Schools, colleges and education authorities in England can apply to a new fund for improving the British Sign Language (BSL) skills of communication support workers (CSWs) working with deaf children and young people.
The minimum recommended qualification level for CSWs is BSL Level 3 accompanied by a CSW qualification, such as, the Signature Level 3 Certificate in Communication Support for Deaf Learners. However, many CSWs are under qualified which can result in poor access to the curriculum for deaf children and young people who rely on BSL.
The fund will pay up to 50% of the cost of accessing BSL training including travel and accommodation. Additionally, advice and support from an experienced CSW will be made available for successful applicants.