BRITISH SIGN LANGUAGE

Early day motion 1163, tabled 11 May 2004 by Rudi Vis (Labour). Signed by 51 members.

That this House congratulates Summerside School in North Finchley, London, a state primary school, for its huge efforts in teaching British Sign Language (BSL); notes that it has a unit for deaf pupils, some of whom need sign language to communicate and access the curriculum, and that the deaf sign language tutor has taught sign language to mainstream teachers, the school caretaker, cooks, lunchtime assistants and support workers, and that many of the staff have passed their level 1 BSL exam; and further notes that all the hearing pupils have also learned to sign and eight of the nine to 11 year-old mainstream pupils attained level 1 BSL which is highly unusual for a mainstream school, creates a truly inclusive learning environment for the deaf pupils, and led to congratulations during the Ofsted inspection on the excellent provision of sign language classes for parents, children and staff.

Signatures by party: Labour 32, Liberal Democrat 8, Labour/Co-operative 5, Conservative 2, Scottish National Party 2, DUP 1, UUP 1.