Handmade Voices - Makaton Tutor

I’m delighted to share that I’m now offering Makaton For… Workshops, created to help professionals across care, education, emergency services and wellbeing settings communicate with greater clarity and confidence.
These workshops provide simple, effective
tools that make communication more accessible for everyone.
If you’d like more information, please reach out.

This looks a great session for all early years settings

📣 Free Webinar for Early Years & SEND Leaders

Ready to build in-house Makaton expertise across your settings?

Join our upcoming session:
Building In-House Makaton Capability Across Early Years Settings

🗓 Thursday 23 April
🕕 6:00 PM
💻 Live online | Free to attend

In this practical 45-minute session (plus Q&A), we’ll explore how to move beyond one-off training and create a sustainable, scalable approach to inclusive communication.

What you’ll gain:
✔️ Strategies to develop Makaton skills within your team
✔️ A “train once, roll out widely” model that works
✔️ Tips for maintaining consistency across multiple sites
✔️ Guidance on aligning with EYFS & SEND expectations
✔️ Ways to evidence CPD and inclusive practice for inspection

Plus, hear from a Local Authority guest speaker sharing real-world experience of implementing Makaton at scale.

Perfect for:
• Nursery groups with multiple settings
• Early years leaders
• Local Authority Early Years & SEND teams

If you’re responsible for early years provision or SEND across multiple settings, this session is for you.

👉 Book your free place now:
https://makaton.org/TMC/Learn_Makaton/Makaton_for/makaton_training_early_years.aspx

I have been quiet over the last month as I have focused on balancing my family needs and Makaton, but I am excited to be back next week supporting 2 amazing settings.

If you would like to explore how Makaton can support you please do get in touch.

This is great to hear, definitely one to tune into

I Can Grow It is here!

Hosted by Aaron Roach Bridgeman, the programme follows a group of preschool ‘buds’ on a magical journey to explore the wonderful world of the garden — learning how to grow plants and get their green fingers working with plenty of music and fun along the way.

We were delighted to support one of the buds who uses Makaton to communicate on set. It’s lovely to see children with different ways of communicating blossom on screen!

The first episode aired on CBeebies this morning and the series is now available on BBC iPlayer 🌼

Weekend translation work.

Translation not only focuses on the meaning of the lyrics in songs but also the pace.

Step 1 is the simple translation. I like to write the words I would sign at the end of each line
Step 2 sign to the music to check you can keep pace with the song, if not simplify it to make it achievable
Step 3 have fun practicing

Happy signing 🎶🎤

Spring sale is now on…..

🌼 The Makaton Spring Sale is here! 🌼

Spring is the perfect time for something new — and you can now enjoy 20% off all Makaton Shop products until 31st March*.

Simply use code SPRING26 at checkout.

Shop now: https://bit.ly/MakatonSale

*Excludes Membership & Tutor Resources. Sale ends 31st March 2025.