How to take part in consultations on BSL Local Plans in Scotland
Advice and guidance on how to tell your local authority what you want them to do to tackle barriers faced by deaf children and young people who use or want to use British Sign Language (BSL).
Public bodies in Scotland will be publishing the final versions of their BSL Local Plans on 6 May. This is your chance to write to your local authority, letting them know what you would like to happen in your area around the promotion of BSL. This could be in early years settings, education or health.
What’s a BSL Local Plan?
The BSL (Scotland) Act 2015 requires public bodies to publish BSL plans every six years. The draft plan is framed around similar priority areas identified in the British Sign Language (BSL) National Plan 2023 to 2029, published on 6 November 2023.
Requesting the draft BSL Plan
You can find out who to contact in your local authority to request a draft BSL Plan by visiting your local authority or Health Board website. If you cannot find a contact on their website, please get in touch with us on [email protected] so we can support you.
Here’s a suggestion of what you might write:
Dear XXX Council,
Under the terms of the BSL (Scotland) Act 2015, public bodies have a duty to produce Local Authority BSL Plans by 6 May. The development of the Plans must involve the publication of a draft plan and the opportunity for the local community to comment on this.
Please could you send me a copy of your draft BSL Plan or let me know when the Plan will be published, and advise me on what consultation will take place?*
Yours,
XXX, parent of a deaf child
What to do if your local authority misses the deadline
Some parents have told us their councils don’t think they can make the deadline of 6 May. This is very disappointing. They have a legal duty to consult on the content of their plans.
If your local authority is going to miss the 6 May deadline, please get in touch with our Campaigns team urgently on [email protected]. Please also let us know if you do not feel there’s been a reasonable opportunity for you to contribute to the consultation.
What to ask your council about the National Plan
How will they promote BSL in education?
The Scottish Government’s BSL National Plan says that over the next six years they will, “develop a clear pathway for deaf children that helps promote the use of BSL in each stage of their education journey”. In other words, that deaf children need to have opportunities to use BSL at every point in their education.
Ask what plans your local authority has to deliver this.
How will deaf children get support to learn BSL in the early years?
The BSL National Plan says that over the next six years Health Boards should, “facilitate the building of partnerships and effective working relationships between NHS teams and BSL providers”. This would allow deaf children to get support to learn BSL in the early years.
Ask your Health Board how they plan to work with providers of early years BSL to deliver this.
How will they increase numbers of Teachers of the Deaf?
The BSL National Plan says that over the next six years local authorities should, “provide for and review the additional support needs of their pupils, including those who are deaf.” To do this councils need to provide enough qualified Teachers of the Deaf (ToD) so deaf pupils in mainstream schools can get the support they need.
Ask your local council what they will do to increase ToD numbers in your area.
How will they promote deaf culture?
The BSL National Plan says that over the next six years local authorities need to, “Support the development of opportunities for deaf young people and their families to learn about BSL and the BSL culture.”
Ask your council what they will do to promote deaf culture.
What to do once your local authority has replied
If you get a reply from your local authority, please send us a copy of this letting us know what they said, by emailing us at [email protected].
If you do not feel there’s been a reasonable opportunity for you to contribute to your local authority BSL Plans consultation, please also let us know.