Makaton

Makaton is a unique language programme that combines speech with signs and symbols to support communication. It is estimated that over 100,000 children and adults use Makaton as their main form of communication or alongside speech to help express themselves more clearly. Makaton empowers people to take an active part in learning and everyday life, helping to build confidence, connection and inclusion.

Who Can Benefit from Makaton?

Makaton is highly effective for people who may find understanding or expressing language challenging, those developing literacy and grammar skills, and individuals with English as an Additional Language. By using signs in spoken word order and visual symbols to support meaning, Makaton helps learners understand and communicate in a way that works best for them.

Meet Rebecca Thompson – Makaton Tutor

Rebecca Thompson is an experienced teacher, musician and accredited Makaton tutor who brings energy, empathy and expertise to every session. Since qualifying as a teacher in 2003, Rebecca has taught across the primary age range, written a variety of music resources designed for use with Makaton and founded two award-winning children’s choirs. Her approach combines creativity and inclusivity, using music to celebrate diversity, build self-esteem and encourage connection through shared communication.

Rebecca understands the transformative power of Makaton on both a professional and personal level. Her son, Jacob, has Down’s Syndrome and has used Makaton from a very early age, inspiring her belief in its ability to bridge communication gaps and create a sense of community. Rebecca has delivered Makaton training to parents, carers, teachers, speech and language therapists, and professionals in education and care settings — helping everyone feel equipped to support inclusive communication in their environments.

Our Makaton Courses

Cadmus Inclusive offers the following accredited Makaton training options that are ideal for everyone, whatever your role is in education. All our Makaton courses run throughout the year and can also be delivered directly into your setting.

13 March 2026 – 9:00 am to 4:00 pm – Delivered by Rebecca Thompson, Cost – £90

Level One Makaton training is the ideal introduction to the Makaton Language Programme, offering a practical and engaging start for anyone wishing to learn this unique system of signs and symbols. Delivered by our qualified and experienced tutor, Rebecca Thompson, the session provides a supportive environment to build confidence and communication skills.

During the training day, participants learn a wide range of useful signs and symbols, explore commonly asked questions, and gain valuable hints and tips for effective signing and symbol use. The course also covers how to begin using Makaton in your own setting, helping you to integrate it into everyday communication.

All participants receive a Participant’s Manual, containing the signs and symbols taught during the course, along with a certificate of attendance. Those who complete Level One can continue their Makaton journey by progressing to Levels Two, Three, and Four.

24th April 2026- 9:00 am to 4:00 pm – Delivered by Rebecca Thompson, Cost – £90

Level two Makaton training is the ideal next step for anyone who has completed level one and wishes to further develop their skills. Building on the solid foundations established in the first course, this training day focuses on improving and expanding your use of signs and symbols so you can use them more effectively in everyday communication. The session is delivered by our qualified and experienced Makaton tutor, Rebecca Thompson.

During the course, you will revise the signs and symbols introduced in level one before learning additional vocabulary and accompanying signs to enhance your Makaton knowledge.

Entry Requirements:

Participants must have completed Makaton level one training and bring their certificate on the training day.

Resources Provided:

All participants receive a comprehensive manual containing the Makaton symbols and signs covered in the course, along with a certificate of attendance.

After completing level two, participants can progress to level three and level four Makaton training to continue their learning journey.

Date to be announced – Delivered by Rebecca Thompson, Cost – £90

Level three Makaton training is the ideal next step for those who have completed levels one and two and wish to continue developing their communication skills. Building on the strong foundations of the earlier courses, this training day focuses on further improving your signing and symbol use so you can apply them confidently in everyday situations. The course is led by our qualified and experienced Makaton tutor, Rebecca Thompson.

During the session, you will revisit the signs and symbols learned in level two before expanding your vocabulary with new signs and accompanying symbols.

Entry Requirements:

Participants must have completed both Makaton level one and two training and present their certificates on the training day.

Resources Provided:

Each participant receives a comprehensive manual containing the Makaton symbols and signs covered in the course, as well as a certificate of attendance.

After completing level three, participants are eligible to progress to the level four Makaton training day.

Date to be announced – Delivered by Rebecca Thompson, Cost – £90

Level four training will support you further to improve and develop your signing and symbol skills so you can use them effectively every day.

You will revise the signs and symbols you learned in your previous Makaton training and then learn further vocabulary with the accompanying signs.

Entry Requirements:

Participants must have completed Makaton level three training and be able to produce their certificate on the training day.

Resources:

You will receive a Participant’s Manual, which includes the Makaton symbols and signs that you learn during the course.You will also receive a certificate of attendance.

Bespoke deliveries available upon request – Delivered by Rebecca Thompson.

Do you want to make your service more accessible?

Are you looking for a faster and more effective way to communicate in critical situations?

Do you want to empower people to make their own choices?

Makaton Frontline training will empower you to achieve better outcomes for individuals accessing your service. You will learn how to combine Makaton signs, symbols and everyday essential vocabulary with speech to ensure that your service users can understand and be understood.

Designed for those who have no prior knowledge of Makaton, this course is ideal for first responders, paramedics, fire fighters, nurses, doctors, dentists and those in caring professions.

The session explores:

What is Makaton?
An overview of the communication challenges many face.
The chance to learn many Makaton signs suited to your job sector.
How to correctly use these skills and adapt them.
All participants receive handouts upon completion with signs, symbols, and guidance for continued learning.

Learning outcomes

On completion of this training, you should:

Have a basic understanding of Makaton.
Know what the Makaton symbols relevant to your profession mean.
Be able to confidently use Makaton in a professional situation.
Be able to utilise the handout booklet for further reference and support.

Date to be announced – Delivered by Rebecca Thompson, Cost – £90

The Know and Grow workshop integrates Makaton with the Christian faith to make religious language and worship more accessible to everyone. Participants learn everyday Makaton vocabulary alongside Christian terms and practices, gaining the tools to foster inclusive signing in church and faith settings.

No previous Makaton training is required to access this course.

12 March 2026 – 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm – Delivered by Rebecca Thompson, Cost – £65

Using Makaton with Singing is a fun and accessible way to combine signing and music to support communication. This enjoyable session helps participants learn how to use Makaton signs alongside songs, making it ideal for young children and individuals with additional needs. Singing and signing together have been shown to encourage the development of communication and language skills while also supporting vocalisation, confidence, social interaction, emotional development, well-being and self-esteem.

Designed for those with no prior knowledge of Makaton, this workshop is perfect for Early Years practitioners, parents, teachers and teaching assistants working with young children. You will learn a variety of signs and practise them through engaging songs that can be adapted for different abilities.

The session covers:

What Makaton is
Tips for effective signing
Developing communication through signing and singing
Using Makaton in your setting

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of this workshop, you will:

Have a basic understanding of Makaton
Learn about additional materials that support the session’s content
Understand how Makaton can be used with singing
Know how to facilitate choices using symbols and signs
Recognise how songs can be adapted for varying abilities
Be informed about other Makaton workshops, courses, and access to signs, symbols, and resources

Delivered by Rebecca Thompson

Day One: 11 June 2026 – 9: 00 am to 4:00 pm

Day Two: 18 June 2026 – 9:00 am to 4.00 pm

The Makaton Safeguarding workshop is designed to support professionals and carers of children and adults with severe communication and learning disabilities. The workshop builds on existing knowledge of signs and symbols from Level 1 and 2 training, and provides instruction for extra signs and symbols specific to safeguarding situations.

Participants are invited to consider differing protocols and practice. The workshop will enable participants to consider how the vocabulary may be safely applied to promote communication for people who use Makaton within a range of levels and contexts.

This unique workshop provides signs and symbols for a range of vocabulary covering a number of topics:

People: family, relationships and people around us
Body parts and clothes
Places
Feelings: feelings, thoughts and behaviours (including bullying and abuse)
Sexual behaviour

By the end of the workshop you will be able to:

Develop a ‘Safeguarding through Makaton’ plan for implementation in your own setting.
Demonstrate an understanding of the range of people Makaton users could come into contact with at different ages and stages in their lives;
Demonstrate how Makaton can be personalised and used at different levels of complexity to meet individual needs;
Identify vocabulary required by a Makaton user and be able to apply the principles of this analysis to the user’s own setting;
Demonstrate an understanding of the difference between comments and questions, and an appreciation of how to maintain an interaction with a Makaton user;
Describe strategies or methods appropriate to use with a Makaton user to help them understand and use vocabulary or concepts.

Entry Requirements:

Prior to attending the Safeguarding Workshop, you must have attended Level 1 and Level 2 Makaton training. In preparation for the workshop, you will need to make sure you are confident in using the signs and symbols learnt in Level 1 and 2 training.

Resources:

You will receive a Safeguarding workbook which includes the signs and symbols that you have learnt. You will also be given a certificate of attendance.

Please bring the following documents to the workshop if your organisation has them:

Safeguarding Policy and Guidance
Communication Policy
Communication assessment/profiles for service users in your organisation

Cost – £200 for a 90 minute delivery

Our qualified and experienced Makaton tutor will visit your setting to deliver a ninety-minute session for parents, carers and supporters – this could be before, after or during school on a mutually convenient date. This will be arranged once we have received your purchase order.
The session will give parents/caregivers a general introduction into what Makaton is and who uses it, with the opportunity to learn some signs and symbols that can be used at home immediately.
No previous Makaton experience is necessary.

Cost – £200 for a 90 minute delivery

Our qualified and experienced Makaton tutor will visit your setting to deliver a ninety-minute session – this could be after school on a mutually convenient date. This will be arranged once we have received your purchase order.
The Taster session gives you a general introduction into what Makaton is and who uses it, with the opportunity to learn some signs and symbols that you can start using immediately.
Participants receive handouts covering the vocabulary they have learned and general information regarding further Makaton training and Makaton resources.
No previous Makaton experience is necessary.

BOOK NOW

To book, please download the purchase order form (below) and email it to:

Beccie Hawes, CEO
bhawes@cadmussupportservices.co.uk

Once we receive your purchase order, a member of our team will arrange an initial visit and share our service level agreement. A minimum of 7 working days’ notice is required for cancellations, except in the case of an OFSTED inspection. If a session is cancelled by one of our consultants, a replacement will be offered.

Download Purchase Order:

Makaton Frontline
email bhawes@cadmussupportservices.co.uk
for more information

Makaton Know and Grow Coming soon!

Makaton Level One March 2026

Makaton Level Two April 2026

Makaton Safeguarding June 2026

Makaton With Singing March 2026

Makaton Taster Sessions – direct delivery

Makaton for Parents and Caregivers – direct delivery