattern. Communication continues to be a key focus for the students in Phase 4, with students being encouraged to use their individual AAC devices across a variety of lessons and settings to support them to generalise their communication skills further.
If you would like to see further information about what your young person has been learning please visit their class page on the school website. https://sites.google.com/latrust.org.uk/milestone-academy-phase-4/home
We wish you a fantastic break when it arrives, and look forward to welcoming all our young people back in the new year!
Noleen Donaghy-Parkhouse - Assistant Principal Phase 4
Milestone @ Wilmington Academy
M@W has had a very busy and productive Term 2. We have continued to develop our Business Enterprise and this term we have taken part in 2 external events, where we have been selling our products to the public. Our Employability and Asdan courses are well under way with the students producing ongoing evidence towards their accreditations as well as taking part in Life skills challenge courses, involving first aid and cooking within a budget.
Our students have worked hard through their mock exams as well as enjoying the build up to the festive season, including a visit to the pantomime!
To see further information about what your young person has been doing this term then please do refer to the class pages on our website: https://sites.google.com/latrust.org.uk/milestone-academy-phase-4/home
I wish you all a wonderful, festive break.
Nicky McCarthy - Satellite Director
PE News
Developing our young people’s ‘Physical Literacy’ is at the core of everything we do in terms of physical activity and sport in our day-to-day practice. Students' enjoyment, engagement and experience of movement and sport, develop and shape their understanding of how movement affects their life and the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle. One of the main ways we do this is by extending the extra-curricular sports programme. This academic year we will be taking part in various Kent School Games events, LAT events and our own intra-school and inter-school competitions against other special schools in the county. Pupil voice dictates what extra-curricular clubs are offered and students have chosen to take part in Boxing (Olympia Boxing) and Football (Dartford FC) in Phase 3 and 4 this term, as well as setting up their own basketball lunchtime club. In Phase 1 and 2 there is a big focus on our young people becoming more water confident through extra swimming lessons, with classes now attending swimming at Fairfield each week for the duration of the academic year.
Students from Year 7 at Milestone@Leigh took part in the LAT Swimming Gala on Tuesday 21st November at the Sir Joseph Williamson Mathematical School in Rochester. They enjoyed being a part of this event and meeting students from the other LAT schools. Students competing demonstrated an ability to swim 25 metres independently.
In PE lessons Phase 1 and 2 have been working on enhancing agility, balance and co-ordination through movement, walking and turning. In Phase 3 and 4 students have been developing skills in Tag Rugby.
Steve Devereux - Head of PE
Dates for Your Diary
Tuesday 2nd January 2024 - First day of term 3
Thursday 8th February 2024 - Last day of term 3
Pupdate
Toffee and Fudge had a great 1st Birthday and got lots of lovely new toys, although some haven’t quite made it and have been very well loved already! They are continuing to do well with their training and are seen around the school as well as having visits from some of the students. Fudge has been attending a training class on a Saturday morning as she needs a little extra work on her manners but she is doing well and making new friends. They are very food motivated and will do anything for a biscuit! I’m sure Christmas will be a fun experience for them.
Friends of Milestone - Charity No: 278677
Hello from The Friends of Milestone.
Since our last newsletter update, we have held our Christmas disco. It was a great night and all students that attended seemed to have a great time! We have also held our Christmas Wrap, this is always successful and the children love coming to shop for their gifts.
We have been very fortunate recently to have received support from local Freemasons Lodges who have very kindly been raising and donating funds to the Friends. At the race night, which was held in October, the Gravesend Lodge raised over £500 for us and are now looking to donate to ‘top-up’ the minibus fund. We have begun to look for a new bus and will update you when we have found and purchased a suitable vehicle. We truly appreciate all the support these local lodges continue to give us.
We will be arranging our next meeting in the new year and it would be lovely to see some new faces as well as those who have already offered their support to the Friends. If you would like to join the Friends committee or find out more about us and what we do for the school then please email friendsofmilestoneacademy@gmail.com or find us on Facebook (we have the logo as the profile picture if you wish to find us).
We look forward to running more events in the New Year.
We would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and once again, thank you all for your continued support.
Faye Warman – Chair
Sarah Spiers – Co-Chair and Treasurer
Lyn French – Secretary
Friends of Milestone
Medical and Therapy Team News
Joint OT, Physio & Medical Clinics
Starting in term 3, Kent Community Health NHS Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy & Consultant Paediatrician will be holding joint clinics in school for some children. Families will be invited to attend. Appointment letters will be sent out by the NHS and families will need to reply to the NHS as directed in the letter to confirm attendance. We hope families find it helpful that these clinics are held in school.
Key Word Signing
Students in signing club have enjoyed songs by The Spice Girls, Madonna and Megan Trainor. The songs include core signs which help with understanding and using words we use every day e.g. give, want, more, hear, name, home, think and together. We have also learnt Christmas signs. We wore Christmas-themed headbands and glasses as we signed along to Christmas songs. We learnt to sign Merry Christmas, Christmas tree, Father Christmas, snowman, stars and elf.
Medical News
Flu Immunisation clinics have been held at M@Wilmington and M@TheLeigh this term.
All medication will be returned home by the end of term. We do not store medication in school during the longer holidays. All medication must be returned on the first day of term please. Children cannot be in school without their emergency medication. Please see the letter in the envelope provided for further details.
A reminder to families to send any medical updates through the pupilhealthplans@milestoneacademyorg.uk address and to sign and return an amended individual health care plan (IHCP). This ensures we have the up-to-date information to support their health needs at school. Thank you for your help with this.
If your child has been absent from school for an extended period due to health reasons or if they have been in hospital we may need to hold a return to school meeting. We ask families to contact the Assistant Principal for their Phase to discuss if this is needed.
All NHS clinic dates are published on the school website. Families receive a letter from the specialist service leading each clinic if your child has an appointment. Families are asked to contact the service if you are unable to make the appointment or need to re-schedule it. This ensures your child is seen by the specialist services they need and also means appointments are not wasted.
Wishing all our children and families a very Merry Christmas from us all in the Therapy & Medical Teams.
From Liz Skilton and all in the Therapy & Medical Teams
Useful 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.