Makaton training for early years practitioners turns a nursery or pre-school room into a space where every child gets heard, signing and speaking together rather than one instead of the other. This guide breaks down what to look for, which training routes are worth booking in 2026, and which shortcuts leave staff under-prepared.
- Makaton Charity Foundation Workshops are the correct entry point for makaton training for early years practitioners in 2026 — book, don’t skip.
- Level 1 Regional Training is the qualification employers actually check for; a one-day taster alone is not enough.
- Online awareness courses suit shift workers but need a face-to-face signing component to count as full training.
- In-house refreshers run by a setting SENCO are useful top-ups only, never a substitute for accredited training.
- Pair Makaton training with a Level 2 or Level 3 early years qualification to embed the skill into daily practice.
Why this matters
Makaton combines signs, symbols and speech, and it exists because some children need more than one channel to communicate at once. The core vocabulary sits around 450 signs and symbols, built to be taught in a logical order rather than all at once.
Early years settings increasingly list Makaton awareness as a job requirement, not a nice-to-have. A practitioner who can sign "more", "finished" and "toilet" confidently changes a child's day, and that's before you factor in the EYFS expectation that settings support every child's communication needs. Reading the EYFS framework 2026 update alongside your Makaton training gives you the regulatory context for why this skill keeps showing up in job specs.
Settings that get this wrong tend to send one staff member to a single workshop years ago and call it done. Makaton training for early years practitioners works as a живой skill, not a certificate you file away — it needs refreshing.
Who this is for
This guide is for nursery workers, pre-school assistants, childminders and early years educators who work directly with two-to-five-year-olds, including children with speech delay, autism or hearing impairment. If you're deciding between a one-day taster and a proper Level 1 qualification, or trying to work out whether your setting's in-house refresher counts as real CPD, this is written for you. It also applies to managers building a training plan across a nursery team ahead of an Ofsted inspection.
What to look for in Makaton training for early years practitioners
Accreditation through The Makaton Charity
Makaton is a registered trademark, and only training delivered or licensed through The Makaton Charity's regional tutor network counts as genuine Makaton training. Generic "baby signing" courses borrow signs but skip the structured vocabulary stages, which matters when a child moves between settings using different systems.
Fit with EYFS and SEND practice
Good Makaton training links signing directly to EYFS communication and language goals rather than teaching it as an isolated skill. Ask whether the course references SEND Code of Practice language, because that's what inspectors and parents both respond to.
Practical, hands-on delivery format
Signing is a physical skill, and practitioners who only watch a video retain far less than those who practise in pairs. A workshop with role-play and repeated drilling of core signs beats a slideshow every time.
CPD hours and certification recognised by employers
Employers want a certificate with a named accrediting body and a completion date, not a printout from a free YouTube playlist. Check that the certificate states the training level (Foundation, Level 1, Level 2) clearly, because job applications ask for this exact wording.
Refresher and progression pathway
One-off training decays. Look for providers offering a clear route from Foundation through Level 1 and into Level 2, plus refresher sessions every 12 to 24 months, so the skill stays current across staff turnover.
Top picks: which route to book
Makaton Charity Foundation Workshop — the essential starting point. A single day, typically covering 35 to 40 core signs plus the theory behind combining sign, symbol and speech. Every practitioner working with under-fives should have this before anything more advanced. Verdict: Book.
Makaton Level 1 Regional Training — the qualification employers ask for. Usually delivered over two days by a licensed regional tutor, moving into the full core vocabulary and grammar structure. This is the level most job specs mean when they write "Makaton trained." Verdict: Book.
Online Makaton awareness course — the flexible option for shift workers. These suit staff who can't get a weekday off for a regional workshop; the best online Makaton courses for teaching assistants breaks down which ones pair self-study with a live signing session. Treat online-only as a bridge to Foundation training, not a replacement. Verdict: Consider.
In-house refresher led by a setting SENCO — cheap but inconsistent. Useful for keeping signs fresh between accredited courses, but quality depends entirely on who's leading it and how recently they trained. Never let this be a new starter's only Makaton exposure. Verdict: Skip as a first course; fine as a top-up.
Makaton embedded in a full early years qualification. The Level 2 Diploma for the Early Years Practitioner folds communication and SEND support into a broader qualification, which suits anyone building a full career case rather than ticking one training box. Verdict: Consider alongside, not instead of, accredited Makaton training.
What to avoid
- Unlicensed "Makaton-style" sign courses that borrow the brand name without accreditation — these leave a certificate that HR won't recognise.
- One-and-done training with no refresher plan. Signs fade fast without practice; a nursery team trained in 2023 and never refreshed by 2026 is functionally untrained again.
- Courses that skip the symbol and speech elements. Makaton is sign, symbol and speech together — a course teaching signs alone isn't teaching Makaton.
“If your setting has a child using Makaton, one member of staff trained to Level 1 is the minimum, not the target.”
Verdict comparison table
| Route | Format | Typical Length | Best For | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foundation Workshop | In-person, group | 1 day | New starters | Book |
| Level 1 Regional Training | In-person, group | 2 days | Staff facing job-spec requirement | Book |
| Online awareness course | Self-paced + live session | Varies | Shift workers, remote staff | Consider |
| In-house refresher | Team session | 1-2 hours | Existing trained staff | Consider (top-up only) |
| Unlicensed sign course | Mixed | Varies | Nobody who needs a recognised certificate | Skip |
FAQ
What is the best Makaton training for early years practitioners in 2026?
A Makaton Charity Foundation Workshop followed by Level 1 Regional Training is the strongest combination for early years practitioners in 2026. It gives a recognised certificate and covers the full core vocabulary employers expect.
Is online Makaton training as good as in-person training?
Online Makaton training works as a flexible bridge but rarely matches in-person practice on its own. Courses that pair self-study with a live signing session hold up best for retention.
How much does Makaton training cost for nursery staff?
Cost varies by provider, region and training level, so check current pricing directly with The Makaton Charity or the regional tutor delivering the course. Foundation and Level 1 workshops are typically priced separately.
Do I need Makaton training to work in early years in the UK?
Makaton training isn’t a blanket legal requirement, but many nursery and pre-school job specs now list it as essential or desirable. Settings supporting children with speech delay or SEND increasingly expect at least Foundation-level training.
How often should Makaton training be refreshed?
Refresh Makaton signing every 12 to 24 months to stop skills fading, especially in teams with staff turnover. A refresher session doesn’t replace the original accredited course.
What’s the difference between Makaton Foundation and Level 1 training?
Foundation Workshops are a one-day introduction covering roughly 35 to 40 signs, while Level 1 Regional Training runs longer and covers the full core vocabulary and grammar structure. Level 1 is the qualification most employers mean when they ask for "Makaton trained" staff.
Can teaching assistants and early years practitioners take the same Makaton course?
Yes, Makaton Foundation and Level 1 training is designed for anyone working with children who use the system, including teaching assistants and early years staff. Some settings run joint sessions across both roles to cut cost and keep terminology consistent.
One last thing
The detail most training plans miss: Makaton's resource vocabulary runs to more than 7,000 concepts, but the core vocabulary most early years settings need day-to-day is closer to 450 signs, taught in structured stages rather than all at once. A practitioner who's solid on stage one and two core signs is more useful in a busy room than one who's memorised a long list without the structure behind it. Build depth in the early stages before chasing breadth.
Related guides
