Leigh Academy Milestone Newsletter

July 2025 - Term 6

Principal's Welcome

Dear Parents and Carers,

As we reach the end of what has been a phenomenal year, it brings me great pleasure to introduce the Module 6 newsletter from our ‘outstanding’ school.

We welcomed Ofsted into our school during the first week of term and they saw that: ‘Pupils’ education is of the highest quality at this transformative school. Staff have consistently high aspirations for pupils and ensure that they meet them. Skilled staff identify pupils’ personal targets precisely….As a result, pupils become increasingly independent. This helps them to flourish in school and beyond. ‘ We are immensely proud of everyone here and the outcome of the inspection, which confirms that we truly are a school of Happy Aspirational Learners. Thank you to you, our parents and carers, who form our wider community and play a vital role by supporting your children and the school.

Despite this outstanding achievement, time for celebration was brief with such a jam packed module to navigate. The last few weeks have been a non-stop timetable of sports days, dramatic performances, days out to Chessington, the London Aquarium, the beach, soft play and the cinema! Students also demonstrated outstanding participation at the LAT Sports Day and the KSENT Games. Elsewhere our leavers took part in awards assembly and celebrations in preparation for the next stage of their journeys. We also had a dazzling show with our 6th formers at Wilmington with their own version of ‘The Wizard of Oz’. A highlight was the 6th form prom where we could see our leavers, now young adults who had grown into beautiful young people living life to the full! We wish them all the very best for their next chapter. All our students have shone in all their endeavours, and I know you will share our pride in each and every one of them.

I am also pleased to share that we had multiple Milestone staff nominated for awards at the 8th Annual LAT Awards, we were represented in six individual awards and one team category. I’m delighted to say that Jack Coleman, our music teacher, won the ‘Excellence in SEN’ accolade which was made all the more special as one of our own students presented Jack with his award. Well done to all our Milestone nominees, you are all winners to us!

A little less exciting, but still significant for us, the new overflow car park is now complete! This is already making a big difference to our staff and visitors. Thanks must go to the Trust for supporting this project.

Please read on and enjoy this newsletter and do visit your child’s class pages for more insight and photos of all the wonderful moments we have experienced in this module.

All that’s left for me to do is express my heartfelt thanks to the whole Milestone community for such a tremendous year, we have much to reflect on and celebrate. These wholehearted thanks extend to you, our parents and carers, your unwavering support enables us to deliver the very best education and rich experiences for our students each and everyday. I wish you all a fantastic and safe summer with your children. I can’t wait to see you all on Monday 1st September refreshed and ready for a new and exciting year ahead!

Sarah Goosani

Principal

Phase 1

This module in Phase 1, we have rounded off our exciting inquiry into how we care for animals, people, and plants. The children have explored seaside environments, investigated weather patterns, and got hands-on with making delicious picnic foods inspired by classic British recipes. Highlights of the term have included our joyful Sports Day and a magical Teddy Bears’ Picnic, which the children thoroughly enjoyed. Forest School sessions have continued to be a huge success, especially as the warmer weather has allowed us to make the most of the outdoor learning opportunities. We have also been developing our community participation skills, with pupils learning about road safety and practising these skills on walks to the local shops, where they confidently selected and purchased their own items.

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

This term in EYFS, we have been diving into our theme 'We share the Earth with living things' through the wonderful stories The Rainbow Fish and The Very Hungry Caterpillar. These much-loved tales have sparked curiosity and creativity across the classroom.

Our students had lots of fun bringing the Rainbow Fish to life using colourful fruit to create their own edible fish designs. They also enjoyed exploring sound and rhythm on the resonance board as they echoed the repeated refrains from the stories.

With the warmer weather, we’ve made the most of the sunshine through plenty of water play! One of the highlights has been catching sea creatures—an exciting way to cool down while learning about ocean life.

Wishing all our families a safe, sunny, and restful summer!

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

What a busy and brilliant final term it’s been in Phase 2! Our learners have taken part in a wide range of exciting and enriching activities, and it’s been a joy to watch them grow, explore, and shine.

Woodland and Coast have been diving into the topics of Ancient Romans and Light in a sensory and creative way. From putting on their very own puppet shows to exploring a Roman garden using all five senses, the pupils were fully immersed. They also used switches to activate a bubbling foot spa, recreating the calm atmosphere of a Roman bath – a relaxing and fun experience for all!

Woodland Class also joined up with Penguins for a lively Jo Jingles session – filled with music, rhythm and smiles. And Coast Class had a fantastic time on their big trip to the London Aquarium. They travelled by train, had lunch by the London Eye, watched boats on the Thames, and were completely mesmerised by the sharks and jellyfish.

Glacier Class have been loving their food technology lessons, especially when tasting a variety of seasonal fruits. They also came up with some great ideas for the ingredients in their own class trifle! They explored Roman life through music, dance and art – with mosaic-making being a real hit and producing some amazing artwork.

Mountain Class have been learning about shapes and light through hands-on play. They’ve enjoyed building with Magna-Tiles and creating beautiful light pictures using special cyanotype paper. Their Write Dance sessions have been full of fun and mess as they used sensory materials like flour and shaving foam to explore movement and mark-making.

Orchard Class have been inspired by the amazing work of Sonia Delaunay. Using geometric shapes, the children created vibrant and imaginative pieces of artwork—they’ve done a fantastic job showcasing their creativity!

Glacier, Canyon and Forest have continued their Born to Ride cycling sessions this term, making great progress in both skill and confidence. Canyon Class have also enjoyed magical stories from a visiting librarian, and had a truly special visit from some therapy dogs – lots of happy faces all round!

This term, we’ve also celebrated lots of lovely events including Father’s Day, Deafblind Awareness Week, the King’s Birthday, and Pride – with each celebration planned to involve all the senses and include every learner.

A real highlight was our PMLD Carnival Morning, full of colour, music and fun! Pupils made their own ice creams, played hook-a-duck, built sandcastles, had a go at bowling, and joined in with the parachute. A big thank you to all the parents and carers who came along – it was so special to share those moments with you.

And finally, we had our Phase 2 Sports Day, where pupils practised their throwing and catching skills, played target games and, of course, bounced to their hearts’ content on the bouncy castle! It was brilliant to see so many of you cheering the children on.

It’s been a term full of creativity, curiosity, and so many achievements. We are incredibly proud of each and every one of our learners – well done for a fantastic term and have a wonderful summer break.

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 fantastic term at M@LAD, we're incredibly proud to celebrate the outstanding progress our pupils have made across all areas of the curriculum. Throughout Module 6, students have continued to excel in communication, independence, PSPD, self-help skills, reading, writing, and maths. Staff have been amazed by the determination, enthusiasm and resilience shown by every learner.

Our much-loved playtime clubs have continued to be a huge success, providing pupils with fun, social opportunities during the school day. This term also saw students take part in sports day, with excellent participation, teamwork and encouragement all round.

One of the highlights of the term was our whole satellite trip to the beach – a fantastic day full of exploration, sensory experiences and sunshine! Pupils also continued to access a wide range of enrichment opportunities, including swimming, forest school, and community visits, all supporting their development and confidence in real-world settings.

This term marked an important step for many pupils as they engaged in transition visits, preparing for their next stage with growing independence and self-assurance.

We were also thrilled to celebrate outstanding SATs results, a true testament to the hard work of our students and staff alike.

To end the summer term on a high note, we hosted a well-deserved celebration afternoon – complete with a disco dome, McDonald’s treat, ice cream van, and sensory summer play. It was a joyful way to reflect on a term of growth, learning and achievement.

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

What a fantastic and eventful end to the last module in Phase 3! We started off with our Ofsted visit, and we are thrilled that it was a wonderful success. Our students and staff naturally shone, proudly sharing everything we do on a daily basis. The feedback reflected the hard work, creativity, and care that go into our school community every single day.

Our Inquiry Week was packed with excitement and hands-on learning. Students enjoyed an incredible range of activities—from an exhilarating visit to Chessington, to the bouncy fun of inflatables and the energetic celebration of Sports Day with parents cheering us on. We also hosted our very first Share and Learn, which was a huge success! Students and families created fantastic 2D Earth models together, creatively showing the impacts of climate change over time. Collaborative learning was in full swing across the phase. The Waterfall Pathway constructed their own working fairground models, and the entire phase participated in a sensory exploration experience through our 'Sharing the Planet' tough tray stations—a highlight for many!

Each class has had its own exciting journey this term:

Roman Class made the most of the sunshine, getting out into the community with trips to the shops, library, and café. In the Stream Classes, students explored nature through art, performing arts, and their class stories, deepening their connection to the environment.

Jurassic Class dived into the wonders of the underwater world with their class text ‘Manfish’, and even brought joy to the community with visits to the local care home.

Aztec Class visited the local library and learned about the importance of water—not only for sustaining life but also for its spiritual significance, such as its use in cleansing rituals before visiting Gurdwaras.

Sparta and Renaissance Classes have been learning about rivers and their features, including a trip to the Strand to see the estuary. They’ve also been exploring Aboriginal ‘Dreamtime’ stories from the Billabong, which offer powerful moral lessons.

As we wrap up this term, we want to thank our students, families, and staff for their continued enthusiasm and support. We’re all ready for a well-earned rest and some precious time with our families. From all of us in the Phase 3 Team—have a safe, happy summer, and we look forward to welcoming you back in September!

Please take a look at our class pages: https://sites.google.com/latrust.org.uk/milestone-academy-phase-3/phase-3-202425

Maria Steer - Phase 3 Leader

Kyle Marsh - Assistant Principal Phase 3

Milestone @ The Sir Geoffrey Leigh Academy

As we come to the end of Module 6, it's a great opportunity to celebrate the progress and achievements our pupils have made this term and throughout the year.There is so much to celebrate and be proud of! This academic year has been filled with growth, learning, and memorable experiences.

This term also brings a bittersweet moment as we say goodbye to some of our pupils and staff. While we will miss them dearly, we are excited about all the opportunities that lie ahead for them. We extend our heartfelt best wishes to our departing staff members and thank them for their invaluable contributions to our school community. We are proud of the resilience and confidence our pupils have shown during these changes, embodying the IB attribute of being balanced as they navigate new transitions.

At the same time, we are thrilled to welcome new pupils who will be joining us in September. Their transitions have been smooth and successful, and we look forward to them becoming a part of our M@SGLA family.

This term has been packed with exciting events that truly showcased the talents and spirit of our pupils. Sports Day was an inspiring highlight - pupils took part with enthusiasm, determination, and fantastic team spirit. It was wonderful to see them give their all and support one another throughout the events, showing great courage, cooperation, and integrity.

We also had the pleasure of attending a performance of Jack and the Beanstalk. The pantomime was full of laughter, music, and audience participation. Our pupils were completely engaged, showing themselves to be open-minded and reflective, as they connected with the story’s themes and enjoyed a shared cultural experience.

Following this, we enjoyed a fantastic outing to the cinema to watch Elio. The students had a wonderful time! There was laughter, excitement, and a real sense of enjoyment throughout the experience. The film’s powerful themes of friendship, courage, and acceptance beautifully echoed the IB Learner Profile attributes of being caring, courageous, and open-minded. Pupils reflected thoughtfully on how they could demonstrate these values in their own lives.

Another special moment was our end-of-year prom, which gave everyone a chance to come together and celebrate in style! It was an evening filled with fun, music, dancing, and recognition of all that our pupils have achieved this year. We were especially proud to see our pupils acting as principled and caring members of the community - celebrating each other’s successes and enjoying the moment with kindness and joy.

Finally, during our Leavers’ Assembly, we celebrated the journeys and accomplishments of our departing pupils. It was a moving and joyful event, full of memories and proud moments. Many pupils demonstrated confidence and reflectiveness, looking back on how much they have grown and looking ahead to the next stage of their journey.

As we close this academic year, we do so with immense pride in the progress and successes of our pupils. We look forward to all the exciting things the next year will bring.

Thank you for your continued support and dedication to our school community. We wish everyone a safe, restful, and enjoyable summer break!

Please take a look at our class pages: https://sites.google.com/latrust.org.uk/milestone-academy-phase-3/phase-3-202425

Sofia Pinto - Satellite Director

Phase 4

This term has been packed with exciting activities and memorable experiences for our Phase 4 students. A group of students in year 13 and 14 had the opportunity to attend a residential trip to Haven, where they took part in a range of fun and enriching activities. Highlights included swimming, crazy golf, slime making, and an unforgettable visit to Wingham Wildlife Park.

Back at school, the Castle Café has continued to be a standout success. Students have been busy preparing and selling a variety of delicious foods, gaining invaluable real-life work experience in the process.

Sports Day was exciting event this term, offering a mix of physical challenges and laughter. Students enjoyed a fantastic day filled with inflatables, archery, obstacle courses, and target skill activities, all promoting teamwork and developing their gross motor skills.

Creativity was also in full flow when students welcomed a visiting artist. During the engaging workshop, they learned about comic book design and had the chance to create their own comic-style illustrations — a fun way to explore their artistic talents!

Our Enrichment Day added even more excitement, with students handling and learning about a variety of animals, including a rabbit and a tortoise. They also had great fun exploring bubbles of all sizes — and even experienced the magic of standing inside a giant bubble!

As we come to the end of this term, we are incredibly proud of the hard work and enthusiasm shown by all our students in Phase 4. We wish them a well-deserved, restful summer break and look forward to welcoming them back in September. To those students who are moving on, we send our warmest wishes for success and happiness in their next adventure.

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

As we conclude Module 6, this term has been exceptionally busy, filled with numerous special events that have enriched our students' experiences. A highlight was our successful trip to the seaside, where students relished traditional fish and chips and refreshing ice creams.

We are also pleased to announce that all students submitted their work for external moderation, achieving their specific ASDAN qualifications. We were immensely impressed by their maturity during the examination process.

The end-of-year prom was another memorable occasion, with everyone looking glamorous and enjoying a wonderful evening together.

The end-of-year production, "Wizard of Wilmington," showcased the remarkable talents of our young people, leaving a lasting impression on all attendees. As we prepare to bid farewell to our departing students, we held an emotional leavers’ assembly last Friday.

Wishing you all a splendid summer, and thank you for your continued support.

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

We have had a very busy Module 6 as always, with lots of events and great weather! We thank families for supporting all our phase sports days at the main site. We also managed to host Milestone@LAD's sports day in the school gym, despite the rain! This proved to be very successful with lots of families in attendance.

Students from Milestone @ DPA took part in the LAT primary sports day at Dartford Athletics Club and also took part in the LAT primary cricket event at Sir John Williamson Mathematical School in Rochester. Both events were very well organised and students enjoyed participating and representing the school in a fun competitive environment.

Finally, it is a fond farewell from me as I move to a new role abroad this summer, after 15 fantastic years at Milestone. Your new Head of PE will be Evie Foster, who has lots of SEN PE experience and she is very excited to be part of the Milestone family. I am sure you will wish her all well as the PE department moves from strength to strength. Thank you for all of your support over the years and enjoy your summer!

Steve Devereux - Head of PE

Horticulture News

A Harvest of success in the school garden!

It has been another busy and rewarding module in the garden and allotment. Students have continued to show fantastic dedication, planting a variety of flowers and vegetables and enjoying the fun of harvesting their hard work. We have been delighted with the results of our planting efforts, with several crops being a huge hit!

Potatoes & Strawberries: These were incredibly popular with the students.
Continuous Crops: We have enjoyed a continued harvest of fresh beans and onions.
Tomatoes: Our tomato plants are just beginning to ripen. We hope to taste some before the holiday break!
Pumpkins: The pumpkin patch is thriving, with our pumpkins growing well and getting ready for October.

The wildflower beds have been a spectacular success. They have brought a vibrant burst of colour to the garden and have noticeably increased the amount of insect life, creating a healthier ecosystem. Building on this success, we are now looking at plans to create more wildlife corridors across the school, helping to support our local environment even further.

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

With the beautiful summer weather now here, Forest School has been a hive of activity once again this module, with students hunting for minibeasts, investigating the different smells and textures of herbs grown in our school grounds and building dens to enjoy a rest in the shade. Students have also been cooling off with exploratory water play; using pipes and gutters to move boats from one water tray to another and creating their own bubble wands out of sticks and pipe-cleaners.

We have been very lucky to have both a new fairy ring and a woodland car erected in our Forest School area during this module. They offer opportunities to share imaginative play, practice communication and boost social skills, and have been a great hit with students already! A huge thanks to Milestone’s site team for their help in this.

Please take a look at forest school adventures:

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

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

Monday 1st September - First day of Module 1

Saturday 20th September - Friends of Milestone Summer Fete

Wednesday 8th October - Flu Immunisations years R - 6 (mainsite only)

Friday 10th October - Flu Immunisations years 7 - 11 (mainsite only)

Friday 17th October - Last day of Module 1

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

The Dog Mentor Programme

The dogs have struggled in the heat just as we have. This has provided an opportunity to learn about keeping cool and hydrated in the heat. As always the children have shown great care and affection towards the dogs.

Harper continues to make friends in school. She has formed lovely bonds with many students and staff and it is lovely to see how they greet her and how she recognises them. Betty has also visited classes and had some lovely, gentle walks with students. It is lovely to see some students who started out being wary of dogs are now more comfortable around them.

Harper and Betty also had some time to cement their friendship, playing together, going for a walk and resting in the heat.

The Friends of Milestone - Charity No: 278677

The Friends would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your continued support throughout the last year. This has been recently seen at our ‘Someone Super’ gift wrap where we raised £428! We hoped everyone loved their gifts.

Our annual Summer Fete will be held on Saturday 20th September this year, as we have decided to trial it in September in the hope that there are minimal clashes with local church/village fetes. Thank you to everyone who has already donated bottles for our tombola, it’s not too late to donate if you have any new, sealed bottles you would like to send in. We would love to accept any bottles from shower gel to bottles of drink! When we return after the summer break we will also be asking if anyone is willing to donate packets of sweets for the Sweet Tombola, look out for more information when we return.

We are already busy planning events for next year and can't wait to share these with you in due course. In the meantime we would like to wish all families a wonderful summer break and we look forward to welcoming you at our events in the new year!

We are always keen to welcome new members, so if you would like to attend one of our meetings and join The Friends please email friendsofmilestoneacademy@gmail.com

Faye Warman – Chair

Sarah Spiers – Co-Chair and Treasurer

Lyn French – Secretary

Friends of Milestone

Therapy and Health News

Therapy & Health News

Leavers:

This time of year brings a mix of emotion including sadness, joy and pride as we prepare to say goodbye to our wonderful students. The therapy and medical teams have regular and consistent input to each students’ developmental journey in one way or another from the moment they join us at Leigh Academy Milestone to now, as they prepare to leave and we are reminded of what privilege this is. It is so wonderful to see the amazing young people they have become; we wish each of them well for the future and hope they will come back to see us from time to time.

The Balanced System Scheme for Schools and Settings:

I am very pleased to let you know that once again we have maintained our 'Centre of Excellence' accreditation for all we do here to support children's speech language and communication needs.

We have recently received acknowledgement and praise from the Corporate Director of Children and Young People’s Services at KCC who acknowledged the following:

This accreditation reflects your unwavering commitment to fostering a communication-supportive environment and embedding evidence-based practices that promote the speech, language, and communication development of all pupils. It is a significant accomplishment that underscores your dedication to inclusive education and continuous improvement.

Outcomes for children’s speech, language and communication development was also noted in our recent Ofsted inspection where our integrated and Total Communication approach alongside universal, targeted and specialist levels of intervention meant children make rapid progress in communication. It is so rewarding for the work we do to be acknowledged and celebrated in this way.

Signing:

During Sign Club this module, Phase 1 have been learning signs to do with the seaside! We have practiced number songs including '5 Little Sandcastles' . We have enjoyed learning signs such as 'beach', 'boat', 'sun', 'ball' and 'ice cream'. One of the songs we have really enjoyed is called 'I left my boat out in the bay'. Take a look at the 'Singing Hands' video so you can enjoy singing and signing at home. Makaton - I LEFT MY BOAT OUT IN THE BAY - Singing Hands

Students in Phases 3 and 4 have been practicing for the leavers assembly with the song 'For Good' from Wicked. This has a lovely message and the pupils have really shown enjoyment with learning this ready to perform at the 4 leavers assembly. Tissues may be needed!

We continue our Makaton journey with two members of the signing team undertaking their Makaton Tutor training. Congratulations to Tim and Clare who have passed all their Makaton assessments and can now apply for their Makaton Tutor licences. This is a big achievement for them and an important milestone for us. I am very proud to be able to say we have two Makaton Tutors here and I look forward to seeing how this further impacts on our signing.

Medical Team:

With the recent high temperatures, the Milestone medical team and KCHFT Pharmacy Team have worked closely to ensure all medication is stored safely at and within permitted temperatures at mainsite and the satellites.

Specialist clinics have taken place regularly and we continue to support students and parents during appointments. We have hosted the year 8 HPV vaccinations and catch up vaccinations for years 9 and 10. These ran smoothly and the students managed very well.

All medications will be sent home for the summer holidays. At the start of the new academic year, we will require new, unopened bottles of medication in the original packaging. We can only accept opened bottles of antibiotics. All emergency medication will need to be sent in on the day we return, as well as all daily medication. If there are any changes to medication or health plans over the summer holidays, please email relevant information to pupilhealthplans@milestone.latrust.org.uk, so IHCPs can be updated. Reminders will be sent via text and letter.

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