The NEU believes every child and young person should feel included in their school or college, with access to trusted adults who can support their social, communication and emotional needs.
Makaton is a communication programme that uses symbols (pictures), signs (gestures) and speech to enable people to communicate. It supports skills such as attention and listening, comprehension and memory.
Learning Makaton will help you support pupils’ personal expression and development, participation in interaction and socialisation – supporting their inclusion and communication in school and beyond.
NEU CPD is pleased to be piloting a one-day introductory session to Makaton, exclusively for support staff members looking to familiarise themselves with the programme.
What the session will cover:
- Basic signs to support sequencing and transitioning between activities (e.g. now, next, later)
- Basic subject vocabulary across the curriculum
Key information:
- This is a one day in-person session
- This day is a working day, so before applying, make sure you can guarantee time away from your workplace.
- This course will cost £30 (£25+ VAT) and take place during the working week. Members are strongly encouraged to speak to their schools about funding their place. You also could ask your district to fund your place, at their discretion. Otherwise, you can pay for your place yourself.
- There are only 15 places in the pilot which will be allocated according to application.
Who can apply?
- You must be an NEU member.
- You must have a support staff role e.g. teaching assistant, pastoral, librarian, technician, facilities and admin staff. Check out our membership page for more information.
- You’ll need to be able to travel to and from London for the session. NEU will cover reasonable travel costs.
- This is an introductory course to Makaton and so will be less relevant for those already using Makaton confidently.
Applications
- Click through to the application form above
- We will ask you for your membership number, workplace and region, so make sure to have these to hand.
- We will also ask you to confirm that the £30 cost will be covered and that you’ll be able to attend in person on the day.
- Payment will not be taken at this time.
We will assess applications on:
- The impact of the course on your professional development.
- The impact of the course on your engagement with the NEU.
Demand is likely to be high, so take your time to write something impactful and reflective of your enthusiasm!
- The deadline for applications is Friday 3 July.
- We will notify successful applicants and those on the waiting list by Wednesday 8 July.
- We will ask you to confirm your place, which will include payment, by Friday 24 July. Places are not confirmed until payment is received.
- Monday 7 September, unconfirmed places will be given to those on the waiting list with payment expected by Monday 14 September.
Please direct any questions to [email protected].
