We are proud to announce the launch of The School of Signs, a FREE BSL programme of study, accessible to all primary schools across the UK.
Over the last 18 months, Signature have attended a number of childcare and education expos and had countless conversations with teachers. Many have expressed a strong desire to introduce British Sign Language (BSL) but don’t know where to start due to a lack of accessible resources available. We knew we had to create something to break down this barrier and help improve the gap in communication between deaf and hearing communities. That’s why we developed The School of Signs, a fun, accessible and engaging way for schools to implement BSL into their everyday teaching.
The programme of study features:
- 20 FREE online lessons delivered by Deaf BSL teachers.
- A blended learning model, combining classroom BSL lessons with an interactive series called Codebreakers.
- Comprehensive learning resources, including lesson plans, printouts, homework, and a dictionary of signs.
- Teacher support in the form of CPD.
- An online platform that allows schools to track progress and set homework.
We are proud to have created a programme of study which is easy to implement and still maintains a high level of educational rigour. With our partnership with the Royal Association for Deaf People (RAD), teachers require no previous knowledge of BSL, something which previously acted as barrier to BSL in schools. All resources are pre-recorded by a qualified Deaf teacher, and maintain a high standard, something we are proud of.
Alongside RAD, Signature have worked with ITV Signpost, to bring Codebreakers to life. The fictional series blends BSL activities and tests knowledge of the different topics delivered in the lessons. To ensure the programme of study is easy to navigate for both teachers and students, Signature have worked with 2Simple, where all our resources will be held.
Lindsay Foster, Executive Director at Signature, said:
“We look forward to seeing The School of Signs implemented in primary schools across the UK. The project highlights a vital step in making BSL accessible in a fun and engaging way. By introducing BSL into primary schools, we are not only supporting language learning but also helping to shape a more inclusive and understanding society.”
John Walker, Chair of Signature, said:
“Over the last 18 months, Signature have been working on an exciting project, collaborating with RAD, ITV Signpost and 2Simple to bring this to life. Learning BSL opens communication and gives children a way to connect with the Deaf community. We want every child to be able to communicate with their fellow pupils, whether they are deaf or hearing. If you are a primary school in the UK, we encourage you to sign up today!”