A COCKERMOUTH woman who was launching a new business as lockdown hit had to completely change her plans – and has not looked back.

Makaton tutor Lorna Hutton has been working hard ever since, training teachers online county wide.

Lorna, a speech and language therapist based in Blindcrake, completed her Makaton tutor training at the end of last year. The language programme uses symbols, signs and speech to enable people to communicate.

She had started working in nurseries and schools and was looking forward to doing some face-to-face training. Then lockdown was announced and everything was put on hold.

"The Makaton Charity quickly developed an online model for training using video conferencing in April. This was a great opportunity to make Makaton training easier to access - but first I had to learn how to do it myself," said Lorna.

Having learned the ropes, she launched her first online training at the beginning of May. Since then she has delivered many courses county-wide and has lots more planned.

"Schools have been really keen, especially in West Cumbria. Cumbria Academy for Autism has pretty much had most of their staff trained to in Level 1.

"I've completed 15 courses online with a variety of people wanting to be trained: schools, colleges, students, parents and businesses. Lots of different people have been getting in touch."

Lorna has worked with Victoria Nursery, Infant and Junior School, in Workington. "They’ve had lots of staff trained in Level 1 and are now coming back for Level 2. They are hoping to use signs and symbols to further support communication and literacy," said Mrs Hutton.

"Netherton Infant School, in Maryport, have trained a large chunk of their staff. I'd been going into that school weekly to use Makaton with the nursery children, so they asked for training on the back of that because they think it’s so useful."

While Lorna is looking forward to getting back into schools and nurseries once restrictions allow, the online training will continue.

"Online training is here to stay, it will always be a useful option in an area as big as Cumbria to help people avoid travelling large distances to access training," she said.

Lorna offers various levels of training and plans to launch online taster sessions. She has lots of plans for the future.

"I hope to go into schools to help them refresh and use the skills they have learned on training," she said.

"I’m also looking forward to getting back into schools and nurseries to support their youngest children’s communication skills through introducing signs via songs and stories."

For more details, go to: lornahuttonmakaton.co.uk.