My child recently started nursery, where there is a deaf peer in his class. It quickly became apparent to me that my son, and other children, should have the opportunity to communicate with all of their classmates, irrespective of disabilities. Therefore, I am advocating for a requirement that all school teachers and nursery staff undertake level 1 & 2 British Sign Language (BSL) training.

It's estimated that around 151,000 individuals in the UK use BSL as their main language (according to Deaf Action), yet there's a severe lack of BSL knowledge and education in our schooling systems. By introducing mandatory BSL training, we allow for more inclusive environments that do not isolate children based on their disabilities. The benefits are twofold - enhancing children's ability to interact with deaf or hard-of-hearing peers, whilst also developing a new skill set.

Starting nursery or school can be an overwhelming experience for children worldwide, even without factoring in the struggle of not being able to communicate with the new faces surrounding them because of hearing impairments. It can turn these crucial early life experiences, which should be filled with growth, friendship, and exploration, into times of stress and isolation. No child should be denied these experiences due to their disabilities. Every child deserves the right to communicate, to make friends, and to thrive socially. 

Despite advancements in equal rights, we still encounter children confronting these challenges daily. The essence of equality lies not simply in recognizing diversity but in responding to it effectively, tailoring our education system to respect and accommodate all children. This is why we need to mandate Basic Sign Language (BSL) levels 1 and 2 for all teachers in our schools.

While it is encouraging that over 15% of schools currently have staff members who can use BSL, the vast majority do not have any provisions in place for hearing impaired students (sequalconsulting.co.uk). With approximately 34,000 deaf children in the UK, this stark figure does not reflect the needs of our children, nor the inclusivity our education system should aim for (NDCS.org.uk).

Let's bring about the change our children deserve. Mandating Basic Sign Language teachings for all educators will ensure an inclusive, comprehensible, and supportive environment for all our children. It's not just about teaching sign language. It's about transformation, equality, and above all, it's about giving every child an equal chance to express, understand and grow.

Please, sign this petition. Show your support in ensuring no child is left unheard in the classrooms of our future.

Together, we can push for this integration of BSL into educator training programs and eliminate barriers in communication between children. We are calling on the Department of Education and local legislatures to implement this necessary change. Please sign this petition to call for BSL training in our schools and nurseries.