We are pleased to share some fantastic news—Valence School has officially been recognised as a ‘Makaton Friendly’ School!

This recognition marks a major milestone in our ongoing commitment to inclusive communication and accessibility for all members of our school community. Over the past three years, we have been embedding Makaton into daily life at Valence through staff training, increased visibility and usage of signs and symbols, and the development of creative, engaging resources.

Becoming a Makaton Friendly School means that our staff are not only trained but also confident in using Makaton to support communication. It reflects our shared dedication to building an inclusive environment where every student can feel understood, supported, and empowered.

This achievement has been made possible thanks to the leadership of Amy Glover and the support of our Makaton Champions across the school. A huge thank you to Amy and the whole team for their passion and positivity, which made this happen.

To date, the team has introduced several successful initiatives, including:

• Makaton Sign of the Week
• Signing during school assemblies
• Training sessions for staff and volunteers
• Widespread use of Makaton in classrooms

While this recognition is something to celebrate, it’s also just the beginning. We’re excited to continue building on this work to ensure that Makaton remains a dynamic and valued part of school life at Valence. More training has already been booked for next year and I am sure, there is a lot more to come.

Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this achievement.