British Sign Language support

NDCS believes that deaf children need to be able to communicate effectively by any appropriate method, whether through sign language, oral communication or a combination of approaches. NDCS is campaigning for more support within the family and at school for deaf children who communicate through British Sign Language.

Within the family, there is currently no national framework for children and families to learn British Sign Language (BSL) and a lack of suitable family focused BSL training courses. And at school, there are too many communication support workers who do not have appropriate knowledge of BSL to be able to interpret the curriculum. Wotking with other deaf charities, NDCS successfully campaigned for £800,000 investment in the I-Sign project for future provision of sign language for deaf children to address these issues.

17 February 2010
NDCS expresses concern that proposed new law in Children, Schools and Families Bill will discourage primary schools from teaching British Sign Language. 
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29 June 2009
Minister launches largest ever sign language project for deaf children, setting out the details of different workstreams of the project.
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20 May 2008
Government announces funding to support family sign language, following meeting between NDCS and Prime Minister.
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NDCS's Close the gap campaign

Must do better! campaign report on educational under achievement by deaf children (1285 kb)

NDCS policy on communication support for BSL users

Got any questions? Want to tell us about your experiences in this area?

Please email campaigns@ndcs.org.uk or leave a comment at the bottom of this page.