Arbour Vale Hosts Parent Makaton Workshop

On Tuesday 13 January 2026, Arbour Vale School welcomed parents to a practical and engaging Makaton workshop, led by Makaton Lead, James Lyons.

The session gave parents the chance to learn more about how Makaton can be used to support their children’s communication, both in school and at home. There was plenty of time for discussion, questions and hands-on practice, helping parents feel confident about getting started.

Makaton is a language programme that combines speech with signs (gestures) and symbols (pictures). It is designed to support children and young people with communication difficulties, encouraging understanding and helping them express themselves while also supporting the development of spoken language.

The workshop was very well received, with parents highlighting how practical and accessible the session was. When asked what they found most useful, parents shared the following feedback:

“The workshop was very good. My son is non-verbal, and it would help teach him a way to communicate.”

“The workshop was very clear. It helped me learn the basic symbols and signs to get started with Makaton.”

“It was very effective and practical.”

“It was very informative and hands-on – definitely useful to practise with my non-verbal son.”

Sessions like this play an important role in strengthening the partnership between school and home, ensuring consistent communication support for students and giving parents practical tools they can use every day.