Makaton

Being able to communicate is one of the most important skills we need in life. Almost everything we do involves communication; everyday tasks such as learning at school, asking for food and drink, sorting out problems, making friends and having fun. These all rely on our ability to communicate with each other.

As a school, we are using Makaton to create an inclusive environment that supports all pupils in boosting their communication, language, literacy and social skills. Supporting our pupils to communicate helps them within their independence, learning, relationships, wants and needs and builds their self-esteem.

What is Makaton? 

Makaton is a unique communication programme that uses symbols (pictures), signs (gestures) and speech to enable people to communicate. It supports the development of essential communication skills such as attention and listening, comprehension, memory, recall and organisation of language and expression.

Makaton signs are based on the gestures used in BSL (British Sign Language – the language of the Deaf community). However, unlike BSL, Makaton signs are used in conjunction with speech at all times and in English grammatical word order.

Who uses Makaton? 

Today, over 100,000 children and adults use Makaton symbols and signs, either as their main method of communication, or as a way to support speech. Makaton is the UK’s leading language programme used by adults and children with learning or communication difficulties and by everyone who shares their lives.

Using signs can help children who are non-verbal by promoting their communication development. Many children’s understanding develops ahead of their spoken language. Signing can help children express themselves during this time and prevent or alleviate their frustrations caused by their current inability to communicate, and enables individuals to connect with other people and the world around them. This opens up all kinds of possibilities. 

Makaton is also benficial for children with EAL (English as an additional language) as a way to help those children develop their spoken English skills.

Benefits of Using Makaton

Makaton can help children/young people & adults to:

• Communicate what they need, want, think or feel
• Make themselves understood by using signs/symbols
• Develop their attention, looking and listening skills
• Develop their understanding of speech and promote their communication development
• Develop their language & literacy skills

How to use Makaton

• Use the sign/symbol for the keyword
• Remember to always speak at the same time as signing - the signs are there to support speech, not replace it
• Use clear, short sentences
• Use objects of references (props/toys/pictures/photos) to give additional visual cues
• Use eye-contact, facial expression and body language to convey the meaning of your communication. For example, if you are saying and signing something is good, make sure you are smiling!
• Be patient and allow the Makaton user time to process the information.
• Reward all attempts to communicate! Even if their sign is not quite right, encourage them and then model the correct sign yourself as you would with speech. 
• Have fun! Sing, read stories and play games - make the learning experience as enjoyable as possible.