Practical, interactive online Makaton training for your team

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Give your staff the knowledge, practical skills and confidence to communicate more inclusively with the people they support.

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I’m Alison Pennington-Malik, a Licensed Makaton Tutor with more than 30 years of professional and personal experience across education, Early Years, health and social care. I provide online Makaton training for organisations and professional teams throughout the UK, helping staff develop communication skills they can apply in their everyday roles.

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Whether you work in healthcare, education, social care, a charity, a university, a business or a public service, online training offers a flexible way to develop your team’s understanding of Makaton without everyone needing to travel to a training venue.

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My approach is practical, engaging and supportive. Training can be arranged around your organisation’s requirements, the roles of your staff and the communication needs of the people you support.

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Online Makaton training is available for organisations across the UK.

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[Discuss Online Training for Your Organisation]

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What online Makaton training can I provide?

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Every organisation has different training requirements. I offer several options to help you choose an approach that suits your team, existing knowledge and professional setting.

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Makaton Levels 1–4

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I provide structured Makaton Levels 1–4 training for organisations wishing to develop their staff’s knowledge and practical skills progressively.

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These courses provide a structured learning pathway, helping participants build on their existing knowledge as they progress through the levels. They are suitable for organisations looking to invest in staff development and develop a stronger understanding of Makaton within their teams.

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The appropriate level will depend on your staff’s previous training and experience. If you are unsure where to begin, I can discuss your requirements and help you identify a suitable starting point.

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Bespoke online Makaton training

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Not every organisation needs the same training. Bespoke sessions allow us to discuss your team, the people you support and the communication situations your staff encounter.

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This may be particularly useful for organisations with specialist services, multiple departments or teams who want to explore how Makaton can support communication within their particular working environment.

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Specialist Makaton workshops

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Focused workshops can introduce Makaton and inclusive communication or explore particular professional needs. Depending on your requirements, training can be relevant to education, Early Years, healthcare, social care, charities, customer-facing services and other professional environments.

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Ongoing training for organisations

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For organisations wanting to develop communication skills over time, I can discuss options for delivering training to different staff groups or arranging further sessions.

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This can be useful for multi-site organisations, services with staff working different shifts, or employers who want to continue developing their teams’ knowledge.

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Who is online Makaton training for?

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My online training is designed for organisations and professional teams whose work involves communicating with children, young people or adults who may benefit from additional communication support.

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Education and Early Years

For schools, nurseries, academy trusts and education professionals looking to develop inclusive communication and support pupils with different communication needs.

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NHS and healthcare

For healthcare teams who want to explore how Makaton and visual communication can help make interactions more accessible, support understanding and improve the communication experience of patients and families.

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Social care and supported living

For care providers, support workers, learning disability services and supported living teams who want to develop practical communication skills and support greater participation in everyday activities.

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Universities and colleges

For lecturers, student groups and professional education programmes preparing future practitioners for careers involving children, young people and adults with communication needs.

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Charities and community organisations

For teams and volunteers who want to make their services more accessible and develop a better understanding of inclusive communication.

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Businesses and public services

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For customer-facing staff and professional teams who want to improve communication accessibility and consider how they can better support people with communication difficulties.

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If your organisation works in a different sector, please get in touch. We can discuss your requirements and whether online Makaton training is suitable for your team.

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What will staff learn?

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Learning outcomes depend on the course or workshop selected. Training is designed to develop practical knowledge and encourage participants to consider how they can use what they learn in their own working environment.

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Depending on the training selected, participants may develop their ability to:

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• Understand the purpose of Makaton and how it supports communication.

• Recognise the relationship between signs, symbols and spoken language.

• Learn and practise the signs and symbols covered within their selected course.

• Understand the importance of using Makaton consistently and in context.

• Consider how visual communication can support understanding, choice and participation.

• Reflect on communication barriers that people may experience in their workplace.

• Identify practical opportunities to incorporate Makaton into everyday interactions.

• Develop confidence in using the skills covered during training.

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For organisations, the aim is to help staff move beyond simply learning signs in isolation and consider how inclusive communication can become part of everyday practice.

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Makaton supports communication; it does not replace speech or guarantee that every person will understand or use the same communication methods. Training can help staff become more aware of different communication needs and ways to support them.

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How does online Makaton training work?

Online training allows your staff to participate remotely, making it possible to bring colleagues together even when they work at different sites or locations.

Before arranging a session, I will discuss your organisation’s needs, the number and roles of participants, any previous Makaton experience and what you hope to achieve.

We can then identify the most appropriate training option and discuss the arrangements for delivery.

During training, participants are encouraged to engage with the material, practise the skills being taught and ask questions. The format and content will depend on the selected course or workshop.

Online delivery can be particularly useful for:

• Organisations with staff based across several locations.

• National charities and multi-site care providers.

• Healthcare teams who need to coordinate staff development.

• Schools, colleges and other education organisations.

• Teams unable to travel to an in-person training venue.

• Organisations wanting to arrange training for different staff groups.

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Online training provides a convenient alternative to travelling, while retaining a focus on practical learning and interaction.

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How long does online Makaton training take?

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The duration depends on the type of training you choose.

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An introductory workshop, a bespoke awareness session and a structured Makaton Level course have different learning requirements.

 

Full courses may require a full day or two half days, while shorter workshops can be arranged for more focused learning.

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When you enquire, I will explain the duration and format of the relevant course, including any requirements for attendance or completion. This helps you plan staff rotas, release time and participation in advance.

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For structured Makaton Levels 1–4, the course format and completion requirements will depend on the specific level and training arrangement.

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What is included in online Makaton training?

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The precise inclusions depend on the course or workshop booked. Before confirming your training, I will explain what is included and any requirements for participants.

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Training arrangements can cover:

• A discussion about your organisation’s training needs.

• Guidance on selecting an appropriate course or workshop.

• Delivery by Alison Pennington-Malik, Licensed Makaton Tutor.

• Live online teaching and opportunities to practise the material covered.

• Time for questions and discussion relevant to the training.

• Information about the course format, duration and attendance requirements.

• Details of any applicable course materials, resources or certification.

• Advice on the next steps if your organisation wishes to continue developing its staff’s Makaton skills.

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Any course materials, certificates and completion requirements will be confirmed before booking, so you know exactly what to expect.

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How to book online Makaton training for your organisation

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Arranging training begins with a conversation about your team and what you would like to achieve.

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Step 1: Tell me about your organisation

Contact me with details of your organisation, the type of service you provide and the staff you would like to train.

Step 2: Discuss your training requirements

We can talk about previous Makaton experience, your team’s learning needs, the number of participants and whether you are interested in Levels 1–4, a specialist workshop or bespoke training.

Step 3: Receive your training information

I will discuss the most appropriate option and provide information about the proposed format, duration, availability, costs and what is included.

Step 4: Confirm your booking

Once the training arrangements have been agreed, we can confirm the booking and the practical details for your team’s online session.

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To enquire, email info@makatontraining.co.uk or call 07837 876254.

When contacting me, it is helpful to include your organisation’s name, the approximate number of staff you wish to train, your preferred timeframe and the type of training you are considering.

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Why choose Alison for your organisation’s online Makaton training?

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Choosing training for your team is an investment in staff knowledge and communication practice. You need a trainer who understands Makaton and can help staff consider how to apply their learning in real situations.

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Experience across professional settings

I have more than 30 years of professional and personal experience across health and social care, education and Early Years. I have worked with organisations across a range of sectors, giving me an appreciation of the different communication challenges professional teams can encounter.

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Licensed Makaton Tutor

As a Licensed Makaton Tutor, I provide Makaton training through my professional role, helping organisations identify suitable training and develop their staff’s knowledge.

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Training designed around your organisation

Your staff, service users and communication requirements are unique. I take time to understand what you need so that we can discuss the most appropriate course, workshop or training approach.

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Practical and engaging learning

My aim is to make training informative, accessible and relevant. Participants are encouraged to engage with the material and think about how the skills they develop can be used in their everyday work.

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UK-wide online delivery

You do not need to be based in the South West to access my online training. Remote delivery enables organisations across the UK to enquire about training for their teams.

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Experience working with organisations

I have delivered training for organisations including NHS trusts, education providers, universities, charities, care organisations, emergency services and businesses. This experience informs my work with professional teams and their varied communication needs.

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Frequently asked questions about online Makaton training

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Can you provide online Makaton training for our whole organisation?

Yes. I can discuss training for individual teams, several staff groups or organisations operating across multiple locations. The most suitable arrangement will depend on the training required, the number of participants and your organisation’s needs.

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Can staff with no previous Makaton experience attend?

The appropriate starting point depends on the course or workshop. Tell me about your staff’s existing knowledge when you enquire so that we can discuss the most suitable option.

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Can we book Makaton Levels 1–4 online?

I offer Makaton Levels 1–4 for organisations. Please enquire about your preferred level so I can confirm the available online format, course requirements and arrangements.

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Can online training be tailored to our sector?

Training requirements can be discussed in relation to your organisation, professional roles and the people your team supports. This helps identify the most appropriate course or workshop for your needs.

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How much does online Makaton training cost?

The cost depends on the course or workshop, the number of participants and the proposed training arrangements. Contact me with your requirements to discuss pricing and availability.

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Will participants receive certificates?

Certification and completion requirements depend on the specific training selected. I will confirm the applicable arrangements before you book.

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Is online training available throughout the UK?

Yes. I offer online Makaton training for organisations across the UK, including teams based outside my in-person training area in the South West.

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Can we arrange further training after the initial session?

Yes. If your organisation wants to develop staff knowledge further, introduce training to additional teams or explore a structured learning pathway, we can discuss suitable next steps.

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Find more FAQs HERE​

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Make inclusive communication part of your organisation’s practice

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Helping staff understand different communication needs can be an important step towards creating more accessible, inclusive services.

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Whether you are exploring Makaton for the first time, considering structured Level training or looking for a training approach tailored to your professional team, I would be happy to discuss your requirements.

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Alison Pennington-Malik | Licensed Makaton Tutor

Online Makaton training for organisations across the UK. In-person training across the South West.

Email: info@makatontraining.co.uk
Telephone: 07837 876254