Free Makaton sessions on offer to Santa and his helpers this Christmas
Posted on: 23rd October 2017
Santa and his helpers will have an extra gift coming their way this Christmas, with the chance to join a free Makaton session.
Two free sessions are available to teach those working as our favourite festive figures key signs and symbols which will help ensure all children can experience the same magical moments when visiting Santa this year.
Regional Makaton tutors Julie Appleyard and Lisa Janes, who also work within the children's speech and language therapy service at Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust, are putting on the sessions as part of a national Get Santa Signing campaign.
Julie and Lisa explained: "Makaton is a language programme which uses signs and symbols with speech to help people communicate. Having seen the success of the campaign elsewhere in England last year, we wanted to ensure children with communication difficulties have the same opportunity to interact with Santa as those with verbal skills. We hope that by teaching a handful of signs, we can make Santa and his helpers feel more confident when meeting children who have communication difficulties and for all children to have a magical experience."
The three-hour sessions will take place on Thursday, November 16, from 5pm-8pm at Johnson Community Hospital, Spalding, and on Friday, November 24, from 1pm-4pm at Beech House, Waterside South, Lincoln.
Places for each session are limited, but applications are welcome from anyone who will be working in the county's grottos this Christmas. An application form can be downloaded below.
For more information, please contact Julie Appleyard on 01205 367358 ext 305.
A list of Santas and grottos which have taken part in the Makaton taster sessions will be available shortly afterwards on LCHS's website and social media pages (@LincsCommHealth on Facebook and Twitter) and on the official @GetSantaSigning Facebook page.
Please click on the following links to download the documents.