Using Makaton

At Town Street Playgroup, staff use Makaton signing to support children with speech and language delay.

It is a recognised system of signs and symbols used alongside speech to help children understand and communicate.

It is most effective if everyone around them uses it so we use signs and symbols with all our children, in stories and rhymes, for general instructions and everyday words. We know that using Makaton helps to make Town Street Playgroup an inclusive setting for all. 

Makaton is a visual way to develop communication skills which helps stimulate sounds and words. This visual way of communicating in turn helps to encourage language development, i.e. putting words together. Makaton helps understanding, giving the child or adult an extra visual clue.Makaton signs help convey meaning, because the signs give an extra clue when speaking, for example ‘Hello’ and ‘Drink’.