Milestone Academy Newsletter

July 2024 - Term 6

Principal's Welcome

Dear Parents and Carers,

Welcome to our term 6 newsletter. I can’t quite believe I am writing the last letter of this school year already - with so much rain at times, it’s been hard to remember it is summer!

Since our last newsletter, I am thrilled to share that Milestone is now an IQM Inclusive School and has also been recommended as a Centre of Excellence. The Inclusion Quality Mark (IQM) describes an inclusive school as one that gives all pupils regardless of their age, gender, ethnicity, achievements or background the equal opportunities to succeed. This additional status recognises those IQM Inclusive Schools which continue to demonstrate a commitment to outstanding levels of inclusive best practice. Our application and subsequent assessment was led by Noleen Donaghy-Parkouse and supported by our fantastic staff; I thank them all for their endless hard work.

Follow this link to read more: https://milestoneacademy.org.uk/2024/07/11/milestone-academy-achieves-iqm-inclusive-school-award-and-centre-of-excellence-status/

Our vision at Milestone is for each and every one of our students to be a happy, aspirational learner and this year has been full of experiences driven by our wish to constantly strive for more for our children. As such, we continue to see year on year improvement in pupil outcomes here at Milestone. We have dedicated staff, delivering exceptional experiences in the classroom, in the gardens, in the community and external visits. All of this contributes to our great success and, moreover, it nurtures our community of truly happy, aspirational learners.

Despite it being our final term, there has been no sign of ‘winding down’, and in fact quite the opposite. This term has seen successful, rain-free sports days for all our phases, a PMLD activity morning, a drama performance of ‘Wind in the Willows’ for families of students at DPA in Phase 2, a fantastic pantomime performance and musical presentation from our Phase 3 students, our Phase 4 Summer Sale, multiple trips and outstanding participation at the LAT sports days and KSENT Olympics. All our students have shone in all their endeavours, which I know you will share our pride in.

Please follow the links to read more about all these wonderful moments and find out what your child’s class has been up to this term, or find them on the ‘Class Websites By Phase’ tab on the main drop down Menu on the homepage of our website: https://milestoneacademy.org.uk/

Finally, thank you to the whole Milestone community for such a terrific year, we have much to celebrate about our collective achievements. These heartfelt thanks extend to you, our parents and carers, your unwavering support means that we can deliver the best education and opportunities for our students each and everyday. I wish you all a fantastic summer and encourage you to make the most of this extended break with your children - fingers crossed the weather is kind! I can’t wait to see you all on Monday 2nd September for a new and exciting year!

Sarah Goosani - Principal

Phase 1

Phase 1 pupils have enjoyed a dynamic and enriching final term, highlighted by a variety of engaging learning activities. Our young explorers delved into an inquiry about the first man on the moon, sparking their curiosity and deepening their understanding of space. Despite facing challenging weather during this summer term, outdoor learning thrived, with students enthusiastically participating in hands-on activities that brought their learning to life. The Daily Mile initiative has continued to be a hit, with children eagerly walking around the field each day to boost their physical fitness and well-being. This term also included a number of exciting sports days, where students showcased their physical abilities and team spirit in a series of fun and multi-sensory events. This term has been a wonderful blend of learning, resilience, and joy, marking a memorable end to the academic year.

Please look at our class pages on the following link: https://sites.google.com/latrust.org.uk/milestone-academy-phase-1/home

Catherine McHugh-Moss - Phase 1 Leader

Claire Woolmer - Assistant Principal Phase 1

Phase 2

This term, Phase 2 have focused on expanding their learning beyond the classroom through engaging outdoor activities. During playtime, students have enjoyed structured social skills activities, helping them build friendships and enhance their communication abilities in a fun and supportive environment. Our explorations of African animal habitats have sparked curiosity and a deeper understanding of nature, while hands-on lessons in human geography have given pupils a tangible sense of the world around them. These initiatives aim to foster both academic growth and personal development, ensuring that every child thrives in a holistic learning atmosphere.

Please look at our class pages on the following link: phase 2 class websites

Lucy Sparkes - Phase 2 Leader

Michelle Hilton - Assistant Principal Phase 2

Milestone @ Dartford Primary Academy

Students at M@DPA have been extremely busy in Module 6. Our three lines of inquiry have been: 'buildings are important to different people, 'the environment has different features and 'my body is continuously developing'. Through these lines of inquiry, the children have learned about African animals, different habitats and the adaptations that animals have gone through to allow them to survive in these environments. The pupils have also been learning about different religious buildings and their importance to different cultures.

Nova class has been developing their outdoor skills during their Forest School sessions, building shelters, playing outdoor games, taking risks and thinking about human impact on the environment. Comet class has been developing their road safety skills whilst walking to Dartford Library and have continued to develop their love of reading and understanding of how books are categorised. Moonbeam class has been continuing to develop their swimming skills at Fairfield Leisure Centre. All of the students were absolutely fantastic during our performance of 'The Wind in the Willows', developing their confidence as well as their speaking and listening skills.

We hope you have a wonderful summer break, hopefully the weather will improve!

Please look at our class pages on the following link: https://sites.google.com/latrust.org.uk/milestone-academy-phase-2/home

Faye Mendez - Satellite Director

Phase 3

Where has the time gone? As we come to the end of the year, looking back and reflecting on all our young people’s achievements is humbling, and the staff teams care and support has been absolutely fantastic to ensure that holistic progress has been made.

Term 6 has provided an abundance of learning opportunities and enrichment activities. Through our Inquiry Learning, Roman, Tudor and Saxon classes have been focusing on travel.

What a journey it has been for all the students in Roman Class, achieving so much in all areas of their learning. We have focused on holidays; using our senses to explore different travel destinations. We enjoyed sampling cheeses and “wine” (grape juice) on our virtual trip to St Tropez and made a variety of dishes from holiday destinations in our cookery lessons. Romans have become greater risk takers and will now sample (even if it is just smelling) foods that have not have experienced before.

Jurassic class has had a fantastic term! Every week, we've splashed around and built confidence during our swimming sessions. Aztec and Jurassic classes have delved into what it means to be a leader, exploring the important qualities that make someone a great role model. During Activity Week we investigated how technology has transformed both toys and music, and put our newfound knowledge to the test by crafting our very own inventions using nothing but imagination and some good old-fashioned junk modelling! In Renaissance, Sparta and Viking Classes, students have continued to look at how ‘Pioneering Leaders impact our lives’. We investigated approaches problem-solving in the past and present, looking particularly at the Cost of Living Crisis and Environmental Issues; and considering both religious and non-religious charity work and how they support such important causes.

The excitement continued with Sports day, where we all had a great time competing, putting our teamwork and athletic skills to the test. We worked really hard to learn lines and songs and master makaton signs during our Phase 3 performance rehearsals. I can say that the finished production was excellent and enjoyed by all. Overall, it’s been a brilliant term full of learning, creativity, and hard work.

All Phase 3 students have shown amazing dedication, student agency and creativity in their projects. We will be sad to see some of our students move on to the next stage of their learning journey, but we know that they will continue to thrive and we wish them good luck. Please have a restful and safe summer, enjoy the ‘sunshine’ and the phase 3 team look forward to returning in September.

Please look at our class pages on the following link:: 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 Leigh Academy

Wow, what a fantastic term it has been! Throughout the year, our students have demonstrated remarkable progress in various areas. They have shown exceptional growth in their academic skills, independence, and social interactions. From participating in classroom activities to engaging in extracurricular events, our students have consistently displayed a positive attitude and a willingness to learn and grow. Their hard work and dedication have truly paid off, and it has been a pleasure to watch them thrive.

One of the most memorable events of the term was M@L's first prom. It was an evening filled with joy, laughter, and celebration. The students arrived in their finest attire, excited to dance the night away. The prom was beautifully decorated, creating a magical atmosphere that everyone enjoyed. It was heartwarming to see the students celebrate together, showcasing their dance moves and enjoying the music. The prom not only provided a wonderful social experience but also allowed students to create lasting memories with their friends and teachers.

Our leavers' assembly was a touching and joyful event, marking a significant milestone for many of our students. We have 16 students leaving M@L this year, and six of them are making the big step of transitioning from Milestone to college. During the assembly, each student was recognised for their achievements and contributions to the school community. It was a touching moment to see students, teachers, and parents come together to celebrate these accomplishments. We are incredibly proud of our students and excited for the new adventures and opportunities that await them in college and beyond.

As we look ahead to the next academic year, we are filled with optimism and enthusiasm. We plan to build on the successes of this academic year by introducing new activities that will further support our students' development. We encourage all students to continue to trust their abilities and take the initiative in their learning. By doing so, they will not only enhance their confidence but also foster greater independence in all aspects of their school life. This term has been a testament to the resilience, determination, and spirit of our students and staff. We have faced challenges together, celebrated achievements, and created wonderful memories. We look forward to another year of growth, learning, and success. Thank you to everyone who has been a part of this journey.

Enjoy your well-deserved break, and we can't wait to see you all in the next term!

Please look at our class pages on the following link: https://sites.google.com/latrust.org.uk/milestone-academy-phase-3/home

Sofia Pinto - Satellite Director

Phase 4

As we approach the end of the academic year, it has been amazing to reflect on the fantastic work all the students in the Castle have achieved this year. The students have continued with their business enterprise project, creating a variety of amazing goods to sell at the recent summer sale, including soap, dog biscuits and tie-dye bags. During the sale, students were able to engage with members of the public to sell their products, and we made a fantastic amount of money to support them with future projects. Dover class has continued to create their own menu every Thursday and cook lunch for themselves with increasing independence. As part of their life skills challenge students have been encouraged to choose a recreation activity they would like to participate in, and have had the opportunity to learn how the radio booth works. Scotney class has been working hard with Kirsty during Horticulture to pot some beautiful plants ready to sell at the plant sale. They have been able to follow instructions to plant the flowers, add soil and water them regularly to help them grow. Eynsford has focused on the use of ICT in everyday life this term, exploring different pieces of technology to support us in our daily living. The students have learnt how to use the air fryer to make a variety of different snacks including cheese scones and jam tarts. During science, Canterbury class has been learning about recyclable and non-recyclable materials, sorting them into groups according to these properties. Students have also been making use of the new outdoor games, engaging in games appropriately with their peers, taking turns and learning the rules of the game. Finally Leeds class has worked hard on their enterprise project, decorating plant pots in beautiful colours and patterns to sell at the summer sale - these proved very popular! They have continued to learn about a different colour each week, exploring a variety of resources using their senses related to that colour.

As we come to the end of Module 6 we want to wish those students who are leaving us the very best of luck on the next chapter of their journey. It has been a pleasure supporting the fantastic learning of all the students over this year, and I wish you a lovely summer break. I look forward to seeing you in September!

Please look at our class pages on the following link: https://sites.google.com/latrust.org.uk/milestone-academy-phase-4/home

Katy Morez - Phase 4 Leader

Noleen Donaghy-Parkhouse - Assistant Principal Phase 4

Milestone @ Wilmington Academy

What an amazing year it has been, although I can’t believe we are approaching the end of term 6! The students all worked so hard this term to finalise their accreditation portfolios, as well as working towards their end of year exams. Results are still to be finalised, however the effort and resilience shown by all of the students was truly remarkable!

M@W also held their first ever end of year performance with their pantomime called “Sass and Slipper Shenanigans" - The students involved were amazing, putting in so much time to learn their lines, dance routines and work on their stage presence. Snowfields Academy came to watch the dress rehearsal and gave rave reviews!! The evening performance to families, friends and staff was extremely well received, and the cast were extremely proud of themselves (and rightly so!) We laughed, we cried and we cheered and boo’ed (oh no we didn’t!!).

As we end the term, the students are looking forward to a whole department trip to the beach (and we are crossing our fingers for some sunshine!) We are also preparing to say goodbye to 14 students as they have reached the end of their Milestone Journey. Our leavers assembly will be celebrating them all, with a focus on individual achievements and we want to wish them all the luck in the world as they begin their next chapters.

We are excited for the year ahead, with additional business enterprise pathways being opened up and additional ASDAN short courses also being offered to broaden the student options, and agency. I want to wish you all a wonderful summer and we look forward to welcoming the students back for the new academic year

Please look at our class pages on the following link: https://sites.google.com/latrust.org.uk/milestone-academy-phase-4/home

Nicky McCarthy - Satellite Director

School Meals

If your child is moving from year 2 to year 3 this September you will be required to start paying for school dinners, unless you qualify for Free School Meals. Your child may be eligible for free school meals if you’re in receipt of one of the following benefits:

Income Support
Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
Support under Part 6 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
The guaranteed element of Pension Credit Child Tax Credit (provided you’re not also entitled to Working
Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190)
Working Tax Credit run-on (paid for the four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit)
Universal Credit - if you apply on or after 1 April 2018 your household income must be less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you get)

Benefits of applying for free school meals also include a £10 voucher per eligible child each week during school holidays which can be spent in supermarkets. Please apply here: https://www.kent.gov.uk/education-and-children/schools/free-school-meals If your child is already registered for Free School Meals you do not need to reapply. If you aren’t sure if your child is already registered or you need help with the application process, please contact the school office by emailing info@milestoneacademy.org.uk

PE News

It has been a very busy but enjoyable term of inclusive sports at Milestone Academy, across all provisions. We hosted sports days for both the Stream and River / Waterfall on our main site, as well as a very successful PMLD activity day organised by Sharon Bailey. The students enjoyed taking part in some outdoor sports activities and races as well as having lots of fun on the inflatables. Students from Milestone @ Leigh represented the school in the KSENT Olympics at Swallows Leisure Centre in Sittingbourne. They experienced taking part in some new sports like judo and kinball and enjoyed meeting new friends from other special schools in the Kent area. 15 Milestone @ Leigh students have also been doing some introductory training on sports leadership, delivered by the Dartford school games organiser Andrea Kitchener. Students from Milestone @ DPA and Milestone @ Leigh took part in the LAT primary and secondary sports days which were held at Dartford Harriers Athletics Club. We also had a group from Milestone @ DPA take part in the LAT primary cricket festival at Sir Joseph Williamson Mathematical School in Rochester. Students have very much enjoyed taking part in these inclusive events and new experiences.

Steve Devereux - Head of PE

Dates for Your Diary

First day of Term 1: Monday 2nd September

Parent consultations (virtual): Tuesday 8th October

Parent consultations (in person): Wednesday 9th October

Last day of Term 1: Friday 18th October

First day Term 2: Monday 4th November

Please see our upcoming events page on the following link https://milestoneacademy.org.uk/events/list/

Friends of Milestone - Charity No: 278677

Hello from The Friends of Milestone.

Since our last newsletter contribution, we have been extremely busy with the annual summer fete. We would like to thank all of you who have supported the Friends either by making donations or attending the events - we truly appreciate all the support you give us. We are still on the lookout for more members if you would like to join us or know of any local business/groups that would like to support us through choosing us as their chosen charity or sponsoring an event through the year.

The summer fete this year saw us take £2000 on the day and, though it was not our most successful financially, it was a great day and everyone who attended seemed to have fun and enjoy themselves. We were fortunate that the Police and Blood Runners joined us and allowed the young people to look at the vehicles, try on equipment and chat with the officers and volunteers about their roles. This year we also had several external stall holders who all commented on the exemplary behaviour and attitudes of all the young people they met and how lovely it was to meet some of our students from Milestone.

Our winning raffle tickets numbers this year were: 1st prize - £200 cash, ticket 02550. 2nd prize - candle gift (generously donated by Carol Freed Wax melts), ticket 03853. 3rd prize - Luxury gift set (generously donated by Phase 3 parent), ticket 02329. 4th prize - Two tickets donated from Brands Hatch to Superbikes in July, ticket 04408. 5th prize - Food mixer, ticket 02919. Well done to all of the winners and thank you to all who brought tickets.

We will be holding an Outdoor Family Cinema on Saturday 21st September on the school field. Letters will be sent out in due course detailing how to buy tickets. We will be showing a family-friendly film (to be confirmed) on the school field, where you are welcome with your families. This event is only available to students and their families and Milestone staff, so please look out for how to buy your tickets and join us for the evening.

If you would like to join the Friends committee, have any ideas for future events or would like to find out more about us and what we do for the school, then please email friendsofmilestoneacademy@gmail.com or you find us on Facebook (we have the logo as the profile picture if you wish to find us).

We look forward to providing more events throughout the year.

We would like to thank you all for your continued support.

Faye Warman – Chair

Sarah Spiers – Co-Chair and Treasurer

Lyn French – Secretary

Friends of Milestone

The Dog Mentor Programme

It has been wonderful to have all four dog mentors in school this term. Fudge and Toffee are here every day except Mondays. Betty is here on Thursdays and Harper is mostly in on Tuesdays and Fridays.

It is so lovely to see what the dogs bring to the school and the difference they are making to children and staff. I certainly notice that they make us smile a lot and the word I keep using to describe the interactions with children is ‘MAGIC’. Having said this, we do appreciate that not everybody likes dogs and some children and staff may be wary, but we are seeing an increase in confidence with and around the dogs which is lovely.

It is interesting to see how the roles of the dogs are emerging, which very much depends on their individual personality and temperament. The way the children are with them also affects this. For example, Betty is playful and calm; she loves being stroked and fussed over by the children. She has also helped with personal care such as teeth brushing

Harper is chilled and likes to go on walks with the children; she loves saying hello to as many people as possible. She has supported a child with a transition visit to M@DPA, she has played ‘What’s the time Mr Wolf’ on the playground and she has watched as a child told her all about his learning in maths.

We are already thinking and planning for next year and are looking to having the dog mentors in school more often so we can build upon the success so far.

Therapy and Medical News

Therapy

Milestone Academy achieved The Balanced System Scheme for Schools and Settings ‘Centre of Excellence’ accreditation for our work in supporting children’s speech, language and communication needs in 2017. We have maintained this accreditation status each year since. For the last two years, we have been working with Kent County Council and Better Communication towards cycle 2 accreditation. The Balanced System provides us with a tool and framework to use to measure the impact of what we do to support children’s speech, language and communication development. I will let you know the outcome of our assessment and will keep you updated on developments in the year ahead.

Signing club has been learning signs about summer. We have thought about different activities we might like to do e.g. go to the seaside, make a sand castle, go swimming. We practised using these signs in games and songs. We enjoyed learning the "Summer Holiday" song. Our favourite lines were ….

"We're all going on a summer holiday, no more working for a week or two, fun and laughter on a summer holiday, no more worries for me or you!"

We performed this at the leavers’ assembly on Tuesday. Here is the link to the song so you can learn to sing and sign it too. Enjoy!

https://youtu.be/rj5zY7Lovm8?si=fyn2xO2AGfSbapxl

Medical News

Clinics We have had another term of hosting several specialist NHS clinics in school e.g. Community Paediatrician, Dietitian, Continence, ADHD Nurse. We hope families find these useful. We certainly value working so closely with specialists and families.

Medication

End of Term All medication will be returned home by the end of term on Friday 19th July. If your child has medication and will not be in school on the last day of term, please email pupilhealthplans@milestoneacademy.org.uk to make alternative arrangements. We are not able to store medication on site over the holiday periods.

Start of New Term

In order to help us keep children’s Individual Health Care Plans (IHCPs) updated, please share any new information, changes to medication and reports via pupilhealthplans@milestoneacademy.org.uk.

All medication to be administered in school must be sent in on the first day of term including emergency medication for asthma, epilepsy or allergies. Children who require emergency medication are not able to be in school without it. If for some reason the child comes in without it, we will contact families and ask you to either bring it in or collect your child.

All medication must display the prescription label. Any liquid medication must be in the original unopened bottle with a prescription label clearly displayed.

Please do not put any medication in children’s bags. All medication must be handed to an escort, driver or a member of school staff.

Any medication coming to and from respite centres must be in a sealed envelope which has been signed over the seal.

I hope this information helps and if you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact the medical team.

Save the Date - Monday 30th September 9.30-11.00 Coffee Morning. Come to meet some members of the Milestone Medical Team, the Special School Nursing Service and School Health. This will be an informal get together and opportunity to find out more about how we support children’s health needs as well as discuss any concerns you may have. We look forward to seeing you.

Leavers

On behalf of the Milestone Medical and Therapy Teams, I wish all our leavers the very best in their next placements and future. It is always an honour to support children and work closely with families over many years. We are proud of each and one of our young people who we have known from a young age and to see the wonderful young people they are today. Good luck to you all and please do come back to see us when you can.

All the best, Liz and the Therapy and Medical Teams.

Horticulture News

We have had a wonderful busy term, please take a look at our Horticulture webpages to see what we've been up to this term:

https://sites.google.com/latrust.org.uk/milestone-academy-phase-3/learning-engagements/horticulture-module-5

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.

Survey

Commissioning is conducting a review of the Information Advice and Support Service Kent (IASK) service. IASK provide Information, advice and support to children, young people and parents/carers about special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). This includes health and social care where it is linked to education. We know that IASK along with other services and charities offer essential support to parents. The survey will help us understand more about how parents and young people access the IASK Service and how aware they are of the service. The survey will also help us understand why people haven’t used the service or have accessed other support. We are keen to identify where we can best promote services like IASK so parents and young people can know where to find out about all the support that is available to them. We have tried to keep the survey as short as possible.

Link to survey

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