Award nomination for city signing champion

Story from Nottingham Evening Post – A teacher who devotes her time to helping deaf and hearing children and adults learn sign language has been nominated for a national award.

Bridget Payne has been teaching children at Firbeck Primary School in Bilborough for the last ten years. She gives up her spare time to devise sign language carols for them to perform and creates books to make learning the signs easier.

Mrs Payne, 46, of Bramcote, has been nominated as Teacher of the Year in the Signature Awards, which recognise excellence in communication with deaf people.

"I think it’s very important for young children to learn sign language," said Mrs Payne. "It’s inclusive, it means the children are included in everything at Firbeck. Sign language turns out to be something they have in common, rather than a difference, and breaks down barriers."

Firbeck Primary School has a deaf unit, which caters for 14 children who are deaf or have other special needs. All the children at the school are encouraged to learn British Sign Language Level 1 so everyone can communicate.

Fiona Sellar, head of the deaf unit at the school, nominated Bridget for the award. She said: "She is an excellent role model for the children. Children in mainstream education have best friends who are hearing but can sign at the same level."

Mrs Payne works at the school two days a week and also works at other schools, colleges and nurseries in Nottingham.

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