The Canons C of E Primary School has become the first primary school in Bedworth, and one of only two in Warwickshire, to be awarded official Makaton Friendly status.
Makaton is a unique communication programme that uses symbols (pictures), signs (gestures) and speech to enable people to communicate. It supports the development of essential communication skills such as attention and listening, comprehension, memory, recall and organisation of language and expression. Being able to communicate is one of the most important skills we need in life. Almost everything we do involves communication; everyday tasks such as learning at school, asking for food and drink, sorting out problems, making friends and having fun. These all rely on our ability to communicate with each other.
At Canons, this work aligns closely with the school’s ethos of fostering a caring, inclusive Christian community where every child can flourish. The school has embedded Makaton signs and symbols into daily routines, supporting pupils of all ages and abilities to develop confidence, independence and strong communication skills.
To help champion this, each class has Makaton Ambassadors who meet regularly to learn new signs and help model them across the school. These pupils also support communication by sharing signs of the week and encouraging classmates to use Makaton in everyday interactions.
Bishop Sophie and Diocesan Director of Education, April Gold, visited The Canon's on the 20th March to celebrate the school's 10th anniversary as a primary school and witness the use of Makaton in the daily life of the school.
Georgina Newton, Deputy Diocesan Director of Education says:
"This is a wonderful achievement! The Canons C of E Primary School has a culture of excellence that permeates everything. Achieving Makaton Friendly status further demonstrates how the school creates a culture of inclusion and accessibility that benefits everyone. I know individuals who benefit greatly from being in a community that uses Makaton routinely and doing this will help everyone at The Canons to thrive. Congratulations!"