Petition to make British Sign Language (BSL) a second language in schools.

[LottieMumofWilfJenkins]

here
It is something i strongly believe in.

Me too, signed.

The benefit mentioned is to improve chances of employment in later life....... That's all that's mentioned!

It's not put across very well

It can be done Euphemia. My kids go to a signing school.

Bump!!!

Excellent idea. Yes, the curriculum is crowded and MFL is the Cinderella Subject in many schools but the right training and a willingness on the part of the school to incorporate some BSL into the daily routine would very much be a step in the right direction.
Children love signing and most pick it up very easily.

Where will you be getting the teachers?

DDs school teaches signing right from reception, it's makaton not BSL, although if I've understood correctly makaton is a simplified form of BSL so it would form the basis of the vocabulary.

They don't have separate signing lesssons, it's simply incorporated into everything they do so it doesn't take time away from the curriculum.

Signed.

A recent 'See Hear' epsiode touched on the inclusion of BSL as a MFL option at secondary level and from what I gathered, work is being done on the syllabus to make it suitable for inclusion. I hope it can be included in the very near future - there are approximately 15,000 people with BSL as their first language and many many more who use a mix of English and BSL - it would help so many deaf people if more people could sign (me included).

The petition isn't for bsl to assist deaf people....... It's to improve chances of employment, something to put on a cv!!!

You know, I have been to so many signing classes, read so many things that said everyone should be able to sign, heard so many parents tell me how they are teaching toddlers sign, and I have never once come across someone who actually uses sign as a primary form of communication.
To the people who say this petition is a good thing, how many people IRL do you know who sign?

fewer than 1% of people use sign language, and of that number, more than half use it in conjunction with other means of communication.
In Britain, only 15000 people use it.
Seems a bit excessive to put it on the curriculum

When you say 2nd language, does that mean a compulsory subject on the curriculum?
I wouldn't be for that, sorry. I would support it as one of the choices available though.

I think bsl should be a language option for gcse/A level.

However, I think it would be great for Makaton to be used and taught more widely in preschools and primary schools.

Whilst Makaton takes many if it's signs from whole word BSL, there are a lot of differences, and BSL is a language in it's own right, whereas Makaton is used with and to support speech. Because it is very simple, and uses whole word with speech, it is useful for children and adults with learning disabilities, people who have suffered strokes, children with English as a second language and it is also used in some old people's homes here, to support spoken word.

Adsy, my 4.8 year old ds is non verbal and uses Makaton as his main form of communication - it is used by all the teachers and TAs in his resource base, and his ms teacher have been sent on a course. The carol service for the whole school have key word signing, as do the assemblies. We use Makaton at the preschool I help at, which is mainstream.

Adsy my children are learning Italian. Neither they nor I have never met anyone who speaks Italian. Should I stop them learning it?

deankoontz but it's not compulsory for you to learn Italian, is it? This petition is to make it part of the curriculum
( and there's far more people who speak Italian, therefore much more useful in terms of ordering food on hols!!)

It is compulsory for my kids. They don't get a choice in the language they learn at Primary School.

So, you're happy to learn a language that makes your own life easier, but not support the learning of one that could make someone else's life easier?

If you were served at a café by someone with hearing or learning difficulties, a bit of Makaton might help, yes?

I believe that it should be an option to take Sign Language in UK schools.

She says she wants it to be an option not compulsory.

That said, I do think the petition is too vaguely worded and not thought through.

I know makaton although is probably very rusty as I haven't used it for years I used to children with SN makaton imo is probably more useful than BSL imo, t
The deaf/hard of hearing I personally know don't sign they lip read I can't see bsl as a second language is going to be of much use as a subject in school although primary schools will teach signing these days

Spot on dean
I would also guess that if you have severe hearing problems, then a customer facing job is not the best career choice.
Same as I wouldn't expect to have to learn Polish, Spanish, Urdu etc. to accommodate a waiter who can't communicate enough in English to do his job.
Very surprised that they are forcing your dc to learn Italian but it's not part of the national curriculum

I think the difference between Makaton and BSL needs to be remembered here

Within Britain the most common form of Sign Language is called British Sign Language (BSL). BSL has it’s own grammatical structure and syntax, as a language it is not dependant nor is it strongly related to spoken English.

Makaton is a language programme using signs and symbols to help people to communicate. It is designed to support spoken language and the signs and symbols are used with speech, in spoken word order.

BSL is an evolving language with it's own word order, grammar and regional variations - it is not the same as Makaton.

I agree it's too vague Hazey

Having seen Makaton used widely thoughout a Primary School that takes both NT and children with Special Needs, I don't see why this just can't be the norm.

Having worked with adults with learning difficulties I think our society would be a much more communicative place if everyone new a few basic signs.

I think it also helps Nursery and Reception children with language.

It's a good thing, and should be encouraged and supported.

I've read a few reports that signing can hinder speech development in babies and toddlers of normal hearing as it's easier for them to communicate via sign / pointing therefore they take longer to talk as they can already communicate their needs via sign.