BSL
British Sign Language
BSL is widely used throughout the community and Blanche Nevile School is a BSL Assessment centre. All members of the community have the opportunity to train and BSL clubs/classes are provided for children, parents, staff and governors from Blanche Nevile and both partnership schools. There is deaf awareness training for all staff and children, and a number of Blanche Nevile staff provide good role models as Deaf adults.
All parents/carers are strongly encouraged to attend classes in BSL. Whatever pupils' preferred language, BSL is an important part of the community and all pupils use it to communicate with each other during break times. BSL is also used as one of the languages of instruction, alongside spoken English, for those children who access learning through BSL. Parents and carers who learn BSL are supporting their child's language development, but also their own communication with their child and their child's friends.
We currently provide free classes at level 1 and level 2 for parents.
Deaf Studies
Deaf identity is very important for our children so that they can feel secure about their place in their family, their school community and in wider society. We want our children to feel proud of who they are. Many deaf children, as well as being members of a family, also feel part of a Deaf community. This is celebrated and promoted as it fosters a strong sense of positive identity.
'The care, guidance and support for pupils is outstanding and parents are overwhelmingly supportive of the school.' One wrote, 'This school has greatly contributed in making my children happy and confident children with positive deaf identities'.
(Ofsted report, November 2006)
Deaf Studies is incorporated into the curriculum and is seen as an essential part of our childrens' personal, social and emotional development.
