Working for Carmarthenshire County Council, Signalong Tutor Hayley McClelland delivers Signalong training across Carmarthenshire to a wide range of professionals, including staff in primary and secondary specialist settings, as well as mainstream teachers and teaching assistants, and ALN Advisory teachers. When asked about her training, Hayley said “my focus is on upskilling staff to use Signalong confidently and consistently within their own settings, supporting children and young people with a range of additional learning and communication needs.”
Hayley was first introduced to Signalong while working as an ALNCo and Teacher in Charge of a specialist setting, where their speech and language therapist recommended it as a part of total communication approach. Hayley added “Signalong immediately stood out as being accessible, inclusive, and fun, and it felt like a practical tool that could be embedded across the whole staff team to support communication consistently throughout the school day.”
Signalong Tutor, Hayley McClelland
The Benefits Hayley has Noticed Using Signalong
Before Signalong was introduced, Hayley noticed that a key barrier was inconsistency in how staff supported communication. She added “staff confidence levels varied, and communication strategies were often dependent on individual experience rather than a shared approach. This sometimes led to missed opportunities for meaningful interaction, particularly for learners who relied on visual or multi-sensory support to understand routine language, instructions, and expectations.”
When asked about the benefits of using Signalong, Hayley commented “From a training perspective, one of the strongest benefits has been seeing how Signalong empowers staff. It provides a shared communication system that is easy to learn, practical to use, and adaptable across different settings. Staff I’ve trained have also reported increased confidence, stronger consistency in their practice, and a clearer understanding of how to support communication throughout the day, not just during targeted interventions. This communication is crucial for a successful total communication approach.”
Hayley added “After training many report feeling better equipped to meet learners’ needs and to reinforce language visually alongside speech.”
Recommending Signalong to Others
When asked if Hayley would recommend Signalong to others in a similar situation, Hayley said “definitely, Signalong is a highly effective and enjoyable tool that supports a total communication approach across a whole setting. It is inclusive, engaging, and easy for staff to adopt, making it ideal for building confidence and consistency. As a tutor, I see the positive impact not just on individual practice, but on whole-school approaches to communication.”
About Hayley
Hayley is currently undertaking a master’s in education, with a strong interest in inclusive practice and communication. She added “I chose to focus on key word signing as it links closely with my professional experience in ALN and my current role training staff to develop confident, consistent communication approaches”. She is particularly interested in exploring and researching the impact of key word signing on learners, including how it can support measurable improvements in communication, understanding, and the development of speech and expressive language. She is looking forward to offering Signalong for Learners courses in schools that she supports.
Located in Carmarthenshire and Want to Learn Signalong?
From September 2026, Hayley is offering Signalong training to mainstream schools as well as specialist settings. To get in touch, please contact her by email.