The team at Toddletown Farnham have fully embedded Makaton into their daily routines.
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.
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.
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.
In addition to children and adults with communication and learning difficulties, and the community around them (including teachers, health professionals, friends, family, and public service bodies), Makaton is increasingly used by the general public to aid communication.
Makaton has been shown to be useful for all sorts of people including those who struggle with understanding concepts, those who have poor literacy skills, including grammatical knowledge, and those with English as an Additional Language. By using Makaton, children and adults can take a more active part in life, because communication and language are the key to everything we do and learn.
Harrison Farnham’s Nursery Manager expressed: I’m incredibly proud of the team for embracing Makaton and making it such a natural part of our day. It’s a brilliant tool for supporting communication and ensuring every child feels included, while also bringing lots of fun and energy into our learning experiences.
To find out more on Makaton visit: Home
