Julie Makaton Tutor

🌟 Exhibitor Spotlight 🌟

We are delighted to welcome NeuroNest North Yorkshire to our SEND Connect Fair.

NeuroNest is a growing neurodivergent community in North Yorkshire, creating welcoming opportunities for people and families to connect, explore, regulate, grow and feel a genuine sense of belonging.

At the heart of NeuroNest is a simple belief: everyone's journey is different, and there isn't one right way to find support, friendship or community.

That's why NeuroNest is growing around four pathways:
💚 Connect - opportunities to meet, build friendships and simply be alongside others.
🦋 Explore - inclusive outings, experiences and opportunities to discover and try something new.
🌿 Regulate & Grow - sensory-aware experiences, regulation, learning, wellbeing and support.
🌸 Bloom - nurturing self-care, creativity and opportunities for people to express themselves.

Alongside creating their own opportunities, they are passionate about working with local organisations, venues and professionals to make their wider community more inclusive, connected and sensory-aware.

You'll also often spot Bramble, their little NeuroNest brain buddy, along the way - reminding us that different brains, different needs and different paths all have a place here. 💚

A little message from the team: “We’re really looking forward to being part of the SEND Connect Fair and meeting everyone there!”

🌐Find out more: https://www.facebook.com/neuronestnorthyorkshire

🌿 Come and say hi to the NeuroNest North Yorkshire team on the day, they’ll be happy to chat, share what they do, and answer any questions.

🌿 Follow along for more exhibitor spotlights and SEND Connect updates.

🍃4 weeks to go until SEND Connect Fair! The countdown has begun! 🎉

We’re getting closer to bringing together local families, carers, professionals, organisations and businesses for SEND Connect Fair.

Come along to:
✨ Discover local SEND support, services and activities
✨ Meet organisations and providers from our community
✨ Connect with others and find out what support is available locally

Whether you’re a parent, carer, professional or simply want to find out more about local SEND services, we’d love to welcome you.

📅 Date: Tuesday 22nd September
📍 Location: The Forum Northallerton
⏰ Time: 10.30am – 1.30pm
🎟️ Free to attend – booking is required

Book your place here: www.bookwhen.com/julietarn-sendconnect

Keep following for more updates, exhibitor spotlights and event news!

🌟 Exhibitor Spotlight 🌟

We are delighted to welcome Carers Plus Yorkshire to our SEND Connect Fair.

Carers Plus Yorkshire, deliver support across two key service areas. Their Adult Service (18+) provides tailored help for unpaid carers and unpaid carers in the Armed Forces community, home from hospital support, employability and training opportunities, as well as a range of community support for individuals who are ready to independently connect and access provision within their community. Their Young People’s Service supports unpaid young carers and young adult carers (including sibling carers), working with those aged 8–18, or up to 24 for young people with SEND.

🌐Find out more: https://www.carersplus.net/

🌿 Come and say hi to the Carers Plus Yorkshire team on the day, they’ll be happy to chat, share what they do, and answer any questions.

🌿 Follow along for more exhibitor spotlights and SEND Connect updates.

✨ Exhibitor Spotlights start tomorrow! ✨

Want to find out who you’ll be able to meet at the SEND Connect Fair?

From tomorrow, I’ll be sharing an Exhibitor Spotlight each day, giving you the chance to find out a little more about the organisations and businesses joining us.

There’s a fantastic range of support and services coming together in one venue, so make sure you follow along and find out who will be there! x

Free to attend with advance booking.
🌿Book your free place: https://www.bookwhen.com/julietarn-sendconnect

🍃Let’s Talk Stories: The Tiger Who Came to Tea
Feed the tiger, build sentences, and bring the story to life!

I love finding simple, creative ways to bring stories to life using everyday items, and this idea began when I spotted some tiger‑themed bubbles in a shop. I already had a “feed‑the‑tiger” box from a previous activity, made from a small packaging box and painted black, so it felt like the perfect chance to build on it.

I gathered some mini food items mentioned in the story and created a set of Widgit symbols to support the activities. If you don’t have miniature food, you can use food pictures, pretend food, or tiles from a shopping‑list game. The Makaton symbols you can see came from The Tiger Who Came to Tea board game, which made it even easier to build on the theme.

As part of my September prep, I had the idea to use the objects and symbols together to explore vocabulary, model language and build simple sentences to support early literacy skills. For example:
• Tiger eats (the) cake - choose the symbols, build the sentence, then feed the tiger.
• Tiger drinks (the) milk - make the sentence and act it out.
• Give (the) sandwich (to) Sophie - find the character and give them the object, symbol or tile.

For more activity ideas and resources, take a look at my free Let’s Talk Stories: The Tiger Who Came to Tea resource 🐯☕️
https://julietarn.com/products/let-s-talk-stories-tiger-who-came-to-tea?variant=43156497137758

Just to mention - The Widgit and Makaton symbols are shown here as examples only. I don’t mix symbol sets in practice, but I like to share accessible, free alternatives.

🍃 Did you know that I have a website?

Whether you're supporting someone who uses AAC, looking for practical communication ideas, or searching for ready-to-use symbol resources, you'll find plenty to explore.

My website is home to:
🌿 Downloadable Developing Communication Skills Through Play guides
🌿 Printable symbol TalkAbout Boards
🌿 Let's Talk... handouts with practical activities and ideas
🌿 Resources and information to help support developing communication at home, in school, and out in the community
🌿Makaton training info and bookings x

Everything I create is designed to be practical, affordable, and easy to use, helping to make communication more accessible for everyone.

I'd love for you to take a look and let me know which resource catches your eye!

🌐 www.julietarn.com

🍃You’re invited to SEND Connect Fair! 🍃

Are you looking for local support, services, activities or information for children and adults with SEND?

Come along to SEND Connect Fair and discover the amazing organisations, businesses and services available in our local community.

This friendly event brings together families, carers, professionals and local providers for a chance to:

🌿 Meet organisations offering SEND support and services
🌿 Discover activities, groups and resources available locally
🌿 Ask questions and find information in one welcoming space
🌿 Connect with other families, professionals and members of the SEND community

Whether you’re a parent, carer, professional or someone looking to find out more about local SEND support, you are invited to join us.

📅 Date: Tuesday 22nd September
📍 Location: The Forum Northallerton
⏰ Time: 10.30am – 1.30pm
🎟️ Free to attend – booking is required

Book your place: www.bookwhen.com/julietarn-sendconnect

I’ll also be sharing regular SEND Connect updates, exhibitor announcements and event information through my Julie Makaton Tutor page and Instagram Julie Tarn AAC.

Please share with anyone who may be interested, the more people we can reach, the more families and professionals we can connect with.

🍃 Just the best day spent with Autism Support Allies at Sentry Circle field. It was so lovely to catch up with everyone, some people I hadn't seen for a fair few years 💕 I got to cuddle a guinea pig, (just too cute) and admired a giant snail from a polite distance 😂 thank you Heart Hoof I chatted about all things Makaton, communication and story translations, finishing the day with an ice cream!
Being at the field with everyone is one of my absolute favorite places to be x

🍃Food Sorting Activity: Fridge or Cupboard?

Here's a little peek at one of the activities I've been creating ready for September!
This fun, hands-on activity helps learners identify and sort foods that belong in the fridge or cupboard while developing vocabulary, categorisation, recall, problem-solving and communication skills.

The resource includes:
🌿 Large fridge and cupboard visuals
🌿 Widgit symbols
🌿 Mini food objects and/or shopping list game food tiles
🌿 Phrase and sentence strips to support progression into early literacy and sentence building

By modelling language using Makaton, their communication device and spoken language, the activity creates meaningful opportunities to develop communication alongside learning.

🍃 A little reminder...
You don't need to buy lots of resources or recreate this activity exactly use what you already have at home or in your classroom. Picture cards/tiles, game pieces, supermarket leaflets and everyday containers can work just as well.

It's the communication, interaction and learning opportunities that matter most. Everyday items are fantastic communication resources.

🍃 SEND Connect Fair

Do you provide activities, groups or experiences that support children and adults with SEND?

Would you like the opportunity to showcase your service, connect with local families and meet other professionals and organisations supporting the SEND community?

Event Details:
🗓Tuesday 22nd September
📍The Forum Northallerton
🕦10.30am - 1.30pm

SEND Connect Fair is a friendly local event bringing together families, carers, professionals and organisations to share information, build connections and discover the support available locally.

As an activity provider, this is a chance to:
🌿 Showcase your business or service
🌿 Meet families looking for activities and support
🌿 Network with other local SEND providers and professionals
🌿 Raise awareness of what you offer within the community

Whether you run sensory activities, sports, creative sessions, clubs, wellbeing activities or another SEND-friendly service, we’d love to hear from you.

There are a few exhibitor spaces available and would love to hear from more local providers who would like to be part of this event.

Get in touch to find out more about exhibiting
email [email protected]

Let’s help local families discover the amazing support and opportunities available in our community x