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Makaton - Sign of the Week

Makaton is a form of sign-supported communication that we use alongside speech to help make language clearer and more accessible for our pupils.

Each week we will focus on one key sign that staff and pupils will be using across the school, and we will also share it here so it can be practised at home. We will keep revisiting previous signs so that, over time, pupils can begin to put them together into short, meaningful phrases. The short video clips show how to sign and use the ‘Sign of the Week’ in everyday situations.

Happy Signing!
From Ioannis, Elaine, Juliet and team

Sign of the week: HELP

1/12/2025

At home, you might like to:

  • Say and sign HELP when your child needs support (for example with clothes, toys or snacks).
  • Gently model the sign when you ask, “Do you need help?”
  • Praise any attempts to communicate “help” – whether that is with sign, gesture, sounds or words.

Sign of the week: YES

8/12/2025

At home, you might like to:

  • Say and sign YES when your child chooses something (for example, a toy, snack or activity).
  • Use YES to respond to simple questions (e.g. “Do you want more?” + sign YES).
  • Praise any attempts to communicate “yes” – whether that is with sign, gesture, sounds or words.

Sign of the week: NO

15/12/2025

We know that for some of our pupils hearing the word “no” can be upsetting or triggering. Our aim in teaching the sign NO is to empower pupils to say no when they do not want or like something, and then for adults to respond in a supportive way.

At home, you might like to:

  • Model NO gently when your child refuses something, and then offer an alternative choice (for example, “No biscuits – you can choose fruit or yoghurt”).
  • Use now/next or other motivators when you need to say no (for example, “No tablet now – next story”).
  • Praise any attempts to communicate “no”, whether that is with sign, gesture, sounds or words, and show that their message has been heard.

Sign of the week: WANT

12/01/2026

At home, you might like to:

  • Model WANT when your child is choosing something, for example, “Do you WANT crisps or apple?”
  • Use WANT when you notice your child reaching for something, for example, “You WANT more drink” while signing WANT.
  • Praise any attempts to communicate “want”, whether that is with sign, gesture, sounds or words, and show that their message has been understood.

Sign of the week: MORE

19/01/2026

We will be modelling this sign throughout the day during play, snack time, and learning activities to support children in requesting, making choices, and expressing their preferences.

At home, you might like to practise ‘more’ by using everyday routines, such as:

  • meals
  • favourite toys
  • songs or games.

Any attempt to communicate ‘more’, whether through signing, speech, or AAC, is encouraged and celebrated.

Sign of the week: FINISHED

26/01/2026

We will be modelling this word throughout the day to support children in understanding when an activity has ended and in communicating completion during play, snack time, and learning activities.

You are very welcome to practise ‘finished’ at home during everyday routines, for example,

  • when a meal is over
  • a game has ended
  • a task is complete.

Any attempt to communicate ‘finished’, through signing, speech, or AAC, is encouraged and celebrated.

Sign of the week: TOILET

02/02/2026

We will be modelling this sign throughout the day, particularly around toileting routines and transitions, to support children in communicating their personal care needs in a clear and confident way.

You are very welcome to practise toilet at home during everyday routines. Any attempt to communicate — whether through signing, speech, or AAC — is encouraged and celebrated.

Sign of the week: LOOK

09/02/2026

In previous weeks we have focused on WANT, MORE, FINISHED and TOILET. This week we are building on that by practising LOOK, which we use to gain attention and to help pupils notice important things around them.

At home, you might like to:

  • Say and sign LOOK when you want to show your child something interesting, for example a toy, book or something outside the window
  • Use LOOK before a short instruction, for example “LOOK… shoes on”
  • Praise any attempts to look toward what you are showing, or any attempts to copy the sign, gesture or word

Sign of the week: LIKE

23/02/2026

This week our whole school Makaton Sign of the Week is LIKE. In previous weeks we have focused on HELP, YES, NO, WANT, MORE, FINISHED, TOILET and LOOK. This week we are building on that by practising LIKE, to help pupils communicate what they enjoy and prefer.
At home, you might like to:
  • Model I LIKE when your child shows interest in something, for example, “You LIKE bubbles”, “I LIKE this song”
  • Ask simple questions using LIKE, for example, “Do you LIKE this?” while signing LIKE
  • Praise any attempts to show what they like or do not like, whether that is with sign, gesture, sounds or words, and show that their preferences have been heard

Sign of the week: GO

02/03/2026

This week at school, our Makaton Sign of the Week is GO.  We will be modelling this sign throughout the day, particularly during transitions, outdoor play, movement games, and turn taking activities, to support children in understanding action words and expressing when they want something to start.

At home, you might like to practise ‘Go’ during everyday routines.
 
For example, during races, ready steady go games, pushing cars, bubbles or starting favourite songs.
 
Any attempt to communicate — whether through signing, speech, or AAC — is encouraged and celebrated.

Sign of the week: CHOOSE

09/03/2026

This week at school, our Makaton Sign of the Week is CHOOSE. We will be modelling this sign throughout the day to support children/ young adults in making choices and expressing their preferences during play, snack time, and learning activities.
You are very welcome to practise ‘choose’ at home during everyday routines.
 
For example, you could offer two toys, two snacks, or two activities and encourage your child to choose.
 
Any attempt to communicate, whether through signing, speech, or AAC, is encouraged and celebrated.

Signs of the week: I and MY

16/03/2026

This week at school we are learning two Makaton Signs of the Week: I and MY.  These signs help children refer to themselves and talk about things that belong to them. We will be modelling them during play, turn taking activities, and everyday routines.

You might try using these signs at home in simple phrases such as;
  • my turn
  • my toy
  • my drink
  • I want
Any attempt to communicate, whether through signing, speech, or AAC, is encouraged and celebrated.

Signs of the week: YOU and YOUR

23/03/2026

These signs help children understand and refer to others, as well as recognise ownership during everyday routines and interactions. We will be modelling them during play, turn taking, and daily activities.

You are very welcome to practise these at home using simple phrases such as;

  • your turn
  • your toy
  • your shoes
  • or you go

Any attempt to communicate, whether through signing, speech, or AAC, is encouraged and celebrated.

Sign of the week: DIFFERENT

21/09/2026

This week we will be modelling DIFFERENT during everyday activities to help children notice, understand and communicate when something is not the same.

At home, you might like to use DIFFERENT when comparing familiar things. For example:

  • “These socks are DIFFERENT.”
  • “Which one is DIFFERENT?”
  • “You chose a DIFFERENT one.”

You could also try:

  • “This cup is DIFFERENT.”
  • “These two toys are DIFFERENT.”
  • “Today we are doing something DIFFERENT.”

You can explore the idea through matching, sorting, clothes, toys, foods, books or pictures. As always, please celebrate any attempt your child makes to communicate, whether through sign, gesture, symbol, sounds or speech.

Sign of the week: TURN

5/10/2026

This week our whole school Makaton Sign of the Week is TURN.

TURN is a really useful sign for helping children understand and communicate whose turn it is during play, games and everyday activities.

This week we will also be building on signs pupils already know by using short phrases such as:

MY TURN
YOUR TURN
TURN MORE
TURN FINISHED

At home, you might like to practise TURN during simple activities such as rolling a ball, completing a puzzle, playing with a favourite toy, sharing snacks or taking turns during a game.

You can model phrases such as “My TURN” and “Your TURN” while using the sign and give your child a little time to process before passing the activity over.

As always, please celebrate any attempt your child makes to communicate, whether through sign, gesture, symbol, sounds or speech.

Signs of the week: HAPPY, SAD, EXCITED

02/11/2026

This week, our Makaton signs are:
 
HAPPY
SAD
EXCITED
 
We will be using these signs in school to help pupils talk about and recognise how they are feeling. You can also practise them at home during everyday moments, for example by asking how your child feels or talking about something that made them happy, sad or excited.
 

HAPPY

SAD

EXCITED