Teaching assistants working with learners who have communication needs face a real question every autumn: which Makaton course actually carries weight with a SENCO in 2026, and which one is a Saturday wasted on a certificate nobody asks for. This guide ranks the routes that matter and tells you which to book first.
- The Makaton Charity Foundation Workshop is the only entry point UK schools recognise universally in 2026 – Buy.
- Levels 1 and 2 build the vocabulary depth needed for SEN classrooms once Foundation is done – Consider.
- Non-accredited online ‘Makaton awareness’ courses carry little weight with SENCOs unless genuinely free CPD – Skip.
- Best Makaton courses for teaching assistants in 2026 start with Regional Tutor accreditation, not the cheapest listing.
Why this matters
Makaton is not a generic sign-language add-on you pick up from any training marketplace. It's a licensed programme run by The Makaton Charity, delivered through accredited Regional Tutors, and schools increasingly check whether a TA's certificate actually came through that network.
A teaching assistant working in an SEN-heavy classroom in 2026 is far more employable with a recognised Makaton certificate sitting next to a core SEN teaching assistant role and qualifications profile than without one. But not every course marketed as "Makaton training" comes from the Charity itself, and that distinction decides whether a SENCO trusts the paperwork.
How this list is ranked
Each route below is judged against four things: whether it's delivered through The Makaton Charity's own accreditation network, whether school leadership and SENCOs actually recognise it on a CV, how well it fits around a working TA's timetable, and whether it complements a recognised qualification rather than duplicating one. Price matters less than accreditation here – a cheap course that a SENCO has never heard of is a wasted Saturday, not a bargain.
Bright Pathway's own guide to Makaton training for teaching assistants breaks down entry requirements and progression in more detail; this list focuses purely on which route to book first.
The ranked list
1. Makaton Charity Foundation Workshop – the mandatory starting point
This is the one-day workshop, typically run over 6 hours, that introduces Makaton's core vocabulary and signing basics. Every other stage of Makaton training assumes you've already done this one, and most schools list it as a minimum expectation for TAs supporting non-verbal or minimally verbal pupils in 2026. Buy.
2. Makaton Charity Levels 1 and 2 – the SEN classroom standard
Once Foundation is finished, Levels 1 and 2 move you through the first stages of the 8-stage Makaton vocabulary structure, adding the signs and symbols most used in early years and SEN settings. This is the level most SENCOs mean when they say a TA is "Makaton trained" rather than just "Makaton aware." Buy if you're working directly with SEN pupils; Consider if your role is more general.
3. School-arranged Regional Tutor INSET day – the safe bet with your SENCO
Some schools book a Makaton Charity Regional Tutor to run a whole-staff or whole-department session on an INSET day, often at no cost to individual TAs. It covers the same accredited content as booking independently, just funded through the school rather than out of your own pocket. Consider asking your SENCO before paying for this yourself.
4. Levels 3-8 progression modules – the wildcard for long-term SEN specialists
The later stages build a much larger signed vocabulary and suit TAs planning a long career in SEN or working toward a role like higher level teaching assistant with a specialist SEN focus. Most generalist TAs never need to go past Level 2, which is why this sits lower on the list despite being genuinely useful for the right person. Wait until you know SEN specialism is your direction.
5. Independent online "Makaton awareness" courses – the budget gamble
A wide range of low-cost online courses use the word "Makaton" in the title without any link to The Makaton Charity's accreditation. Some are fine as general awareness CPD; none of them substitute for a Foundation Workshop on a job application. Skip unless it's already covered as free staff CPD and you're not relying on it for a Makaton-specific role.
6. University or college TA course with an embedded Makaton unit – the bundled option
A handful of broader TA and early years qualifications include a short Makaton awareness unit inside a much bigger course. It's useful context but rarely equivalent to a standalone Foundation Workshop certificate. Wait and treat it as a bonus, not your main route.
“A cheap Makaton certificate a SENCO has never heard of is a wasted Saturday, not a bargain.”
Comparison table
| Route | Format | Accreditation | Best For | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foundation Workshop | 1 day, ~6 hours | Makaton Charity | Every TA in an SEN-facing role | Buy |
| Levels 1-2 | Follow-on modules | Makaton Charity | TAs directly supporting SEN pupils | Buy/Consider |
| School INSET day | Whole-staff session | Makaton Charity Regional Tutor | Schools funding staff CPD | Consider |
| Levels 3-8 | Progression modules | Makaton Charity | Long-term SEN specialists | Wait |
| Online "awareness" courses | Self-paced | Often none | General CPD hours only | Skip |
| Embedded university/college unit | Bundled unit | Varies | TAs already enrolled on a wider course | Wait |
Where to book the right one
- Book Foundation Workshops and Levels 1-8 directly through a listed Makaton Charity Regional Tutor, not a third-party reseller repackaging the same content at a markup.
- Confirm the trainer's accreditation status before paying – a genuine Regional Tutor will have a listing you can check, an unaccredited seller usually won't.
- Ask your school's SENCO or CPD lead whether a Foundation Workshop is already funded as an INSET day before booking and paying for it yourself in 2026.
A Makaton certificate works best sitting alongside a recognised TA qualification. Reviewing safeguarding training for teaching assistants at the same time closes two common gaps SENCOs check for during recruitment.
FAQ
What’s the best Makaton course for teaching assistants in 2026?
The Makaton Charity Foundation Workshop is the best starting point for teaching assistants in 2026, since it’s the entry-level qualification every later Makaton stage and most school job specs assume you already hold.
Is Makaton training free for teaching assistants?
It depends on the school – some fund a Regional Tutor to run an INSET day at no cost to staff, while booking Foundation Workshops or Levels 1-8 independently usually carries a fee. Ask your SENCO before paying out of pocket.
How long does Makaton Foundation training take?
Makaton Foundation training is typically delivered as a single one-day workshop, around 6 hours, covering core vocabulary and basic signing.
Do you need Makaton training to work as a teaching assistant?
No, it’s not a legal requirement for every TA role, but schools supporting non-verbal or minimally verbal pupils increasingly expect at least a Foundation Workshop certificate on a CV.
What’s the difference between Makaton Levels 1 and 2 and the later stages?
Levels 1 and 2 cover the earliest stages of Makaton’s 8-stage vocabulary structure used in most SEN classrooms, while Levels 3-8 build a much larger signed vocabulary suited to long-term SEN specialists.
Can teaching assistants do Makaton training online?
Some Makaton Charity sessions run online, but the accreditation comes from the Charity and its Regional Tutors, not from generic online "Makaton awareness" courses using the name without that link.
Is Makaton the same as British Sign Language?
No, Makaton is a separate signed and symbol-based communication programme designed for people with learning or communication difficulties, distinct from British Sign Language which is a full language used primarily within Deaf communities.
Does Makaton training count as CPD for teaching assistants?
Yes, Makaton Charity workshops are generally logged as CPD hours by schools, though how those hours are recorded varies by employer policy.
One last thing
Most TAs assume Makaton training is a one-off box to tick. It isn't – schools in 2026 increasingly want to see progression from Foundation through to Level 2 for anyone in a regular SEN support role, and a single workshop with no follow-up reads as unfinished on a CV. Book the follow-on level before you need it for an application, not after.
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