Signature is very proud to be partnering with The Royal Association for Deaf people (RAD) on ‘The School of Signs’ project, bringing their extensive experience in Deaf education and community engagement to the project.
This game-changing partnership supports our commitment to both the authenticity and educational rigour of the project, helping us create a truly inclusive and meaningful learning experience for young learners. By embedding BSL learning with fun and interactive content, together we ensure that the lessons resonate with learners while maintaining high standards of linguistic and cultural accuracy.
The School of Signs project has been created and funded by Signature, working with experts from across a variety of sectors, to deliver the first online BSL programme of study to any and every primary school across the UK. This project provides schools with access to 20 BSL lessons, BSL resources and CPD for teachers to ensure all children and teachers can begin to learn some BSL.
Lindsay Foster, Executive Director at Signature said, “We are delighted to be partnering up with The Royal Association for Deaf People to bring School of Signs into classrooms across the UK.
Our primary school programme of study is a powerful step towards ensuring that Deaf awareness and British Sign Language are taught with authenticity, expertise, and real community impact from the very start of a child’s education, working with RAD ensures we do that.
The team at RAD have been a pleasure to work alongside, they have brought great enthusiasm to this project partnered with their expertise, to help us ensure this initiative is successfully implemented in schools across the UK.”
Mark Wheatley, Chief Executive for the Royal Association for Deaf People commented: “The School of Signs project represents a powerful and positive step towards a future where British Sign Language is a natural and valued part of every child’s education. By introducing BSL into primary schools, we are not only supporting language learning but also helping to shape a more inclusive and understanding society.
This partnership with Signature will help ensure that Deaf awareness and BSL are embedded meaningfully from an early age, creating long-term benefits for both Deaf and hearing communities. We are proud to be part of a project that will empower the next generation to connect, communicate, and celebrate the richness of BSL.”
Nikki Rogers, Commercial Services Manager at RAD said: “At the Royal Association for Deaf people (RAD), we are thrilled to partner with Signature on the School of Signs project. Bringing British Sign Language into mainstream primary education is something we are incredibly passionate about. This project represents a vital step in making BSL accessible in a fun, engaging, and age-appropriate way for young learners, and we are proud to contribute our expertise to its development.
Our Training Lead and Consultant, Paul Newbury, has played a key role in shaping content that is both accurate and inspiring, and our whole team has embraced the opportunity to be part of such a meaningful initiative. We believe in early access to BSL in schools and making BSL fun, accessible, and part of everyday learning. This project has the power to spark a lifelong appreciation for BSL and ensure every child grows up with the tools to communicate inclusively.”