Milestone Academy Newsletter

Principal's Welcome

Dear Parents and Carers

This term has been as busy as ever with the welcome addition of the return to more off site activities. Our phase 3 students enjoyed a residential trip to Kingswood in Norfolk. They had glorious weather and a great time. Rumour has it that on the last day they all slept in until 7am! We have more residentials planned for Term 6 and of course our Summer Fair. The Summer Fair will be our first since 2019 so please do come along and support it. The Friends of Milestone continue to be a huge support by providing much needed funds linked to key projects for our students. One major development, happening in the next few months, is a complete refurbishment of the library area on the main site. In addition to this we will be refurbishing the library areas at the satellite provisions once work on the main site is completed. Our Friends of Milestone have kindly donated £5000 to this which is greatly appreciated. Alongside the refurbishment we have invested in hundreds of books to reinvigorate our students' love of books and reading. Books are being catalogued and prepared ready for the opening of the refreshed facility.

We have started to invite our older students from Wilmington to take part in work experience activities on the main site. Some of the work they are engaging in includes being a librarian and food technician. Students have enjoyed preparing themselves for work and being regarded as one of the team working at the academy rather than a student. We are positive that these days will greatly support their transition toward life beyond Milestone.

Following consultation with one of our students we now have wheelchair access to our Tepees with a view to improving access across the horticulture site as well. Our phase three student could not believe that the plans he drew were used to inform the location and direction of the pathways to the Teepee.

This term we finished our project with host artists 'Arty Party'. Where possible, every student at every site contributed to each piece of art work all of which are now displayed in five different locations. The sculptures have added a feeling of joy and wellbeing to the corridors and rooms they decorate, I hope you agree when you see the pictures.

In addition to all our curriculum activities we have had a restructure of our leadership team. In acknowledgement of her outstanding contribution to the ongoing success of Milestone and in response to the growing numbers of pupils and staff, Janet Tidmas has been promoted up from Vice Principal to Deputy Principal. We have successfully recruited two new Vice Principals, Terry Brock, who is currently our Phase 4 Assistant Principal, and Sonia Sharma, who currently leads on SEN at another academy in Kent. I know that you will join me in congratulating them all and wishing them well in September when they start their new roles.

This week we have finished the term by celebrating the Queen's Platinum Jubilee. At the time of writing this letter we have only just begun these events and will post pictures in next term's letter to share with you.

It remains for me to thank you all again for your continued support and positive engagement with all of us at Milestone. I wish you all a restful half term when hopefully the sun will shine and the Jubilee bank holiday will be fun for everyone.

Sarah Goosani - Principal

Phase 2

We’ve had a number of highlights this term including the Jubilee celebrations. It’s been great to get back to some of our whole school events and opportunities, and where appropriate for inclusion to begin again.

In Term 6 we are excited to be resuming our Year 6/7 residential and activity afternoons. We have various events planned to mark our Year 6’s final term before they move to Year 7 in September.

Our whole school topic in Term 6 is 'Sharing the Planet'. In Phase 2 we will be looking more closely at our theme - 'It’s a Jungle Out There'!

• Geography: Rural and urban - jungles and rainforest

• RE: Places of worship

• Science: States of matter

• PSPD Healthy Lifestyles Bodies (changing adolescent bodies) (inc. drugs, alcohol and tobacco for River and Waterfall)

• RSE: Brook - Important people. Stream - Being safe. River, waterfall - Online relationships.

• All - preparing for puberty and personal care.

• Art: Henri Rousseau - 3D rainforest

• Cooking and Nutrition: Bake Off!

• Computing: E safety

• PE: Rotated athletics, competitive games, swimming and agility, balance and coordination (gymnastics), dance and adventurous activity

Term 6 Texts

Brook - Where’s the zebra, Pop up jungle, Jungle Sounds

Stream - Rumble in the jungle, The very grumpy bear, The secret life of a tiger, Slowly slowly said the sloth, The animal boogie

River - We’re roaming in the Rainforest, George saves the forest

Waterfall - The Jungle Book, The Great Kapok Tree, Tree full of wonder

Woodland Class have enjoyed learning about different capital cities from around the world. We have explored Rabat and Moroccan lanterns choosing textured paint brushes to add effects, we have visited Paris and listened to traditional Parisian music and have whizzed to Mexico to experience a Mardi Gras carnival.

We have developed our gross motor skills through physio programmes, aqualearn and rebound therapy and have been consolidating our communications skills to give a like or dislike response. We have enjoyed having more time outside and have explored the memorial garden with all of our senses, even helping to plant some new bulbs.

Mountain Class have enjoyed the opportunity to visit Fairfield pool this term for swimming, where we have been focusing on putting our faces in the water and blowing bubbles, as well as swimming on our backs. During RE we have been learning about Ramadan and Eid, exploring the different ways they celebrate, and learning how the moon represents different phases of Ramadan. In write dance we have been focusing on our gross and fine motor skills, completing a variety of different movements including circles, horizontal and vertical lines in time to music, which in turn is helping to improve our handwriting. We have worked hard in phonics this term, identifying the different letter sounds and blending them to read words. This term the chicks came to visit Mountain class, where we talked about what they need to help them to grow.

Forest Class has been working hard this term and they have all been trying hard to help staff complete jobs, such as; collecting the school lunches using the trolley, stacking chairs at the end of the day and helping tidy up their own equipment after lessons. During their Science lessons they have learnt about light and they have looked at different sources of lights and during RE they have learnt about Ramadan and Eid and they enjoyed creating Mehndi patterns. The pupils have also thoroughly enjoyed their cookery lessons this term linked to the theme of ‘Great British Recipes’. They have enjoyed making jam tarts, scones as well as shortbread biscuits. In addition to this all the pupils have engaged well with our new Read Write Inc phonics programme and they have all been trying hard to practice learning their letter sounds. A couple of pupils have really impressed us and they have been able to write their letter sounds as well as read and write words using their phonics knowledge to support them. Another highlight for this term has been gymnastics with Beaming Stars and as the term has progressed all the pupils have become more confident in their balancing skills, climbing the rope ladders or swinging on the hoops and bouncing on the trampette.

Orchard Class have spent time becoming more familiar with money this term, by using it to pay for our snack every day and having the opportunity to use it within the community too. The students have really engaged with our new Read Write Inc phonics programme where we have focused on learning the sounds and then blending them to read words. We have really enjoyed reading the story “The Queen’s hat” and we have identified different famous landmarks in London and created our own hats. We have learnt about light in science and our highlights were going on a light hunt around the school looking for different light sources and drawing around shadows in the sunshine. In cooking, we have enjoyed making some different British recipes, such as sausage rolls and jam tarts and the students have been practising their turn taking skills in their groups whilst following the instructions. In RE, we have been learning about the different ways Muslims celebrate Ramadan and Eid and the importance of the moon during this time. We made fluffy moon paint and Sadaqah jars and have enjoyed being very creative throughout the term.

Coast Class have ‘visited’ different capital cities during topic lessons and shared a messy play, art and ECT carousel in the theme of the country. Our absolute favourite has been Sydney, we shared an edible golden coast which had lots of different textures and temperatures. In art we have created city inspired art including driving through London using our fine motor skills to pick up and push our black cabs through paint.

We shared two sensory stories this term both London themed. We loved our personalised story ‘Coast go to London’, which had all of our photos in and our favourite activities.

In food technology we have been baking lots of goodies, cheesy penguins and chocolate have been our most enjoyable lessons (very messy and delicious). We have worked really hard on our motor skills this term with all of our ‘travelling’ and have had lots of opportunities to walk and share work sessions in the sunshine.

Meadow Class have been learning all about capital cities, the features of a city as well as famous London landmarks such as the London Eye and Big Ben. Using their class chromebooks independently, students have learnt how to use Google Maps and Streetview to locate these landmarks and become ‘virtual tourists’. Meadow class have also enjoyed engaging in our new phonics programme ‘Read Write Inc’, with students learning new phonemes and applying these to sounding out new words. During our fortnightly community participation lessons we have been learning how to safely cross a road, by stopping, looking left and right and continuing to look left and right as we walk across. Many of the students have now become very confident in reminding the adults of how it is done safely!

Canyon Class have created our own London bus with the students' photos on for our class display. We have been introduced to a new phonics programme called Read Write Inc which is working well and engaging the students. In cooking this term the topic has been Great British recipes where Canyon have particularly enjoyed learning to make scones, shortbread and Victoria sponge cake. We have been learning about Ramadan and Eid in our religious lessons where we have made Sadaqah jars and created our own mehndi patterns. In science this term we have looked at light and shadows and made our own shadow puppets to reflect on the wall using torches. Our history topic has been ‘Local History’ where we have been looking at old and new toys, transport and phones and sorting them into old and new categories. Canyon class have been going out in the community once a week to Hartley park this term and enjoying the outside public space. We also had the opportunity to visit the chicks that had just hatched in the school grounds and talked about how to care and look after them.

Michelle Hilton - Phase 2 Director

Phase 3

We have had a lot to celebrate in Phase 3 and at Milestone @ the Leigh this term. I need to give a huge congratulations to Frances, Yasmin, Steve, Katie, Simon, Terri and Janet for taking 22 of our brilliant students all the way to Kingswood Overstrand in Norfolk. This is the first residential we have hosted in several years, and it was our largest and most ambitious in my memory. Well done to staff who attended, and to all staff who supported! And the biggest well done of all to our incredible students, who braved the unknown and made many new memories.

As we move closer to the summer, I expect many more of our classes to push beyond our school walls and explore the learning opportunities that exist outside of the classroom. I am very proud that Becky and the incredible team in Roman Class visited our partner school, Snowfields Academy, this term. That was another hugely ambitious day out and I am so pleased that it was possible. A huge thank you to Dee, James and Fi at Snowfields for hosting us.

I am also very pleased to welcome Noleen back from a short while away. Thank you to all our families for your support, your care, and your encouragement. It is hugely appreciated.

It has been an absolute pleasure to welcome Sofia as Satellite Director, Milestone @ the Leigh. Thank you to all the families who have made Sofia feel so welcome.

I would also like to make sure that all families - main site or M@L - are invited to attend our first live performance in several years, which will be a hilarious production called "Peter Pandemic!" This is being performed at the Leigh Academy on Friday 24 June at 5:00 pm. It is guaranteed to be a good laugh, so please do join us.

Kyle Marsh

Viking Class have had a really great Term 5! In maths we've been developing our time telling and reasoning skills to work out different problems using the analogue clock. We've been measuring the length and height of objects using metres and centimetres. We've also been using money to solve more complex problems and practiced these skills when visiting the shops to buy bits we needed for class... and ice cream! In English we have been trying out our new Read Write Inc phonics programme to support us with our reading. In our new STEAM (DT) lesson we've been learning about different inventions that are helping reduce our carbon footprint. We have made group presentations about this using our IT skills and delivered them to the rest of our class. Four of our students went to the Kingswood residential which was the first time we've been able to do this for 2 years! They really enjoyed themselves and let us know all about their adventures when they returned. Two of our yr 10 students have also been visiting Bore Place each Thursday looking after animals, going pond dipping and building campfires. Our students have also been supporting Jurassic class with their learning during their maths and functional skills lessons.

Tyler: "My favourite part of Term 5 was visiting bore place and putting marshmallow on sticks and making a fire"

George: "My favourite part of Term 5 was working with Jurassic class and helping them to do their maths work"

Saxon Class have been exploring all about the Roman's this term. We have learnt their way of life and have created our very own Roman clothing. We have made our very own skirts, helmets, shields and even created Roman foods. Saxon class really enjoyed creating their own Roman attire, especially the skirts. We have also been learning new phonics this term and the students have come so far with their learning.

Aztec Class have had a very busy term. They especially enjoyed walking to the shops weekly to purchase their own shopping for cooking. All students have demonstrated maturity and excellent behaviour whilst off site. The whole class enjoyed cooking from recipes based on the great inventors ‘Wallace and Gromit’ with a focus ingredient being cheese. Many have developed new skills including cutting, slicing and chopping with knives safely. They have also been completing some gardening, digging up a plot, planting seeds in trays, transferring the young plants into pots and then again into the allotment plot. Our history topic has been about ‘Why the Roman Invasion was important to Britain” learning how many times the Romans tried to conquer Britannia, what they came to our country for and the reasons behind this. Students enjoyed role play, as half the class defended their village as Celts, the other half were Romans and attacked the village. Students have interviewed ‘Boudicca’ and will be learning about what the Romans brought to Britain. Here is a picture of one of our Gromit shaped pizzas.

Roman Class have continued to work upon their individual learning plans and provision plan targets, exploring and generalising these targets across all curriculum areas. Our topic this term has been ‘Inventions.’ Through this topic Roman Class have explored sensory stories and carousels incorporating inventions which have impacted their world and are the classes favourite, most motivating things. This has lead to fantastic communication, problem solving and engagement in learning. In cooking the class utilised switch adapted kitchen equipment to create a range of different dips which provided an opportunity to generalize ECT skills. The class have continued their functional community participation in the local area, extending this with a trip to the café and attending a personalised day out at Snowfields Academy. As we approach the end of term we look forward to some exciting learning experiences through our Roman Rumble and Jubilee activity days. - Noleen & Becky

Jurassic Class have enjoyed exploring the topic of ‘Interesting Inventions’ & ‘The Roman Empire’ this term and we have had fun completing different activities through Art, topic & cooking lessons. A favourite this term for the whole class has been our visit from Arty Party. All of the students in Jurassic have loved making sculptures, painting and joining in woodwork. We have had a great time during PE exploring the different bikes and tricycles. Jurassic have also loved seeing the progress of our Phase 3 chicks hatching and growing this term! Great work Jurassic Class and well done to you all!

Sparta Class student comments from this term:

"This term in Sparta class I have learnt about time and measurement in Maths and I learnt phonics in Sparta. I enjoyed cooking and playing ‘knock it down’ with Aleem and Antonius. I am looking forward to trips and summer holidays." - Archie

"This term in Sparta class I have been to Kingswood residential, I really enjoyed the Leap of Faith and getting my certificate for resilience! I am looking forward to nice weather next term." - Jessica

"This term in Sparta class I have the best long stories. I really enjoyed going to Kingswood. I loved the low ropes and the low ropes blindfolded. I am looking forward to lovely weather and spending time with our lovely teachers and cooking." - Ella

"This term in Sparta class I have done English and Art. I really enjoyed making friends and English lessons. I am looking forward to seeing my friends and learning more." - Emily

Tudor Class have explored the Romans as part of our topic work. In PE we have used the bikes and in cooking we have made a lot of Roman recipes which have actually been very tasty. The students have used a variety of equipment and skills to create Libum bread which is a sweet cheese bread, Roman honey biscuits, Roman apple cake, we have made Roman coins using clay, Roman helmets following instructions, Roman picture frames and laurel wreath headwear.

Kyle Marsh - Phase 3 Director

Phase 4

Phase Four has had a very busy term and has been working very hard focusing on 'Factories and pollution' as part of their topic work this term, and in particular, questions around Recycling and how we can contribute to keeping the planet clean. The classes have been able to access the wider community to enhance their learning as part of their recreational activities, as well as using the outside learning environments within our Academy. Phase four has also been working very hard on their phonics reading programme as part of our English curriculum ‘Read Write Inc’, and students have taken pleasure in working with their friends whilst developing their reading and comprehension skills.

Dover Class have had a very busy term, with our Topic focus being factories and production. We have explored a range of different foods in our Food Technology lessons, while learning about where our food comes from around the world and how it is produced before we buy it in the shops. We have also been learning about medicine in PSHE and healthy living, looking at the substances we put in our bodies. Some of the students have had the opportunity to go on recreational visits including swimming lessons and trips to Bore place as part of their work experience and wider community involvement, working on being independent in the wider world beyond school. For our English lessons we have been focussing on the story; ‘Charlie and the chocolate factory’ and have started our new phonics program ‘Read Write Inc’.

We are looking forward to getting out in the community more often with visits to shops and cafes as part of our recreational activities and are also looking forward to making our outside area a more enjoyable and relaxing space for the Summer term.

Eynsford Class have been working very hard this term. Students have been developing their independence skills by using and following schedules to complete functional tasks. Eynsford class explored different equipment to use during their cooking and nutrition lessons and their favourite recipe was making a ‘Rainbow surprise inside cake. Students worked together to follow printed schedules and checklists to make the mix for their cake, as well as choosing what treats they wanted to place inside their cake as a surprise.

Eynsford class have also enjoyed the sunnier weather and have been accessing the bikes outside as an extension of their physical activities, and have enjoyed using the bikes whilst also developing their receptive skills by joining in with start and stop games.

Canterbury Class have been working hard on our outside area potting up seedlings and maintaining the allotment. In our Food and Nutrition lessons we have been using some new equipment to make crepes, toasted sandwiches and air fried wedges.

Students have been working hard on increasing their independence when visiting a selection of shops, the bowling alley and swimming pool.

We are all looking forward to the warmer weather when we can take more of our learning outside the classroom.

Leeds Class have enjoyed the sunshine and working outside. The student’s have worked hard on their ASDAN accreditation topic of exploring objects. Students have also been developing their independence of completing functional tasks as well as developing and exploring their maths skills during their food and nutrition lessons.

Students have enjoyed Aqua Learn this term and have been working with new staff to complete their individual physical targets..

Our Sensory story this term has been “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” and students have engaged well and found the story and visuals interesting and have enjoyed listening to the different songs.

Scotney Class have been looking at different seasons for part of our asdan and enjoyed participating in lots of seasonal arts and craft activities. We have been exploring different beats along with practising our call and response skills by using the resonance board during our topic sensory raps sessions and the students have enjoyed getting into character and exploring the props.

During cooking and nutrition lessons, the students have been exploring different equipment they can use to create different foods. A favourite was using the blender where they made their own fruit milkshakes, choosing which fruits they would like from a variety of symbols.

Amy Mercer - Interim Phase 4 Leader