Makaton Sign Alongside Spoken Language
Each week our babies learn a new Makaton sign alongside spoken language. These simple signs help babies communicate everyday needs such as “more,” “finished,” “drink,” and “food.” By signing and speaking at the same time, our Early Years Educators give babies the tools to express hunger, thirst, and satisfaction clearly.
The benefits are incredible. When babies can communicate their needs, it reduces frustration, builds confidence, and strengthens the bond between the child and their educator.
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As our babies grow and transition into the Older Baby Room, we continue building on their communication skills. New signs are introduced such as “nappy,” “sleep,” “please,” and “thank you.” These signs help children understand routines and begin developing social communication.
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In our Toddler Room, Makaton becomes part of everyday learning. Children use signs to identify different fruits during snack time, encouraging language development and vocabulary in a fun and engaging way.
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By the time children reach Pre-School, they are confidently using both spoken words and Makaton signs together.
One of our favourite moments of the day is our Good Morning registration, where children say and sign their greeting to their friends and educators.
Toddler Room and Makaton
Why Communication in the Early Years Matters
Across the UK, early years practitioners are seeing increasing numbers of children with delayed speech and language development. Research shows that more children are now entering early years settings needing additional speech and language support than before the COVID-19 pandemic.
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The pandemic reduced opportunities for social interaction and early learning experiences, which are crucial for developing communication skills.
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At the same time, changing family routines and increased screen use have also impacted language development. Recent studies show that only 46% of parents now read to their young children daily, down from 66% in 2019, while toddlers in England average around two hours of screen time per day.
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This makes early communication support more important than ever.
Supporting Children to Find Their Voice
At Ellie’s Nursery, Makaton is one of the ways we create a language-rich environment where every child can communicate, be understood, and feel confident.
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From first signs in the baby room to spoken and signed greetings in preschool, we are proud to support our children as they grow into confident communicators.
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Because every child deserves to be heard, even before they can speak.
What are the benefits of teaching Makaton to young children?
Using Makaton alongside speech supports early communication and language development. Some key benefits include:
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Helps babies communicate their needs before speech develops
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Reduces frustration when children cannot yet use words
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Builds confidence and independence
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Supports speech and language development
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Encourages strong relationships between children and educators
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Helps children understand routines and instructions
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Supports social skills such as saying please and thank you
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FAQ Makaton Learning at Ellie’s Nursery
1. What signs will my baby learn first at Ellie’s Nursery?
In our Baby Room (0–1 years) we start with simple everyday signs to help babies communicate their basic needs. These include:
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More
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Finished
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Drink
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Food
These help babies tell our educators when they are hungry, thirsty, or finished with something.
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3. Does using Makaton delay speech?
No. Makaton actually supports speech development. Signs are always used alongside spoken words, which helps children understand and remember language. Many children naturally begin replacing the sign with the spoken word as their speech develops.
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4. How does Makaton develop as my child moves through the nursery?
We build on children’s communication skills as they grow:
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Older Babies: signs such as nappy, sleep, please, thank you
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Toddlers: identifying items such as fruits at snack time
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Pre-School: children confidently say and sign during group activities, including our Good Morning registration.
5. Can parents use Makaton at home?
Yes, and we encourage it! Using the same signs at home helps reinforce your child’s learning. Simple moments like mealtimes, story time, or bedtime routines are great opportunities to practise the signs your child is learning at nursery.
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Each week we share our “Sign of the Week” with parents so you can practise together at home. These signs are shared with families through the Famly app and displayed on the parents’ notice boards in each room, making it easy for everyone to join in and support their child’s communication development.