MAKATON report on the BBC news

[ShinyHappyPeopleHoldinghands]

Just seen a very positive report on Makaton (for some reason they were pronouncing MAR-ka-ton on the news, they even had Justin Fletcher (Mr Tumble being interviewed. The report was telling how so many schools are now using Makaton regardless of if/how many special needs children may be at the school.

I totally agree with this. DS (age 6/Y2) does have SN/cp/leaning difficulties and he uses Makaton quite a bit (as do we) even though his speech is improving all the time. School (mainstream) use it too. When DS is watching Something Special, his face is alight with joy and recognition and he sits there absolutely rapt.. you can just SEE how the Makaton aids his understanding. DD (NT/age 8) uses it as does DS1 (14) too when talking to DS2. We relied on it even more recently when DS2 was really poorly and weak with a fluey bug.

I just love Makaton.. and I think Something Special should win somes awards. ALL kids love it.. not just SN ones, and ALL kids seem to enjoy and appreciate using Makaton as well. It really helps integrate SN/NT children, IMO.

A headteacher on the news report also said that it is a real visual aid to little one's learning and that the signs help to keep their attention on assemblies etc, and these are NT kids.

My only complaint is that I really want to buy DS2 some Something Special dvds but they are £17.99 each.. even on Ebay!

[NuttyMuffins]

My dd's (9&7) watched that this morning and came running downstairs to tell me that Mr Tumble was on the news

Non of my kids have SN but they all love Something Special and Dd2 has said she would like to learn how to say lots of things using makaton.

I also agree that it's not on that the dvd's are more than any other kids dvd.

[magsi]

Absolutely agree with you in your love of Makaton. My son is 5, has cp and cannot talk. He uses it (as much as he can with one hand) and his 3 year old sister uses some signs with him. She can even 'sign' a Rainbow which she is very proud of .
I agree that Something Special is an absolute gem of a learning programme and also think it should be tought as another language choice maybe at ms schools. And yes, the Makaton videos are really too expensive!!!
Long live Something Special

[sphil]

DS2 (autistic, doesn't use a lot of speech yet) could be heard last night saying 'You sign - ra - bbit.....you sign - ra-bbit' over and over again from his bedroom .

Mr Tumble for PM!

[ShinyHappyPeopleHoldinghands]

Which other signing systems Fio? I only know of Makaton (and BSL obviously, but that's for deaf people).

[tobysmumkent]

Message withdrawn

[mymatemax]

makatons fantastic
DS1'S ms school (ds2 will be starting Sept) uses makaton in all classes, they have a few children with sn who use it & i think started it to help with inclusion so that all the children could communicate with each other but they have found it such an aid for all the kids it's now a standard part of the lessons.
The school play is tomorrow & i expect it will be signed with a teacher or makaton trained parent sitting in the front row as a prompt.
At home i find it realy helps ds2 when he is upset, he'll follow the signs when he's not able to listen to me.

[heartinthecountry]

Agree with fio. I think it is fantastic that more and more schools etc use signing but I think it is crazy that we don't have a standardised signing system for SN. Even the other week on the thread about makaton signs for colours there were several variations.

And I think baby signing is often different (based on BSL?).

Dd1 loves SS too and I think she possibly loves Justin ("Gugin") even more than she loves her Daddy .

[Traycee]

MAR-ka-ton is apparently the correct pronounciation, because it was invented by Mark, Kay and Tony! No idea what their surnames were. Useless bit of info there.

[moondog]

How great! [GRIN]
As a salt working with kids with s/n I know that Makaton is fantastic.
No doubt someone at work has recorded it.
Yes,Something Special has done a huge amount to inrease understanding and acceptance of augmentative signing systems.

Some really encouraging stories here of school commitment.

wouldn't worry too much about the Signalong/Makaton differences.They aren't that great.

[tigi]

my son attends a mainstream school with a deaf child in his class (reception). All children sign with him for all lessons, as well as singing, and prayers etc. I think it's fab that they do this.

[Dingle]

Haven't read all of this but another Something Special/signing supporter!

We do use a combination of Signalong and Makaton, which is a bit of a pain, but hasn't caused any problems so far.

When we first had Amelia, our Portage Service offered free Signalong training. By the time Something Special came out on the TV, Amelia already knew so many signalong signs, and just continued to build up her vocabulary with Makaton ones.

LOL- still fighting to get her school to implement signing, so I wouldn't be fussy what system it was!

[Dingle]

For Amelia as a pre-schooler, the mixture of Signalong and Makaton was OK but what would everyone recommend for school age children please.

We are looking into getting some signing training organised for our local Down Syndrome Group- it would be appreciated to have some opinions please.

[nikkie]

Dingle-TBH I think they are both pretty much the same, though more people have heard of MAkaton.
How did you get on with the statement?

[Dingle]

We have a proposed statemnt with 15 hours. Got a meeting on Monday with the LEA to try to get it increased and make some changes.
Really not looking forward to it!

At least I have our IPSEA rep with me! Thank goodness!

[nikkie]

At least its a statement! You'd think the school would want the money wouldn't you [rollseyes]

[Dingle]

Sorry for hijacking the sign thread- but the school don't get any extra money. The LEA assign them a SEN budget and it's up to the school how they spend it-that's why it has been such a struggle with no school support.

[nikkie]

Thought statement money went into school and they then pay LSA/specialist help?
Thats how ours works (though SN school)

[googlybear]

Makaton and Nursery Rhymes - Have you seen those two fab ladies Singing Hands on the nursery rhyme episodes of Something Special recently, my 4 year old son (who has a language delay) and my 2 yr old daughter loves Mr Tumble and they really copy when they watch Singing Hands.

I've been on their website and they have released two Makaton signed songbooks and cd's. I have just bought both copies and they are fantastic. The whole family is enjoying singing and learning to sign nursery rhymes in this amazing educational way.