Makaton

What is Makaton?

Makaton is a unique language programme that uses symbols, signs 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.

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.

With Makaton, signs are used, with speech, in spoken word order. This helps provide extra clues about what someone is saying. Using signs can help people who have no speech or whose speech is unclear. Using symbols can help people who have limited speech and those who cannot, or prefer not to sign.

At Ysgol Cefn Meiriadog we are introducing Makaton to all of our learners. All staff have achieved their Level 2 award and we are now have Makaton Friendly School status. We introduce Makaton in a variety of ways; through song and rhyme, as part of topics, incidentally via greetings and discussions and we have a sign of the week introduced every Friday.

Please see below some videos of some of our children using Makaton: