New Makaton boards have been installed in Newtown's play parks to help children with communication needs share what they want to play by using symbols on the board.

Newtown and Llanllwchaiarn Town Council said the new sign language boards at the Severn and Maesyrhandir play parks mark a “significant stride towards fostering inclusivity within our community”.

Makaton, a communication system that uses key word signs alongside speech, has been integrated into these boards, incorporating communication symbols to assist both young children and those with additional communication needs in developing their communication skills.

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Powys Children’s Speech and Language Therapy Service's Claire and Fran met with Lee from Newtown & Llanllwchaiarn Town Council, together with some of the children from Ysgol Calon y Dderwen to celebrate the new communication board in Newtown play park.

“We can’t wait to see children using the symbols on the communication board to share what they want to play with in the park, what they like and what they don’t like,” a spokesperson for the therapy service said.

The initiative is a result of a partnership between Powys Teaching Health Board, Powys County Council, and Talk With Me, a Welsh Government initiative dedicated to promoting inclusive communication practices. The collaboration reflects a shared commitment to creating environments where everyone feels valued and included.

Lee Davies, Operations Manager at Newtown and Llanllwchaiarn Town Council, said: "We are delighted to be part of this initiative, which underscores our commitment to creating an inclusive and accessible community space for all residents."

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