Renewing a Makaton certificate is less about chasing an expiry date and more about proving your signing and symbol skills are current – here's the exact process to follow in 2026.
- Most Makaton certificates carry no hard expiry date, but a refresher every 1-3 years keeps records current in 2026.
- Check your employer’s CPD policy before booking anything – some settings demand proof of practice within 12 months.
- Book a Foundation or Regional refresher workshop directly rather than restarting the full qualification from scratch.
- Log refresher hours as CPD evidence, not as a brand-new certificate, when updating your personnel file.
Why this matters
Makaton signing skills fade fast without daily use – a teaching assistant who last used core vocabulary six months ago will hesitate on signs a non-verbal pupil relies on every day. Nurseries, SEN departments and care settings increasingly ask staff for evidence their Makaton knowledge is recent, not just a certificate from three years ago sitting in a drawer.
That's the real reason "how to renew a Makaton certificate" gets searched every year: employers want proof of current competence, and staff need a clear route to get it without repeating a full course. Makaton training for teaching assistants covers exactly this refresher gap for TAs already holding a certificate but needing updated evidence for their file.
What you'll need
- Your original Makaton certificate (or a record of the course name, provider and date)
- Your employer's CPD or safeguarding policy on refresher intervals
- A note of which vocabulary stage you last completed (Foundation, Regional Workshop 1, or above)
- Time for a half-day or full-day refresher session, depending on the provider
- A CPD log or portfolio to record the update once complete
- Budget confirmation if your employer funds refreshers directly
The steps
1. Locate your original certificate details
You can't renew what you can't identify. Find the exact course title, date, and awarding body on your original certificate – Makaton training is usually delivered through The Makaton Charity's accredited tutors, and course names have changed over the years (Foundation Workshop, Regional Training, Taster Session).
Common mistake: assuming any Makaton course counts as a like-for-like renewal. A Taster Session and a full Foundation Workshop are not interchangeable, and your employer may specifically ask for the higher level.
2. Confirm your employer's refresher requirement
Most Makaton certificates don't carry a legal expiry date, but many nurseries, schools and care providers set their own renewal window – typically every one to three years – as part of safeguarding and CPD policy. Ask HR or your line manager exactly what's expected before you pay for anything.
Why it matters: booking the wrong level of refresher wastes both time and course fees. A quick policy check takes five minutes and saves a second booking.
3. Book a refresher or update workshop
Once you know the required level, book a refresher session through an accredited Makaton tutor or training provider. These sessions run shorter than the original Foundation course and focus on reinforcing vocabulary you've already learned rather than teaching from zero.
Expected outcome: a shorter, more affordable session than your first certificate, usually delivered in a single day or a half-day online.
4. Gather evidence of practical use
Before or during your refresher, pull together examples of how you've used Makaton signs and symbols since your last certificate – session plans, observation notes, or a supervisor's comment. This evidence strengthens your CPD record and is often what employers actually want to see, not just a new certificate.
Common mistake: turning up to a refresher with no practical examples, which weakens the CPD case even if the workshop attendance itself is solid.
5. Complete the refresher session
Attend the session in full and complete any practical demonstration the tutor asks for. Refresher workshops typically revisit core vocabulary, signing accuracy, and symbol use in context rather than introducing large amounts of new material.
Expected outcome: an updated certificate or attendance record dated 2026, which becomes your new reference point for the next renewal cycle.
6. Log the update as CPD and file it correctly
Record the refresher as continuing professional development, not as a fresh qualification, unless you've genuinely progressed to a new Makaton stage. CPD for teachers: what counts and how to record it explains what employers and inspectors expect to see in a CPD log, which applies equally to TAs and SEN staff logging Makaton refreshers.
Common mistake: filing the new certificate but never updating the CPD log, which means the refresher doesn't show up when an inspector or line manager reviews your training record.
Troubleshooting
Problem: You can't find your original certificate.
Contact the provider or tutor who delivered your original course – most accredited Makaton tutors keep attendance records for several years and can confirm your level even without the physical certificate.
Problem: Your employer says the certificate is "out of date" but it has no expiry printed on it.
Ask for the specific policy document that sets the renewal interval. Many settings apply a blanket 2026 refresher rule across all safeguarding and communication training, not just Makaton.
Problem: No local in-person refresher is available.
Check for an online update session through an accredited tutor – remote refreshers cover the same core vocabulary review and are widely accepted for CPD purposes.
Problem: Your CPD hours don't meet the required minimum.
Combine the refresher hours with related training, such as safeguarding training for teaching assistants, if your employer's CPD policy allows a mixed portfolio rather than Makaton-only hours.
Problem: Your certificate name doesn't match current Makaton terminology.
Note the original course name alongside the current equivalent when you log it – tutors and HR teams generally accept this cross-reference without requiring you to retake the full course.
Problem: Cost is a barrier to refreshing this year.
Ask your employer about training budget lines first; many settings fund refresher workshops for staff already holding a Makaton certificate, since it's cheaper than funding a new starter from scratch.
Tools and resources
- Your original Makaton certificate or provider confirmation
- Your employer's written CPD or safeguarding policy
- Makaton training for teaching assistants for TAs needing an updated route into refresher content
- A CPD log template or portfolio folder for recording the update
- How to renew your safeguarding certificate for the equivalent renewal process on a related mandatory qualification
What to do next
Once your refresher is booked, use the wait time to pull together the evidence file mentioned in Step 4 – session notes, observation comments, anything showing you've used Makaton signs since your last certificate. That evidence is what turns a routine refresher into a strong CPD entry your employer will actually check during an inspection or appraisal in 2026.
FAQ
How often do you need to renew a Makaton certificate?
Most Makaton certificates have no fixed legal expiry, but many employers set their own refresher window of one to three years as part of CPD and safeguarding policy in 2026. Always check your specific setting’s requirement before booking.
Does a Makaton certificate expire?
No official expiry date is printed on most Makaton certificates, but skills fade without regular use. Employers, particularly in early years and SEN settings, often require refresher evidence every few years regardless of the printed date.
Can I renew a Makaton certificate online?
Yes, accredited tutors run online refresher and update sessions that cover the same core vocabulary review as in-person workshops. These are widely accepted for CPD logging purposes.
What’s the difference between a Makaton refresher and starting the course again?
A refresher revisits vocabulary and signing accuracy you already learned, usually in a shorter session than the original course. Starting again from Foundation level is only needed if you never completed that stage originally.
Do teaching assistants need to renew Makaton training?
Many schools and nurseries expect TAs supporting non-verbal or SEN pupils to show recent Makaton practice, even without a formal expiry rule. Check your school’s CPD policy for the exact interval it applies.
How much does a Makaton refresher cost compared to the original course?
Refresher sessions are typically shorter and cheaper than a full Foundation Workshop because they build on existing knowledge rather than teaching from zero. Exact pricing varies by provider, so confirm current rates directly with the tutor.
Can I log a Makaton refresher as CPD instead of a new qualification?
Yes, a refresher session should be logged as continuing professional development unless you’ve genuinely progressed to a new Makaton stage. This keeps your training record accurate for inspections and appraisals.
Where can parents renew a Makaton certificate?
Parents of non-verbal children can book refresher sessions through the same accredited tutor network used by professionals, often via shorter community-based workshops. Availability depends on local provider schedules.
One last thing
The certificate itself matters less than what's behind it: employers checking Makaton competence in 2026 are increasingly asking for a recent CPD entry alongside the paper certificate, not the certificate alone. Keep the evidence file running year-round instead of scrambling for it the week before an inspection.
Related guides
- Best online Makaton courses for teaching assistants
- Makaton training for early years practitioners
- Best Makaton courses for parents
