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Funded projects
Click to read our updated on the Made-for-Wales British Sign Language (BSL) GCSE

Funded projects

We strive to improve access to education and services for deaf and deafblind people. To do this, we carry out selected pieces of work to support our wider strategic aims. To keep up to date with our current campaign and project work, check out our news items and follow us on twitter.

As you are aware there is currently no route available to register as a Notetaker with NRCPD. To meet this gap, Signature have secured funding from Awards for All to offer funded training that meets NRCPD registration requirements. This training is open to Notetakers who already hold a Level 2 Certificate in Notetaking, and who are NOT registered as a Notetaker with NRCPD. Individuals will be required to produce their Level 2 certificate before being accepted onto the programme. The training will take place in London, Birmingham and Manchester, over a period of three days. There will be a final date for assessment, date to be announced shortly. The dates are: London 4 April 2016, 18 April 2016 and 9 May 2016 Manchester 7 April 2016, 22 April 2016 and 12 May 2016 Birmingham 9 April 2016, 29 April 2016 and 18 May 2016 Delegates must attend all four dates and be prepared to commit to a significant amount of work outside of the course dates, in order to build portfolio evidence. If you are interested in attending this training please complete the declaration of interest form and attach a copy of your Level 2 Certificate. This should be emailed to: kimberly.curry@signature.org.uk

As you are aware there is currently no route to registration as a Speech To Text Reporter (STTR) with NRCPD. Signature have secured funding from Awards for All, to offer STTR Training. We are currently working on this training meeting the NRCPD registration requirements. This training is open to STTRs, who are already registered with BIVR and who can demonstrate speed of 180wpm. Individuals will be required to produce Certificate of speed/membership of BIVR before being accepted onto the programme. The training will take place in London, Birmingham and Manchester, over a period of four days. Three days will be allocated to training (these will not be consecutive days) and the final date will be for assessment. The dates will be announced shortly. Delegates must attend all four dates and be prepared to commit to a significant amount of work outside of the course dates, in order to build portfolio evidence. If you are interested in attending this training please complete the attached declaration of interest form and attach a copy of your Speed/Membership of BIVR Certificate. This should be emailed to: kimberly.curry@signature.org.uk

NatSIP April 2015 – March 2016

Continuing on from its previous work, NatSIP was awarded a further contract by the Department for Education. This is running from April 2015 to March 2016 and NatSIP will support the sensory and wider workforce to implement the SEND reforms. Signature is leading on a piece of work aimed at recruiting and training 40 Communication Support Workers (CSWs). This follows on from the I-Sign project and seeks to increase the number of trained CSWs.

NatSIP April 2013 – March 2015

The National Sensory Impairment Partnership (NatSIP) was awarded a two year contract by the Department for Education which ran from 1 April 2013 to 31 March 2015. The contract was for the provision of specialist information, advice, support and training to improve outcomes for children and young people with sensory impairments in the context of the wider Special Educational Needs reforms. As part of our lead role in the BSL Coalition, a consortium of partners for deaf organisations, schools and services, Signature led on the objective (6a) – Development of specialist skills for BSL and sign support. Within this objective there are four projects:
  • A Language audit/survey of the provision of services to deaf children and young people who use British Sign Language (BSL) and other sign language systems
  • Language Assessments – a guidance document has been published on the use of Language Plans for BSL users. It will be published on the NatSIP website and promoted at events and on professional networks.
  • Working with National Deaf Children’s Society/I-Sign project within the Voluntary, Community and Social (VCS) grant project to promote and report on local training and service provision which meets established demand for BSL.
  • Tactile BSL – working with Sense a short factsheet was published outlining principles of adapting BSL and other sign language systems to be accessed in a tactile way.
Look out for updates on this project on the Signature News page. Find out more about the project in its entirety
To build on the success of the former I-Sign project, in 2013 NDCS received a further grant from the Department for Education for I-Sign 2. This project completed in March 2015. The beneficiaries of the I-Sign 2 project were families with a deaf child, deaf children and young people (DCYP), Education Communication Support Workers, Teaching Assistants, and BSL professionals with the skills to teach BSL to families with a deaf child. The project supported:
  • the provision of 160 national, accredited training places for professionals supporting families to learn Family Friendly BSL
  • information for parents and young people on the range of potential options underpinning BSL provision, their rights and the implications of the current policy changes to inform their discussions with local authorities
  • case studies highlighting the potential market model for sustainable delivery of the above activities and the opportunities for integration into the local offer
  • support for 5 young people and/or families accessing personal budgets for BSL learning and education and the dissemination of case studies demonstrating the impact
As part of the project, Signature delivered:
  • a qualification for those in the Communication Support Worker (CSW) or learning support roles in Key Stages 3 or 4. As a result, a new Level 3 Certificate in Communication Support is now available for delivery.
  • national training places on the developed course to up skill professionals supporting DCYP with BSL in education
Signature partnered with Learning Labs to develop the ‘Learn British Sign Language FlashSticks®’ to support people learning BSL and present the visual language as an engaging and useful choice alongside foreign language options. The innovative BSL ‘FlashSticks®’ are custom printed Post-it Notes®. Each note demonstrates how to sign a particular word, with an illustration and written description. In addition, thanks to FlashStick’s smart app technology and Signature’s BSL expertise, you can also scan the note and watch a BSL teacher sign the word on your device. Find out more about ‘Learn British Sign Language FlashSticks®’.

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